"Haiduc" or "haiduk" is a word of Balkan origin which means something like "outlaw"; in Romanian it has a rustic or archaic connotation. Most of those who know the band in the Western world know them by way of French-speaking areas, where they are known as "Taraf de Haïdouks", since French lacks a genitive case. They are known in their native Romania as "Taraful Haiducilor". Roughly, this means "band of outlaws", but "taraf" is also the traditional name for a group of lăutari (traditional Romanian Gypsy musicians).
The group formed in 1989, shortly before the death of dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu. The original group encompassed about a dozen musicians; later configurations were to include as many as thirty. Early contacts in the West included Swiss ethnomusicologist Laurent Aubert and Belgian musician Stéphane Karo.
Some core members of the group:
Nicolae Neacșu (violin, vocals)Dumitru Baicu (cimbalom)Ilie Iorga (vocals)Ion Manole (violin, vocals)Gheorghe Anghel (violin)Gheorghe Fălcaru (flute, double bass)Ionică Tănase (cimbalom)Constantin Sandu (cimbalom, vocals)Florea Pârvan (double bass)Marin Sandu (double bass)Paul Guiclea (vcals, violin)Marin Manole (accordion)Constantin Lăutaru (violin, vocals)Viorel Vlad (double bass)Robert Gheorghe (violin)
Dumbala dumba
Taraf de Haïdouks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
MARGARETO 'NTOARCETE (2*)
INTOARCETE ASA LA MINE
AMÎNDOI S-O FRIGEM BINE (2*)
Chorus: DUM DAKA DUMELAKE DAI DUMALELE (2*)
DAI DUMELAKE DAI DUMALELE
DIKĂ DAKĂ DUMELAKE DAI DUMALELE
BALĂLĂU E MANDATAR
LA INTERCONTINENTAL
VINDE CARNE FĂRĂ OASE
LA GAGICILE FRUMOASE
HAI DUMBA DUMBA DUMBAI
SI-O VINDE CU TREI LEI CIUNGA (2*)
Chorus: OOH DAI DUMALELE
DUM DAKA DUMELAKA DAI DUMALELE (2*)
DIKĂ DAKĂ DUMELAKE DAI DUMALELE (2*)
DAI DUMELAKA DAI DUMALELE
DIKA DAKA DUMELAKE DAI DUMALELE
NU TE UITA CĂ SÎNT MICĂ
CĂ SCOT GARDUC DIN PĂMINT
NU DISPA CĂ SÎNT BRUNETĂ
DITAMAI BAROTA LENTO !
HAI DUNUN DAI DAI NUNUN
DAI DAI DAI DAI NUNUN DAILA (2*)
Chorus: OOH DAI DUMALELE
DUM DAKA DUMELAKA DAI DUMALELE (2*)
DIKĂ DAKĂ DUMELAKE DAI DUMALELE (2*)
DAI DUMELAKA DAI DUMALELE
DIKĂ DAKĂ DUMELAKE DAI DUMALELE
Dum daga duma daga
Dai dumalala
Dum daga duma daga
Dai dumalala
Dai dumalaga
Dai dumalala
Rin daga dumalaga
Dai dumalala
The lyrics of Taraf de Haïdouks's song "Dumbala dumba" tell the story of Margareto, who is asked to come back to the singer as they both feel cold. The chorus features repetitive and catchy syllables that potentially highlight the song's origin as a Romani (Gypsy) folk song. The lyrics describe Balalau as a powerful figure who sells meat without bones to beautiful women, and he is seen as a threat or adversary to the singer. The singer urges Balalau to sell his meat for three leis and leave the area (Hai dumba dumbai si-o vinde cu trei lei ciunga). In the final verse, the singer asserts that despite being small, she can dig up roots and is not to be underestimated.
Line by Line Meaning
HAI DAI DUMALE
Come on, let's go!
MARGARETO 'NTOARCETE (2*)
Margareto, come back to me
INTOARCETE ASA LA MINE
Come back to me like this
AMÎNDOI S-O FRIGEM BINE (2*)
Both of us will freeze well
Chorus: DUM DAKA DUMELAKE DAI DUMALELE (2*)
Drumbeat, give it to me
DAI DUMELAKE DAI DUMALELE
Give it to me
DIKĂ DAKĂ DUMELAKE DAI DUMALELE
Hard and loud, give it to me
BALĂLĂU E MANDATAR
The bandleader is a delegate
LA INTERCONTINENTAL
At the Intercontinental (Hotel)
VINDE CARNE FĂRĂ OASE
He sells boneless meat
LA GAGICILE FRUMOASE
To the beautiful girls
HAI DUMBA DUMBA DUMBAI
Let's dance, dance, dance
SI-O VINDE CU TREI LEI CIUNGA (2*)
And he sells it for three lei per pound
NU TE UITA CĂ SÎNT MICĂ
Don't look at me because I'm small
CĂ SCOT GARDUC DIN PĂMINT
Because I dig pickles out of the ground
NU DISPA CĂ SÎNT BRUNETĂ
Don't be surprised that I'm brunette
DITAMAI BAROTA LENTO !
