| Gelem, Gelem | |
| English Title: | I Went, I Went |
| Alt Title: | Opre Roma |
| En Alt Title: | Up, Romanies |
| Prefix: | Ethnic |
| Country: | the Romani people |
| Author: | Žarko Jovanović |
| Lyrics Date: | 1949 |
| Composer: | Žarko Jovanović |
| Music Date: | 1949 |
| Adopted: | 1971 |
"Gelem, Gelem" is a song composed by Žarko Jovanović, often used as the anthem of the Romani people. The title has been adapted in many countries by local Roma to match their native orthography and spoken dialect of the Romani language.
Some of the song's many titles include:
In an interview with reporter Mike Kalezić, Jovanović himself titled the song "Opre Roma".[1]
After experiencing firsthand the incarceration of Roma during the Porajmos (the Romani Holocaust of World War II) in the Independent State of Croatia, Jovanović later composed the lyrics of "Gelem, Gelem" and set them to a traditional melody in 1949. The song was first adopted by delegates of the first World Romani Congress held in 1971.[2]
Romany: italic=no|E tsarentsa, bahtale RromentsaOriginal
A Romale, A Chavale
Sas vi man yekh bari familiya,Mudardas la e Kali LegiyaAven mansa sa lumnyake Roma,Kai putardile e Romane dromaAke vriama, usti Rom akana,Amen khutasa misto kai kerasa
A Romale, A Chavale
Puter Devla le parne vudaraTe shai dikhav kai si me manushaPale ka zhav lungone dromendarThai ka phirav bakhtale Romensa
A Romalen, A chavalen
Opre Rroma, si bakht akanaAven mansa sa lumnyake RomaO kalo mui thai e kale yakhaKamav len sar e kale drakha
A Romalen, A chavalen.
Translation
O Roma, O Romani youths!
I once had a great family,The Black Legion[3] murdered themCome with me, Roma from all the worldFor the Roma, roads have openedNow is the time, rise up Roma now,We will rise high if we act
O Roma, O Romani youths!
Open, God, White doorsSo I can see where are my people.Come back to tour the roadsAnd walk with happy Roma
O Roma, O Romani youths!
Up, Romani people! Now is the timeCome with me, Roma from all the worldDark face and dark eyes,I want them like dark grapes
O Roma, O Romani youths!
There are many versions of "Gelem, Gelem", notably those translated by Ronald Lee.[4]
In 2004, the band Vaya Con Dios released an interpretation, with lyrics in French by their singer Dani Klein, with the similar sounding title "Je l'aime, Je l'aime".