Je l' ti zao sto se rastajemo
This beautiful song often is played at the end of a wonderful evening. But there is a tragic back story to this song that is not that well known.
The author of this song is Envera Šiljka from Bosanska Gradiška, who was actually born in the Bosnian town of Lipovača in 1919.
During World War II, he was one of the leaders of the resistance movement in Tuzla, a law student, an employee at the Salt Factory, and also a musician. At that time, a young Jewish woman Frida Laufer was also a member of the illegal resistance movement in Tuzla. Both were on the wanted list that the fascists issued for prominent anti-fascists in Tuzla.
A love affair developed between them, which ended tragically. Frida was taken to a concentration camp, where she was killed along with their child who was born in the camp, and Enver Šiljak was executed on September 5, 1941. While the fascists were leading Enver Šiljak, tied up, to the execution, he sang the song "Je l' ti žao što se rastajemo" (Do you regret saying goodbye) to Frida as he walked through the corridors and down the prison stairs.
"Jel' ti žao što se rastajemo" was recorded by Halid Bešlić who popularized this song.
Thank you to Drina Orchestra who ended each of their evenings with this song, which LIKA Orchestra then emulated.