Song Meaning

The narrator opens by listing a dizzying array of professions – baker, doctor, pharmacist, bookbinder, mason – all things they "could have been." This cascade of potential paths, each promising stability and a clear role, establishes a sense of unrealized possibilities. The sheer volume of trades suggests a life where conventional success was within reach, a stark contrast to the path ultimately chosen. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who had options, a foundation for a predictable future, but felt an irresistible pull elsewhere. This initial enumeration sets up the central conflict: the tension between societal expectations and personal calling. The core of the song lies in the narrator's rejection of a stable, secure life for the unpredictable allure of rock and roll. The father's advice, repeated for emphasis, highlights the perceived wisdom of practicality: "Forget the musicians, school is important." He champions a life of social security, healthcare, and a regular paycheck – the very definition of a safe bet. Yet, the narrator's persistent refrain, "But I couldn't live without rock and roll," underscores a deep-seated passion that overrides all rational considerations. This isn't just a preference; it's an essential part of their being, a force too powerful to ignore. The most striking aspect of the lyrics is the juxtaposition of mundane, respectable professions with more ambiguous or even negative roles. Alongside the baker and doctor, we find "poisoner" and "demagogue," "half-poet" and "sick person." This deliberate inclusion of darker or less conventional identities suggests that the narrator's potential wasn't limited to the straightforwardly good or stable. It hints at a broader spectrum of selves they could have inhabited, including those on the fringes. The repeated phrase "anything, anything, anything" transforms from a statement of possibility into a declaration of freedom, embracing the chaotic potential of a life lived outside the lines. Ultimately, the song resonates because it captures the universal struggle between security and passion. The father's practical advice represents the voice of reason and societal norms, while the narrator's unyielding commitment to rock and roll embodies the pursuit of a dream, however irrational. The lyrics effectively convey that some callings are so powerful they defy logic and parental wisdom. The raw, almost defiant, insistence on rock and roll highlights the profound human need to follow one's true north, even when it leads away from the well-trodden path.

Riblja čorba - Rock, Yugoslavia

Pekar, lekar, apotekar

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Duration: 2:50

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[Tekst pesme "Pekar, lekar, apotekar"] [Strofa 1] Pekar, lekar, apotekar, kolar, stolar Mogao sam biti ja bilo Å¡ta Knjigovezac, staklorezac, vidar, zidar Mogao sam biti ja bilo Å¡ta [Pripev] I krivičar i političar I pedagog i demagog Policajac ili pajac Bilo Å¡ta, bilo Å¡ta, bilo Å¡ta [Strofa 2] Mesar, tesar ili klesar, kovač, trovač Mogao sam biti ja bilo Å¡ta Mlinar, vinar, veterinar, kuvar, čuvar Mogao sam biti ja bilo Å¡ta [Pripev] Daktilograf i fotograf I scenograf i geograf Polupesnik i bolesnik Bilo Å¡ta, bilo Å¡ta, bilo Å¡ta [Refren] Jer lepo je meni govorio tata "Mani muzikante, važna je škola" Socijalno, zdravstveno i redovna plata Al' nisam mogao bez rokenro-o-ol, rokenrola Jer lepo je meni govorio tata "Mani muzikante, važna je škola" Socijalno, zdravstveno i redovna plata Al' nisam mogao bez rokenro-o-ol, rokenrola [Strofa 1] Pekar, lekar, apotekar, kolar, stolar Mogao sam biti ja bilo Å¡ta Knjigovezac, staklorezac, vidar, zidar Mogao sam biti ja bilo Å¡ta [Pripev] I krivičar i političar I pedagog i demagog Policajac ili pajac Bilo Å¡ta, bilo Å¡ta, bilo Å¡ta [Gitarski solo] [Most] Bilo Å¡ta Bilo Å¡ta [Pripev] Daktilograf i fotograf I scenograf i geograf Polupesnik i bolesnik Bilo Å¡ta, bilo Å¡ta, bilo Å¡ta [Refren] I lepo je meni govorio tata "Mani muzikante, važna je škola" Socijalno, zdravstveno i redovna plata Al' nisam mogao bez rokenro-o-ol, rokenrola Lepo je meni govorio tata "Mani muzikante, važna je škola" Socijalno, zdravstveno i redovna plata Al' nisam mogao bez rokenro-o-o-o-ol, rokenrola

Credits

Writers: Bora Đorđević

Pekar, lekar, apotekar

Pekar, lekar, apotekar

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