Sede Sedenkya

Traditional Bulgarian work song

I learned this one from Anni Zylstra, and here is what she has to say about this song:

Sede Sedenkya is a song from Bulgaria's sedenkya tradition. A sedenkya is a 'working-bee', or a gathering in which young people get together and do as much handwork and mending as possible. In folklore, the sedenkya is a place of singing, dancing, and often involves rowdiness like gossip, flirtation, and courtship. 

This is a popular song from the Shoppe region in northwest Bulgaria, and is one I learned from Pepe Koucheva while studying music in Bulgaria in 2019. - Anni


LYRICS:

Middles:

1.  (Sede sedenkya shto sede)
Pa poide da se razturya
Pa poide da se razturya

 Koi s pobratima
Eeeeh…. s nikoga
Sirota Zanka s ni!
Sirota Zanka s nikoga

2.  (Eta go Gencha ot vrata)
Pavati Zanku za ruku
Pavati Zanku za ruku

 Pavodi doma
Eeeeh….otmena
Eteti male ot!
Eteti male otmena

3.  (Na tatu meka postelya)
Na makya bela premena
Na makya bela premena

 Na bratu voda
Eeeeh… zasmena
Na mene bulka za!
Na mene bulka zasmena

Bass:

1.  (Sede sedenkya shto sede
Pa poide da se razturya
Pa poide da se razturya)

 Koi s pobratima
Sirota Zanka s nikoga
Eeeeh… s ni!
Sirota Zanka s nikoga

2.  (Eta go Gencha ot vrata
Pavati Zanku za ruku
Pavati Zanku za ruku)

 Pavodi doma
Eteti male otmena
Eeeeh…..ot!
Eteti male otmena

3.  (Na tatu meka postelya
Na makya bela premena
Na makya bela premena)

 Na bratu voda
Na mene bulka zasmena
Eeeeh…. za!
Na mene bulka zasmena

Tops:

1.  Sede sedenkya shto sede
Pa poide da se razturya
Pa poide da se razturya


Koi s brata koi s pobratima
Sirota Zanka s nikoga
Sirota Zanka s ni! iii!
Sirota Zanka s nikoga


2.  Eta go Gencha ot vrata
Pavati Zanku za ruku
Pavati Zanku za ruku 


Pavodi vodi ta doma
Eteti male otmena
Eteti male ot! iii!
Eteti male otmena


3.  Na tatu meka postelya
Na makya bela premena
Na makya bela premena


Na bratu voda studena
Na mene bulka zasmena
Na mene bulka za! iii!
Na mene bulka zasmena


Poetic Translation:

There was a working gathering
and then everyone went away

Some with a brother, some with a friend
but orphan Zanka had no one

Gencha stepped out of the door
and took Zanka's hand

He brought her to his home
here, mother, is your help.

She will make father's bed
and sew white clothes

She will give my brother cold water
and she will be my smiling bride.

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