The dark Danube is covered with
White flowers, white flowers, white flowers.
And the melody asks for memory
Of the past, the past, the past.
But like a flock of birds
Our songs’ simple words vanish.
You are walking into the fire, Yugoslavia
Without me, without me, without me.
For that night under a hail of lead
When I wasn’t by your side
Forgive me, my sister, Yugoslavia.
For that spring rain of death
For what I couldn’t save
Forgive me, my sister, Yugoslavia.
Like a lost little dark-eyed girl,
You stand on the other side of the river.
But I can’t reach your side
I can’t, I can’t.
The dark Danube is covered with
White flowers, white flowers, white flowers.
And the melody asks for memory
Of the past, the past, the past.
For that night under a hail of lead
When I wasn’t by your side
Forgive me, my sister, Yugoslavia.
For that spring rain of death
For what I couldn’t save
Forgive me, my sister, Yugoslavia.
Lena Katina is one half of the Russian duo t.A.T.u. The text above is a translation of the lyrics of her song “Yugoslavia” (music and lyrics by Alexander Voitinsky).