Priča o Vasi Ladačkom [English translation]

Do you know the story of Vasi Ladackom? I, too, heard it not too long ago.

Once, nine days, he hadn't come out of the tavern, they say he was of a peculiar sort...

His father was a meager peasant who fed seven hungry mouths.

His mother was blond, silent and gentle, hectic,

She died at thirty something...

They had a couple acres of land, a small house at the end of a narrow alley.

Always bread on their table, just as much as they needed,

but Vasa wanted so much more.

He wanted wild horses, scattered on fields,

A pocket watch with a golden chain and manors...

He wanted fertile land, noble vineyards,

In stables harnessed mares, but he couldn't have them.

His love was pretty, but poor. He'd have taken her,

Had he known:

You love only once in life, now a rich one or a poor one,

That isn't decided by intelligence, but by heart...

He hoped that his love would pass. He forever left his village.

Never did he write to anyone, he married a woman with a large dowry,

The single daughter of some rich functionary.

He received wild horses, scattered on fields,

A watch with a golden chain and manors...

He received fertile land, noble vineyards,

In stables harnessed mares. He had everything, he had nothing.

He took to alcohol, not long passed, he sold his soul to the Devil.

All the villagers knew him, he sought rescue in bottles,

But he wasn't able to find it...

Young, they say, he was when he died, in the middle of a tavern, from heart failure.

His head hung, as if he dreamt, as if he slept,

And they still remember what he last said...

Worthless are wild horses, scattered on fields,

Worthless are watches and manors,

Worthless are fertile field, noble vineyards,

Worthless are stables, mares...

When I'm not with the one I love,

When I'm not with the one I love.

Do you know the story of Vasi Ladackom? I, too, heard it not too long ago.

Even those similar to him, when they think about everything,

Say he was of a peculiar sort...

• Artist:Đorđe Balašević
• Album:Priča o Vasi Ladačkom (1980) -Singl i Odlazi cirkus (1980)