Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Dragostea Din Tei by O-Zone from Romanian to English.
These lyrics have verified word for word translations. Click any lyric word to see the translation and hear the pronunciation!
Verse 1
Hi, hello, it's me, an outlaw
Haiduc can be translated as 'outlaw', 'hooligan', but it has a positive connotation, referring to someone like Robin Hood, who takes from the rich and gives to the poor
And I beg you, my love, receive happiness
Hello, hello, it's me Picasso
Alo is what you say as a 'hello' when responding to a phone call
I gave you a call, and I'm strong
Beep means to give you a call on the phone, a ring, the beep referring to the sound of the ringing
But know that I'm not asking for anything
Chorus 1
You want to leave but you won't take me
You won't take me, you won't take me
There is some repetition there, literally translated as: you won't you won't take me you won't you won't you won't take me
Your body and love from the linden tree
Dragoste and iubire are both the noun for love, but dragoste is more commonly used for romantic love, while iubire is used for all types of love, romantic, family, hobbies etc
Remind me of your eyes
You want to leave but you won't take me
You won't take me, you won't take me
Your body and love from the linden tree
The word 'body' is more commonly translated as 'corp' while 'chipul' refers more your image / face / body / being
Remind me of your eyes
Verse 2
I call you to tell you how I feel now
Hello, my love, it's me, happiness
Hello, hello, it's me again Picasso
I gave you a call, and I'm strong
But know that I'm not asking for anything
Chorus 2
You want to leave but you won't take me
You won't take me, you won't take me
Your body and love from the linden tree
'Tei' is a type of tree called a linden tree. It is a metaphorical expression and a play on words
Remind me of your eyes
You want to leave but you won't take me
You won't take me, you won't take me
Your body and love from the linden tree
'Dragostea din tei' is likely a play on words, as it sounds similar to 'The First Love' = 'Dragostea dintâi', alluding to the excitement of a first love
Remind me of your eyes
May-ah-hee is just a made up sound to sing something catchy without meaning
Chorus 3
You want to leave but you won't take me
You won't take me, you won't take me
Your body and love from the linden tree
Remind me of your eyes
You want to leave but you won't take me
You won't take me, you won't take me
Your body and love from the linden tree
Remind me of your eyes
Lyrics and Translations Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Haiduc is a Romanian word for a type of heroic outlaw or freedom fighter from Balkan folklore, often compared to the legend of Robin Hood. These figures were seen as symbols of resistance and protectors of the common people.
In the song's opening line, the singer playfully introduces himself as "un haiduc" to sound mysterious and adventurous to his love interest. It's a bold, romantic declaration that sets a whimsical and dramatic tone for this iconic pop song, suggesting his love is as grand as a folk tale.
You know that famous "numa numa" hook that gets stuck in your head for days? The actual story in the lyrics is basically a desperate, slightly chaotic phone call from Moldovan pop group O-Zone. The singer rings his crush, calling himself "un haiduc" [an outlaw / folk hero], promises that he brings true joy, and bizarrely nicknames himself "Picasso" on the line. He admits "Ți-am dat beep" [I beeped you], which refers to that classic early-2000s move where you let someone's phone ring once so they call you back without wasting your cell minutes. He insists he is strong ("sunt voinic") and asks for nothing in return, yet he cannot seem to hang up.
Then comes the sting in the chorus: "Vrei să pleci dar nu mă, nu mă iei" [You want to leave, but you won't take me with you]. The girl is walking away, leaving him behind to obsess over "Chipul tău și dragostea din tei" [Your face and love under the linden tree] while remembering her eyes. Linden trees are everywhere in Eastern Europe, often tied to romantic spring walks and sweet scents, so this is shorthand for a sweet romance that is now slipping through his fingers over a crackly mobile connection.
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