Želim da te ljubim

Song Meaning

This song captures a raw, immediate desire for love, tinged with the anxiety of romantic uncertainty. The narrator, speaking through the repeated lines, expresses a deep longing to be the sole source of happiness for their beloved. The central tension arises from the question of their own position in the beloved's life: "Ne znam da l' ću biti prva, druga ili treća" (I don't know if I'll be the first, second, or third). This uncertainty fuels the intense wish to "ljubim" (kiss/love) and be "sreća" (happiness). The lyrics present a fascinating call-and-response structure, highlighting a perceived imbalance in emotional investment. While the male voice asserts "Žene su život moj, moja noć i dan" (Women are my life, my night and day) and "Daješ mi, daješ sve što možeš da mi daš" (You give me, you give me everything you can), the female voice, particularly in the refrains, circles back to the core insecurity. The male voice's declarations of devotion are met not with reciprocal reassurance, but with the persistent question, "da li si nekad sam?" (are you ever alone?), suggesting a fear of being just one among many. The most striking aspect is the stark contrast between the expressed desire and the underlying doubt. The repeated phrase "Želim, želim da te ljubim, da ti budem sreća" (I want, I want to kiss you, to be your happiness) is powerful, but it's immediately undercut by the fear of not being the primary partner. This creates a palpable sense of vulnerability, where the act of loving is desired precisely because it might offer a chance to secure a definitive place, to move from an uncertain "prva, druga ili treća" to the singular "sreća."