Watch the official video · 3:50 · Watch on YouTube
The story
Krali Marko is the most beloved hero of Bulgarian heroic folk epics. He is based on a real 14th-century ruler, but in the folk songs he is a hero of superhuman strength who rides the winged horse Sharkolia and carries a heavy mace.
The songs tell how Marko frees three chains of captives led away by a Moorish raider, and how he fights Musa Kesedzhiya — a duel he wins not by strength but by cunning, after which he admits his opponent was the worthier man.
This song brings several of the best-known tales together in one epic journey across the Balkan mountains.
Lyrics
Original Bulgarian lyrics with English translation.
Verse 1
Слънце грее над Балкана,
The sun shines over the Balkan,
в ехо буден от зарана.
awake in echoes since the dawn.
Яхнал коня си крилат,
Riding his winged horse,
Марко, българин, юнак.
Marko, a Bulgarian hero.
Боздуган в ръка проблясва,
A mace gleams in his hand,
правдата във него властва.
justice rules within him.
Де злодеят злото сее,
Wherever villains sow evil,
Марко него ще отвее...
Marko will sweep them away...
Chorus
Крали Марко е голям,
Krali Marko is mighty,
камък цепи с гола длан.
he splits stone with his bare hand.
Шарколия щом препусне,
When Sharkolia gallops,
цял Балкана се раздрусне.
the whole Balkan trembles.
Verse 2 — The Three Chains
Емза бег арапин води
Emza Bey the Moor leads away
три синджира бели роби,
three chains of captives,
млади, българки, красиви,
young Bulgarian women, beautiful,
оковани във вериги.
bound in iron chains.
Марко с длан му знак направи,
Marko signals him with his hand,
Емза бег халка му стави.
Emza Bey takes up the challenge.
Грабна канара ръбата,
He seizes a jagged boulder
хвърли я далеч в полята.
and hurls it far across the fields.
Къч удари във стената,
He strikes the wall with all his weight
и разкърти планината.
and tears the mountain apart.
Вдигна Марко сам скалата,
Marko lifts the rock alone
хвърли я в небесата.
and throws it to the skies.
Извади сабя дамаскина,
He draws his Damascus sabre
и веригите направо скина.
and cuts the chains clean through.
Chorus
Крали Марко е голям,
Krali Marko is mighty,
камък цепи с гола длан.
he splits stone with his bare hand.
Шарколия щом препусне,
When Sharkolia gallops,
цял Балкана се раздрусне.
the whole Balkan trembles.
Verse 3 — Musa
Муса Кеседжия чака,
Musa Kesedzhiya waits,
черна сянка до гората.
a black shadow by the forest.
Саби, копия, боздуган
Sabres, spears and maces
изпочупиха се там.
were all shattered there.
Марко с хитрост го надви,
Marko beat him by cunning,
не със сила победи.
he did not win by strength.
Тъжно дума промълви:
Sadly he whispered:
„По-достоен беше ти.“
"You were the worthier one."
Finale
Камък сал един остана,
Only a single stone remained,
белег и дълбока рана.
a scar and a deep wound.
Докле слънце над Балкана,
As long as the sun shines over the Balkan,
Марко да не се забравя.
may Marko never be forgotten.
