Song of Marko Boçari

The Song of Marko Boçari from Suli (Albanian: Kënga e Marko Boçarit nga Suli) is an Albanian polyphonic folk song of the early 19th century narrating the death of Markos Botsaris, a Souliot leader.

History

Markos Botsaris was a leader of the Souliotes. After the beginning of Greek War of Independence he became one of its central figures. He died in Kefalovryso, modern western Greece in 1823 during a battle between Ottoman and Souliot forces.

Song

The Song of Marko Boçari from Suli is a narrative and lament of his death. It contains more than 70 octosyllabic lines and was published about fifty years after the event by Thimi Mitko, an Albanian folklorist in his book Bleta Shqipëtare (Albanian: The Albanian Bee).

Lyrics

Part of the lyrics:

Albanian	English
Një harap me karabinë u ngulë e shtroi synë Goditi bajrakn' e mirë Marko Boçari shahinë! Erdhi Kosta vet i tretë "More shokë, gjithë erdhët S'prit të vinja edhe unë, Vriti, shokë, Shqipëtarë, biru qënet, se më vrane Mermëni so jam i gjallë më muarë plumbi ndë ballë	A moor with a carbine kneeled and took aim, He struck the goodly banner, Marko Boçari the falcon! Kostas himself came with three others. "Hey, comrades, have you all come? Didn't you wait for me as well? Kill them, oh Albanian comrades Sons of dogs, for they have slain me. Take me while I am alive, The shot has struck my forehead!

See also

• Music of Albania