Otvori mi, belo Lenče
Otvori mi belo Lenče has an interesting back story.
It appears to be a true “folk” composition that spontaneously appeared in the mid-1890’s in the Vranje area of Serbia. Vranje had been captured from the Ottomans less than 20 years earlier, and Ottoman territory was only a few miles away.
Milan Ristić (known in the song as Mile Pile, “Mile dear”) was a wealthy landowner; Jelena Stamenković (belo Lenče, “white Lenče” diminutive form of the Macedonian female name “Lenka”) was a young woman from the poor side of town, considered beautiful due to her very white skin. Both were born in Vranje in the 1800’s. One day in the mid-1890’s, while Mile was out inspecting his properties, he saw Lenče, she saw him, and it was love at first sight. In those days marriages were arranged between families by the family patriarchs, even among the rich, and both Mile and Lenče knew they would not be allowed marry. Still, they continued seeing each other, (though it appears their love was never consummated). Town gossip evolved into a song, gleefully sung everywhere, including within earshot of the lovers.
To avoid further scandal, Jelena was put under constant surveillance. Because she was illiterate, even notes could not be passed to her. Quickly her father married her to Kosta Stošić, a tram driver. 18 months later, Milan’s grandfather (his father was dead) married Milan to “blue-eyed and slender Ljubica”, a cultivated girl from the respected Goločevo family.
In 1941 Lenče was killed during the Nazi bombing of Belgrade. When he found out, Milan, who had served as an officer in WWI, immediately re-enlisted to fight the Germans. When an armored train was destroyed, witnesses state that he then said: ‘This is for my Lenče!’ Then, through tears, he sang his song. Milan Tasić died in Vranje in 1960 and was buried in the Shapranac Cemetery. At his request, the words “Mile Pile” are on the monument…..Legend has it that the song “Otvori mi Belo Lenče” was heard from a cafe in Vranje on the day of Milan’s funeral – maybe by accident…