Bela lađa [English translation]

In April, the town of Sombor 1 becomes green,

Then ladies are walking, good for me

They throw out their chests saucy,

And then they nod to me softly,

But a white boat is waiting for me.

And when I leave, I don't come back until autumn.

Many of them will marry until then, good for me.

"Good evening, Captain,"

I wish you a good night, ladies,

A white boat is waiting for me.

I have to go now, it's really not easy for me,

But I'd better go slowly.

I have to go now because I'm going to drop anchor

So goodbye, Otter 2, I'll stay there.

From Zemun 3 to Pasova the water foams,

And in Pest 4 promenade, good for me.

I'm taken 5, please 6,

My beautiful Hungarian girls,

But a white boat is waiting for me.

I have to go now, it's really not easy for me,

But I'd better go slowly.

I have to go now because I'm going to drop anchor

So goodbye, Otter, I'll stay there.

In April, the whole of Sombor 7 is colorful

Because of a variety of hats, good for me

And the girls that wear them, smiling and golden-haired,

But a white boat is waiting for me.

I have to go now, it's really not easy for me,

But I'd better go slowly.

I have to go now because I'm going to drop anchor

So goodbye, Otter, I'll stay there.

1. Sombor, city in Vojvodina2. Vidra (in Serbian, or Otter in English) is apparently a nickname that Balasevic used for his wife. This is evident from the later song Mala Vidra (Little Otter) where in the first verses he says that Little Vidra is a red hair girl coming from the river of Begej (river that passes through Zrenjanin, the hometown of his wife). This nickname also has sense, since in Serbian we have a saying "fast as an otter", and Balasevic's wife was athlete and gymnast.3. Zemun is a municipality of the city of Belgrade, but geographically it is in Vojvodina4. Pest is a part of Budapest. "Pest is used pars pro toto for the entire city in contemporary colloquial Hungarian" (source wikipedia)5. Here I am not sure what exactly he wanted to say with the past "brinuti sam", because it seems incorrect and it is usually not used in this form. I took a bit of liberty here and translated it as if it says "zbrinut sam" (I am taken), since it had the most sense to me6. kerem sepe - in Hungarian7. Sombor - another city in Vojvodina