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Gogol Bordello – Baro Foro Lyrics 15 years ago
Straight from the Hutz's mouth:

http://www.gogolbordello.com/us/hutzovina/baro-foro


To answer all questions about the 'SONG OF ALL TIMES AND ALL NATIONS BARO FORO' (from Multi Kontra Culti album)...
So let's get down into the creative lab once again and settle all confusion.
Baro Foro is written in a very broken Rromanes, the gypsy language; the reason is, that's all I could afford at the time of writing it in 1999. Now my knowledge of it has increased, but at the beginning of GB, when I was actively researching my family history and Romany culture, it was more on the level of abstract expression of my longing and love for Romany culture.
Even though I managed to actually write sensible verses in Rromanes, some of it is basically sung in some bird-like language, if you wish - that's why any translations of it you find in chatrooms are total bullshit, except for a few lines correctly translated by Romany kids. Since I didn't go into rock n' roll to ask anyone how to do my shit, I just did it in the most immediate way. And anyway, the idea was to write not a national anthem, but a song of all times and all nations, the kind of shit they put into Vijager for other civilizations to check out.
Another inspirational key is the song 'Mercy Seat' by Nick Cave... it's an extremely long and obsessive song and it was my anthem through teenage years. I always thought that when I grow up I will write a song that's even better and even longer than that.
Well, Baro Foro is definitely fucking longer!


Translation to English by Professor Ian Hancock

Oh how are you, big town
Oh big town, lads
The boys will steal the horses
The boys will steal the girl

The boys near Romani
My heart pains me
For they could never, never measure
Oh Roma, what am I to do?

Around the white world I will travel
My heart pains me
And I will never lose
Ay yeah, what am I to do?

The silver plane now will be leaving
Only one day, only one time
Call your best friend, let's take him with us
Oh, what am I to do!
-
(Translation by Hütz)

Only that family lives well
Where brothers love one another

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