I have a huge boyfriend, slow down!
HAI DUNUN DAI DAI NUNUN
Let's have fun and dance
DAI DAI DAI DAI NUNUN DAILA (2*)
Give it to me, give it to me
Dum daga duma daga
Drumbeat
Dai dumalala
Give it to me
Dai dumalaga
Give it to me
Rin daga dumalaga
Drumbeat
Dai dumalala
Give it to me
Contributed by William V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MauganeGINGER
HAI DAI DUMALE
MARGARETO 'NTOARCETE (2*)
INTOARCETE ASA LA MINE
AMÎNDOI S-O FRIGEM BINE (2*)
Chorus: DUM DAKA DUMELAKE DAI DUMALELE (2*)
DAI DUMELAKE DAI DUMALELE
DIKĂ DAKĂ DUMELAKE DAI DUMALELE
BALĂLĂU E MANDATAR
LA INTERCONTINENTAL
VINDE CARNE FĂRĂ OASE
LA GAGICILE FRUMOASE
HAI DUMBA DUMBA DUMBAI
SI-O VINDE CU TREI LEI CIUNGA
@laviniumarta501
@@Sassafrass-qh8po the lirycs are pretty dirty, old slang .some in gipsy language, but I'll try:
HAI DUMALE, MARGARET TURN BACK/
AU DUMALE, MARGARET TURN BACK
TURN BACK LIKE THAT TOWARDS ME/
BOTH OF US TO GET IT ROASTED WELL (means both of us to get a good fuck)
BĂLĂLĂU IS A REPRESENTATIVE AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL ( means he's în the black market at the INTERCONTINENTAL Hotel)/HE'S SELLING THE MEAT WITHOUT BONES ( meaning he's a gigolo, meat without bine =penis)/ TO THE BEAUTIFUL LADIES
HAI DUMBA, DUMBA, DUMBA/ AND HE'S SELLING WITH 3 LEI(romanian currency) THE CHEWING GUM!
DON'T LOOK AT ME THAT I'M SHORT / 'COS I PULL OUT THE FENCE FROM THE GROUND
I'M NOT (disperate?) ' COS I'M BRUNETTE/ SUCH A BIG TALENT!
@iulianft
Laviniu Marta
1 month ago
@Sassafrass2000 the lirycs are pretty dirty, old slang .some in gipsy language, but I'll try:
HAI DUMALE, MARGARET TURN BACK/
AU DUMALE, MARGARET TURN BACK
TURN BACK LIKE THAT TOWARDS ME/
BOTH OF US TO GET IT ROASTED WELL (means both of us to get a good fuck)
BĂLĂLĂU IS A REPRESENTATIVE AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL ( means he's în the black market at the INTERCONTINENTAL Hotel)/HE'S SELLING THE MEAT WITHOUT BONES ( meaning he's a gigolo, meat without bine =penis)/ TO THE BEAUTIFUL LADIES
HAI DUMBA, DUMBA, DUMBA/ AND HE'S SELLING WITH 3 LEI(romanian currency) THE CHEWING GUM!
DON'T LOOK AT ME THAT I'M SHORT / 'COS I PULL OUT THE FENCE FROM THE GROUND
I'M NOT (disperate?) ' COS I'M BRUNETTE/ SUCH A BIG TALENT!
Last line i think is : DON'T DESPERATE 'COS I'M BRUNETTE( that is gypsy ) / THE BIGGEST SLOW BALE ( it refers to her roundness, not to say fatness)
@gypstersband9994
this song will make you feel better even if you weren't feeling bad
@roxanahaloiu6757
Gypsters Band you should listen to the lyrics. They’re hilarious 😂
@Sassafrass-qh8po
@@roxanahaloiu6757 will you please share a translation/explaination into english if possible? thank you!
@Nick26923
@@Sassafrass-qh8po The lyrics are very deep and some of The words doesnt have a translation.
@christiandavidxx
Q
@mihaia7737
@@roxanahaloiu6757 these are real people that I used to meet on the streets of Bucharest back then, selling the stuff they are talking about in the song. What’s funny about it?
@crindima
Thank you for posting! Vă ascult mereu. Născut în București și sunt în America de 43 de ani și musica asta mă aduce acasă. Multă sănătate!
@zahariaflorin7789
Bună, băi fraților mă omorît omu ăsta cu acordeonul lui,si vocea super,să vă dea dumnezeu multă sănătate, vă ascult mereu cu mare drag in germania,
@iulianvisinescu3974
Dumnezeu sa vă țină sănătoși,iar pe cei ce nu mai sunt printre voi Dumnezeu sa ii ierte!!!!sunteți o adevarata comoara!!!!nu aveți egal,iar tu Caliule ești un talent innascut,un om deosebit!!!!!Vă ascult de fiecare data cu lacrimi in ochi si cu o emoție puternica in suflet!!!!!
@hayday6026
De ce să îi ierte ? Au greșit cu ceva ?