Macedonian, Bulgarian Folk Song
Special thanks to Ryan Fan for the close translation
Sto Mi e Milo is a traditional folksong from the Macedonian and Bulgarian regions. This song has an extensive history with a variety of arrangements by different composers. You can learn much more about Sto Mi e Milo’s historical background here: https://folkdancefootnotes.org/music/1-songs/sto-mi-e-milo-macedonia-bulgaria/
Lyrics:
Što mi e milo, milo i drago,
vo Struga grada, mamo, dukjan da imam.
Lele varaj, mome, mome Kalino,
vo Struga grada, mamo, dukjan da imam.
Na kepencite, mamo, da sedam
stružkite momi, mamo, momi da gledam.
Lele varaj, mome, mome Kalino,
stružkite momi, mamo, momi da gledam.
Koga na voda, voda mi odat
so tija stomni, mamo, stomni šareni.
Lele varaj, mome, mome Kalino,
so tija stomni, mamo, stomni šareni.
Na ovoj izvor, izvor studeni
tam da se s družki, mamo, s družki soberat.
Lele varaj, mome, mome Kalino,
tam da se s družki, mamo, s družki soberat.
Close translation researched by Ryan Fan, Living Room Choir alum:
Sto Mi E Milo (Bulgarian/Macedonian) “How Lovely It Is/How Nice It Is”
Što Mi E Milo – Що ми е мило [Resources: Folkdance Footnotes | Tous aux Balkans | Macedonian Dictionary | WordReference]
| Bulgarian/Macedonian | Transliteration | Close translation |
| Що ми е мило, мило и драго,во Струга града, мамо, дукян да имам.Леле варай, моме, моме Калино,во Струга града, мамо, дукян да имам. | Što mi e milo, milo i drago,vo Struga grada, mamo, dukjan da imam.Lele varaj, mome, mome Kalino,vo Struga grada, mamo, dukjan da imam. | How nice it is to me, nice and dear, In Struga town, mama, that I own a shop Oh, hurry up, lassie Kalina! In Struga town, mama, that I own a shop |
| На кепенците, мамо, да седамстружките моми, мамо, моми да гледам.Леле варай, моме, моме Калино,стружките моми, мамо, моми да гледам. | Na kepencite, mamo, da sedamstružkite momi, mamo, momi da gledam. Lele varaj, mome, mome Kalino,stružkite momi, mamo, momi da gledam. | At the window shutters, mama, that I sit Flowing-by girls, mama, girls that I watch Oh, hurry up, lassie Kalina! Flowing-by girls, mama, girls that I watch |
| Кога на вода, вода ми одатсо тия стомни, мамо, стомни шарени.Леле варай, моме, моме Калино,со тия стомни, мамо, стомни шарени. | Koga na voda, voda mi odatso tija stomni, mamo, stomni šareni.Lele varaj, mome, mome Kalino,so tija stomni, mamo, stomni šareni. | When they go to the water With these clay jugs, mama, colorful clay jugsOh, hurry up, lassie Kalina! With these clay jugs, mama, colorful clay jugs |
| На овой извор, извор студенитам да се с дружки, мамо, с дружки соберат.Леле варай, моме, моме Калино,там да се с дружки, мамо, с дружки соберат. | Na ovoj izvor, izvor studenitam da se s družki, mamo, s družki soberat.Lele varaj, mome, mome Kalino,tam da se s družki, mamo, s družki soberat. | At this well, cold well / There to be with friends, mama, with friends they gather / Oh, hurry up, lassie Kalina! / There to be with friends, mama, with friends they gather |
A great reference is the recording by Kitka (singing begins at 1:52):
Sara Sto Mi e Milo pronunciation (note that upon occasion, Sara is inconsistent and most is correct – ask if questions. Kitka is pronouncing correctly):
Kaitie singing tracks of the first verse (note that this was early in our learning of this song, some of the vowels are brighter than we will be singing.
All parts:
Soprano:
Alto:
Tenor: