E. Dimitrov: “My Country, My Bulgaria”

Short link to this post: fishuk.cc/moiastrana-en

This is the English translation of the famous Emil Dimitrov’s song “Моя страна, моя България” (Moia straná, moia Balgaria), My Country, My Bulgaria, released in 1970 on the album Emil Dimitrov sings. The music was composed by Dimitrov himself, the lyrics were written by Vasil Andreev, and the arrangement was made by Mitko Shterev. The song is also know as “The Bulgarian Song of the 20th Century”.

I took this translation from Wikipedia, but I also changed it in some points. This is the best audio record I could find, but there is also another channel dedicated to Emil Dimitrov (1940-2005). On transliteration from the Cyrillic alphabet: 1) This is my own system, although designed primarily for Portuguese readers; 2) The vowel “Ъ” is transliterated by “a”, but in stressed syllables by “â” with a circumflex; 3) The acute is put on stressed vowels that appear in the absolute end of a word. Therefore you can find some feminine words finished in consonant that take the postponed definite article and are pronounced like this: liubov/liubovtá (love/the love), prast/prasttá (earth/the earth), and pesen/pesentá (song/the song).

In the second video, Emil Dimitrov appears on a rare live footage during a show in 1970. In the third video, the singers Iosif Kobzon (Russia), known as “Soviet Frank Sinatra”, and Filip Kirkorov (Bulgaria), are celebrating Kobzon’s 75th birthday during a show on September 14, 2012, broadcast by the Russian TV channel Rossiya 1:

1. Колко нощи аз не спах, Колко друми извървях – Да се върна. Колко песни аз изпях, Колко мъка изживях – Да се върна. В мойта хубава страна Майка, татко и жена Да прегърна. Там под родното небе Чака моето дете Да се върна. 1. Kolko noshti az ne spakh, Kolko drumi izvarviakh – Da se vârna. Kolko pesni az izpiakh, Kolko mâka izzhiviakh – Da se vârna. V moita khubava straná Maika, tatko i zhená Da pregârna. Tam pod rodnoto nebé Chaka moeto deté Da se vârna. Припев: Моя страна, моя България, Моя любов, моя България. Моя тъга, моя България, При теб ме връща вечно любовта. Pripev: Moia straná, moia Balgaria, Moia liubov, moia Balgaria. Moia tagá, moia Balgaria, Pri teb me vrâshta vechno liubovtá. 2. Даже нейде по света, Неизвестен да умра, Ще се върна. В мойта хубава страна И тревата, и пръстта Да прегърна. Нека стана стръкче цвят, Нека вятъра познат Ме прегърне. Нека родните поля Да ме срещнат с песента, Щом се върна. 2. Dazhe neide po svetá, Neizvesten da umrá, Shte se vârna. V moita khubava straná I trevata, i prasttá Da pregârna. Neka stana strâkche tsviat, Neka viatara poznat Me pregârne. Neka rodnite poliá Da me sreshtnat s pesentá, Shtom se vârna. (Pripev) Моя страна, моя България, Моя прекрасна страна, Ще се върна. Moia straná, moia Balgaria, Moia prekrasna straná, Shte se vârna. ____________________ 1. I didn’t sleep so many nights I walked so many roads I must come back I sang so many songs I suffered so many torments I must come back In my beautiful country Mother, father and wife I must embrace There, under my native sky My child is waiting For my return Chorus: My country, my Bulgaria My love, my Bulgaria My sadness, my Bulgaria Love always brings me back to you 2. Even if I die unknown Elsewhere in the world I’ll come back In my beautiful country The grass and the earth I must embrace May I become a flower blade May the familiar wind Embrace me May my native fields Meet me with the song As soon as I come back (Chorus) My country, my Bulgaria My wonderful country I’ll come back

Kobzon said at the beginning: “Конечно, я ещё не могу не вспомнить мою любимую страну, Болгарию, куда я впервые выехал из Москвы, впервые побывал за границей, и побывал в семье родных людей. И, конечно, очень рад, что у нас появился свой болгарин, Филипп Киркоров.” (Of course, I can’t forget my favorite country, Bulgaria, where I traveled for the first time abroad from Moscow, and where I stayed wih a family of lovely people. And of course, I’m very glad that among us a friendly Bulgarian has appeared, Filip Kirkorov.)

Kirkorov said at the end: “Никакого болгарского слова, чтобы выразить благодарность, восхищение за то, что Вы сделали для всей музыки нашей страны, и взрастили мой вкус, и сегодня сделали так, что я имею честь и право выступать на Вашем юбилее. Спасибо Вам большое. С днём рождения!” (There’s no Bulgarin word that could express my gratitude and admiration for all you’ve made for the music of our country, for having educated my taste, and now for having given me the honor and right to sing in your jubilee. Thank you very much, happy birthday!) Kobzon: “Спасибо, Филипп Киркоров!” (Thank you, Filip Kirkorov!)