I loved to sing this beautifully uplifting song from Macedonia with my a cappella quartet, SIRENZ, and now with my Yala Lati Women’s choir! With my song circles, I will just teach the first verse. A song of hope and a vision of normalcy in a war-torn part of the world. Tight harmonies and a 7/8 rhythm keep it interesting. I learned this song from Kitka, who learned it from Ethel Raim.

You can learn more about the history of the song here.

Used with permission from the women of Kitka.

Sheet Music: Please contact Heather

Translation:

“Što Mi E Milo” has been variously translated as “what I would like” or “how dear it is to me” or “I’m glad.”

How I would like to have a shop
In the town of Struga
Hurry, young Kalino

To sit by the door
And watch the young girls of Struga go by
Hurry, young Kalino

As they fetch the water
With their brightly colored jugs
Hurry, young Kalino

And meet with their friends at the well
Hurry, young Kalino

Lyrics:

Sto mi e milo, milo i drago
Vo struga grada, mamo, duk’an da imam
Lele varai, mome, mome Kalino
Vo struga grada, mamo, duk’an da imam

Na k’epencite, mamo, da sedam
Struzkite momi mamo momi da gledam
Lele varai mome, mome Kalino
Struzkite momi mamo momi da gledam

Koga na voda, voda mi odat
So tija stomni mamo, stomni sareni
Lele varai, mome, mome Kalino,
So tija stomni, mamo, stomni sareni

Na ovoj izvor, izvor studeni,
Tam da se zdruzki, mamo, zdruzki soberat
Lele varai, mome, mome Kalino,
Tam da se zdruzki, mamo, zdruski soberat