This song of mine is about a Bulgarian female outlaw called Rumena who lived in the XIX century. This song tells the story of Rumena Voivoda who fought against the Ottoman authorities in the 19th century( Bulgaria was part of the Ottoman empire then).
I found the story ( semi- legendary as most stories of that kind) very interesting. Rumena was an ordinary peasant woman, had a husband and a son and was trying to live normal life. Then one day she killed a man who tried to rape her and became an outlaw. Her husband didn't follow her, but raised their child. She led a gang of men and played the Robin Hood role for the local poor people.
It was quite a scandal in these times to be a " woman outlaw" , or even a woman among the outlaws and the fact that she was the leader made it even more scandalous. The legend says that she was killed by her own men but no one knows for sure.
English translation:
Rumena was dreaming
Hey, you beautiful Rumena
of her little children
Hey ,you fair Rumena
Evil Mare is in the village
You wont find your children
No, you wont find your children
beautiful Rumena
Rumena was dreaming
Hey, you beautiful Rumena
of her little children
Hey ,you fair Rumena
Original Bulgarian lyrics:
Румена сънила
Румено, мори гиздава
Дребни си дечиня
Румено, мори убава
Мора има по села
Не ке найдеш, мори, дечиня
Не ке найдеш, мори, дечиня
Румено, мори убава
Румена сънила
Румено, мори гиздава
Дребни си дечиня
Румено, мори убава