"Bilećanka" (; ; ) is a Yugoslav song written in 1940 in a political prison camp in Bileća during the authoritarian regime of Prince Paul. The original Slovene lyrics were written by Milan Apih, a Slovene communist and teacher from Celje, who was imprisoned at the camp. It remained popular throughout Yugoslavia, and the song was also translated into Serbo-Croatian.
Lyrics Slovene originalBilečanka Kombinat.Bilečanka from Kombinat by Women's Choir KombinatSerbo-Croatian versionSjećanje Milana Apiha – kako je nastala pjesma „Bilećanka“ (2016-05-01). AbrašMedia.English translationSredi pušk in bajonetov, sredi mrkih straž Se pomika naša četa v hercegovski kras.
Čuje se odmev korakov Po kamenju hercegovskem Heja ho! Heja ho!
Daleč zdaj si domovina nas izgnali so Ko da krivi smo zločina, ker te ljubimo.
Vzeli materi so sina, ženi so moža Lačna je doma družina, dosti je gorja.
Že v Sibirijo gonili, brate so nekdaj Pa je prišel konec sili, kje si zdaj tiran.
Skoz pregnanstvo in trpljenje, skozi ječe mrak Prišlo novo bo življenje, čujte mu korak.
Ko brez pušk in bajonetov, prosta nam bo pot Stopala bo naša četa, svobodi naprot'.Sred pušaka, bajoneta, straže oko nas, tiho kreće naša četa kroz bilećki kras.
Čuje se odjek koraka po kamenju hercegovskom; Hej, haj, ho! Hej, haj, ho!
Daleko si zavičaju, mi prognani smo, prognaše nas zbog zločina što te ljubimo.
Osta majka bez svog sina žena bez druga pusta osta kuća njina gorka sudbina.
Već u Sibiru gonili braću su nekad Pa je stigao konac sili gdje si, tiranine, sad?
Kroz progonstvo i trpljenje, kroz tamnice mrak, dolazi nam novi život, čujte mu korak.
Bez pušaka, bajoneta bude li nam poć stupat će naša četa slobodi nasuprot.In the midst of rifles, bayonets, Guards are all around us. Our troops silently march along Bileća stone.
Footsteps echo in the distance on Herzegovinan stones. Heya, ho! / Hey, hi, ho! Heya, ho! / Hey, hi, ho!
Our homeland is now far from us, We've been deported. As if we were guilty of a crime Just because we love you.
A mother is left without her son, A man is left without his wife. The family is left hungry, Bitter fate awaits.
Already driven into Siberia, They were once brothers. Then came the end of the plight, where are you now, tyrant?
Through the suffering, persecution through the dungeon's darkness, a new life awaits us hear the marking footsteps.
As the rifles, bayonets, Needed are no more, Our company will be marching on Facing freedom on.
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