Arsen Dedić – Ne daj se Ines

Ne daj se Ines
Ne daj se godinama moja Ines
Drukčijim pokretima i navikama
Jer još ti je soba topla
Prijatan raspored i rijetki predmeti
Imala si više ukusa od mene
Tvoja soba divota
Gazdarica ti je u bolnici
Uvijek si se razlikovala
Po boji papira svojih pisama, po poklonima
Pratila me sljedećeg jutra oko devet do stanice
I ruši se zeleni autobus tjeran jesenjim vjetrom
Kao list niz jednu beogradsku padinu
u večernjem sam odijelu i opkoljen pogledima

Ne daj se mladosti moja, ne daj se Ines
dugo je pripremano naše poznanstvo
I onda slučajno uz vruću rakiju
I sa svega nekoliko rečenica, loše prikrivena želja
Tvoj je način gospođe i obrazi seljanke
Prostakušo i plemkinjo moja
Pa tvoje grudi, krevet
I moja soba obješena u zraku kao naranča
Kao narančasta svjetiljka nad zelenom i modrom vodom Zagreba
Proleterskih brigada 39. kod Grković
Pokisla ulica od prozora dalje i šum predvečernjih tramvaja
Lijepi trenuci nostalgije, ljubavi i siromaštva
Upotreba zajedničke kupaonice
I “Molim Vas ako me tko traži”
Ne daj se Ines

Evo me ustajem tek da okrenem ploču
Da li je to nepristojno u ovakvom času
Mozart Requiem Agnus Dei
Meni je ipak najdraži početak
Raspolažem s jos milion njeznih
I bezobraznih podataka naše mladosti
Koja nas pred vlastitim očima vara, i krade, i napušta
Ne daj se Ines

Poderi pozivnicu, otkaži večeru, prevari muža
Odlazeći da se počesljaš u nekom boljem hotelu
Dodirni me ispod stola koljenom
Generacijo moja, ljubavnice

Znam da će jos biti mladosti,
Ali ne više ovakve – u prosjeku 1938
Ja neću imati s kim ostati mlad ako svi ostarite
I ta će mi mladost teško pasti
A bit će ipak da ste vi u pravu
Jer sam sam na ovoj obali
Koju ste napustili i predali bezvoljno
A ponovo počinje kiša,
Kao sto već kiši u listopadu na otocima
More od olova i nebo od borova
Udaljeni glasovi koji se miješaju
Glas majke prijatelja, kćeri, ljubavnice, broda, brata
Na brzinu pokupljeno rublje pred kišu
I nestalo je svjetla s tom bjelinom
Još malo šetnje uz more i gotovo

Arsen i Serbedzija - Ne daj se Ines

English Translation

Don’t Give Up Ines

Don’t give up Ines
Don’t give in to age my Ines
to different moves and habits
Because your room is still warm
Cozy setting and rarities
You had better taste than me
Your room splendor
Your landlady in the hospital
You were always distinctive
by the colour of your letters, by the gifts
She walked me, the next morning around nine, to the station
And a green bus chased by autumn wind
Like a leaf, going down a Belgrade slope
Wearing my evening suit I am surrounded by stares

Don’t give up, my youth, don’t give up Ines
our acquaintance was  long due
and then by chance, with hot rakija
and with just a few lines, a wish badly hidden
Your way is ladylike and your cheeks rustic
My bumpkin and my gentlewoman
Then your breasts, bed
And my room hanging in the air like orange
Like an orange lamp under the green and blue waters of Zagreb
in Proleterskih brigada 39. beside Grković
Wet street further from the window and evening trolleys buzzing
Beautiful moments of nostalgia, love and poverty
Using communal bathroom
and “Please if someone asks about me”
Do not give up Ines

Here I am getting up only to turn the record over
Is that rude in a moment like this
Mozart Requiem Agnus Dei
I still prefer the beginning
I have access to another million of hers
and naughty data from our youth
That, right there in front of our eyes, deceives us, and robs us, and leaves us
Don’t give up Ines

Tear up the invitation, cancel the dinner, cheat on your husband
on your way for a hairdo in some better hotel
Touch me under the table with your knee
My generation, lover

I know that there will still be youths
But not another one like this  – on average 1938
I won’t have anyone to stay young with if all of you get old
And that youth will be difficult for me
But in the end you must be right
Because I am on this shore
that you’ve left and surrendered half-heartedly
And the rain is starting again
the way it rains in November in the islands
Lead sea and pine sky
Distant voices in the mix
Voice of a friend’s mother, daughter, lover, boat, brother
rapidly picked up clothes before the rain
And the light disappeared with the whiteness
A bit more of walking by the sea and that’s it

Do not give up Ines

Rade Serbedzija – Ne daj se Ines

8 thoughts on “Arsen Dedić – Ne daj se Ines

  1. mada ne znam engleski ovo budi buru emocija u meni verovatno ova verzija na srpskohrvatskom jeziku koji je nestao pre 20 godina

  2. This is such a beautiful and thoughtful poem. I honestly wish there was a good English translation.

  3. I have never heard anything so beutiful, strong, passionate. I was young, when I really understood this poem. I listen to this from time to time, I choke, close my eyes… and surrender to it. Amazing what memories create and amazing what time erases.

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