Goblini is a serbian punk band founded in March, 1992. Guitarist Alen Jovan… Read Full Bio ↴Goblini is a serbian punk band founded in March, 1992. Guitarist Alen Jovanović and Vlada Kokotović, who lived in Karlovac, played in the band Lorelai until 1991 when Lorelai disbanded. After playing with numerous bands from Zagreb, the two moved to Šabac and in 1992 with singer Branko Golubović formed Goblini. The band changed several drummers until Nenad Divnić came to the band.

Their first album Goblini ("The Goblins") was released only on tape in small printing in April 1994. A-side of the tape included songs by Lorelai and the B-side featured new songs. A few months later Divnić went to the army and was replaced by Nedeljko "Meketa" Nedić with whom the band recorded their second album Istinite priče I deo ("True Stories Part I") also released on tape. The album featured "Ciponjka", "eLeSDi se vraca kući" ("LSD Is Coming Home") and "Za Lorenu" ("For Loreena") and five rerecorded tracks from the first album. Divnić recorded drum sections on one part of the material. Later that year the band was joined by Džukele member Leo "fon Punkerstein" Pilipović since his band took a break because band members went to the army. In May 1995, Nedić left for Cyprus and was replaced by Zoran "Fric" Jević.

During the same year the band released a live tape of their appearance at Belgrade's KST on August 31, 1995. Among their songs the band played cover versions of KUD Idijoti's "Pisma o ribaru Marinu, Mari i moru" and "Minijatura", Ramones' "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" and "Commando" and a Serbian language version of The Clash's "I Fought The Law" (titled "Ne mogu više") which were regularly performed on concerts. The band also played Boris Novković's song "Tamara" since Jovanović was a part of Novković's band. "Ne mogu više" was dedicated to former president Slobodan Milošević and the last verse of the song is taken from the Talking Heads's track "Road To Nowhere". With the producer Aca Radosavljević the band recorded the CD U magnovenju. During the promotional tour for the album Filipović was replaced by Saša Šetka. The album featured live versions of "On je ona je", "Ima nas!", "Petra", "Vođa" and a cover of Videosex's song "Kako bih volio da si tu" ("I Wish You Were Here") renamed "Anja, volim te" ("Anja, I Love You") dedicated to Videosex vocalist Anja Rupel. During May, 1996 with the bands Svarog, Love Hunters and Ništa Ali Logopedi Goblini went on a Slovenian tour and on June got the call to perform at Zgaga rock festival at the place Hotič pri Litija near Ljubljana after which they toured Slovenia again (during autumn 1996). Live versions of their three songs were included on a various artists compilation Paket Aranžman - Svi protiv svih ("Package Deal - Everybody Against Everybody") recorded in Belgrade's KST held to celebrate the fifth birthday of the TV Politika show Paket Aranžman. In June 1997, the band toured Slovenia and performed at the second Zgaga rock festival with a new drummer, Vladimir "Cina" Cinklocki (a former Generacija Bez Budućnosti and Obojeni Program member).

A double live various artists compilation No Border Jam 4 & 5 released in 1997, featured live versions of "Ona misli da zna", "U magnovenju" and "eLeSDi se vraca kuci" recorded at Ilirska Bistrica performance in 1996. In August 1997 the band performed as an opening act for Motörhead on Budapest rock festival. Twenty recordings from thirteen cities made in Serbia and Slovenia from 1996 and 1997 were released on double CD Turneja u magnovenju '96/97. The album featured a new studio track "Punk's Not Dead" and reissue of "Istinite priče I deo". Cinklocki left the band when they were about to enter the studio in November 1998. The album "Re Contra" was finished on the day 1999 NATO bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia started. This was the reason the album was not released until December 1999. In the mean-time, the band went on a nine dates Italian tour including Milano, Rome, Bologna, Torino and other cities. On January 2000 until the spring of 2001, the band toured Serbia.

After the tour the band took a break and started planning their next album, but the economic situation in the country led Branko Golubović, Alen Jovanović, Saša Šetka, Vlada Kokotović and drummer Milan Arnautović to part their ways.

In 2003 Alen Jovanović formed a band called Starfuckers featuring members from Plexus, Midgard and CBS. In 2004, Multimedia Records released Najbolje priče ("The Best Stories") a greatest hits compilation featuring live versions of songs performed at the band's peak. The album also features videos for "Voz" and "Pričaš". The later was an unreleased track recorded in 1997 which is also included on the album.

In 2006 Živka Ivković from Šabac released a book called "Od Čivija do Goblina" ("From The Machine Heads To The Goblins") with a subtitle "Illustrated Rock History Of Šabac 1963-1999-2006".

In late 2008 Milan Arnautović formed alternative rock band Eleven together with his old mates. http://www.elevenmusic.net

Znam
Goblini Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Kažeš mi "Dobro je"
a tražiš da ti objasnim sve
Hej, da nije malo mnogo
Ti si taj što čuva tajni izlaz za beg

Samo jedan korak napred
I svom potomstvu vrati sjaj
Mozda sam glup zato što ćutim

ali jedno ipak znaj

Da znam da nije san
kad ćemo podići glavu
i shvatiti da postoji dan
novi dan
i da će osmeh
da nam se vrati na lica

Ti nemaš siguran stav
previše veruješ ljudima
nije isto misliti glavom
i misliti mudima

A ja se pretvaram u senku
lutam gradom i mirišem mrak

Kada budeš stao kraj mene
napokon ćeš shvatiti

Overall Meaning

Goblini's song "Znam" is about an individual who believes that they are not being truthful with themselves or with others. The song is structured as a conversation between two people where one is asking the other for an explanation. The first line of the song "Kažeš mi dobro je" translates to "You tell me everything is alright" but in reality, the person is struggling with understanding their own emotions and actions. The second line "a tražiš da ti objasnim sve" means "but you want me to explain everything to you" indicating that the person is also frustrated with not being able to fully express their feelings.

The chorus encourages the listener to take a step forward and reclaim what has been lost. The lines " samo jedan korak napred, I svom potomstvu vrati sjaj" translate to "just one step forward to bring back the glory for our future generations". Despite feeling lost, the singer offers a glimmer of hope that they are not alone and that someday they will be able to lift their heads up once again.

The final verse is a reflection of the singer's own struggles and their perception of the person they are speaking to. "A ja se pretvaram u senku, lutam gradom i mirišem mrak, Kada budeš stao kraj mene, napokon ćes shvatiti" which means "I become a shadow, wandering the city and smelling the darkness. When you stand next to me, you'll finally understand". The singer recognizes that they are hiding from their own feelings and trying to come to terms with their own fears. Overall, "Znam" highlights the challenges of being vulnerable and authentic in a world that often values facade more than truth.

Line by Line Meaning

Kažeš mi "Dobro je"
You tell me "It's fine"

a tražiš da ti objasnim sve
And you ask me to explain everything to you

Hej, da nije malo mnogo
Hey, isn't that asking too much?

Ti si taj što čuva tajni izlaz za beg
You're the one who keeps the secret escape route

Samo jedan korak napred
Just one step forward

I svom potomstvu vrati sjaj
And bring back the shine to your descendants

Mozda sam glup zato što ćutim
Maybe I'm dumb for staying quiet

ali jedno ipak znaj
But know one thing

Da znam da nije san
That I know it's not a dream

kad ćemo podići glavu
When we will raise our heads

i shvatiti da postoji dan
And realize that there is a day