Jovano Jovanke

Jovano, Jovanke (Macedonian: Јовано, Јованке, sometimes transliterated with Y for languages where J does not represent the palatal approximant) is a traditional folk song of the Macedonia region. It is popular in and frequently performed in Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and the Macedonia region of Greece. It is about two young lovers separated by their disapproving parents. The song mentions the Vardar river which runs through the Republic of Macedonia and present-day Greece.

Jovana is a female name, (a Slavic equivalent of Joan or Joanna), and Jovanka is its diminutive. The forms Jovano and Jovanke are in the vocative case.

Јовано, Jованке
Jовано, Jованке
Крај Вардарот седиш, мори
Бело платно белиш,
Бело платно белиш, душо
Се на горе гледаш. (X2)

Jовано, Jованке,
јас те тебе чакам, мори
Дома да ми дојдеш,
А ти не доаѓаш, душо
Срце мое, Jовано. (X2)

Jовано, Jованке,
Твојата мајка, мори
Тебе не те пушта,
Крај мене да дојдеш, душо
Срце мое, Jовано. (X2)

Jovano, Jovanke,
you sit by the Vardar,
bleaching your white linen,
bleaching your white linen, my dear,
looking at the hills. (X2)
 
Jovano, Jovanke,
I'm waiting for you
to come to my home,
and you don't come, my dear,
my heart, Jovano. (X2)

Jovano, Jovanke,
your mother
doesn't let you
come to me, my dear,
my heart, Jovano. (X2)

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