Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a past romance, tinged with a sense of impending doom. The opening verses recall shared moments of youthful idealism, like sending wishes into the clouds and collecting coins, juxtaposed with a stark observation that poverty isn't romantic. The contrast between the narrator's blue eyes and the sky, and their lover's brown eyes and the earth, grounds the connection in natural elements, suggesting a deep, almost elemental bond.
The mood shifts dramatically with the repeated phrase "Dolaze" (They are coming), signaling an encroaching threat that disrupts the idyllic past. This arrival brings "tropske bolesti" (tropical diseases) and "kisele kiše na rđave kosture" (acid rain on rusty skeletons), images that evoke decay and sickness. The once vibrant natural imagery is replaced by a landscape of desolation: "mrtve od zeđi fontana" (fountains dead from thirst) and "milioni ribljih glava u podrumima" (millions of fish heads in basements).
The central tension lies in the question "Da li su to bili topovi ili lupa moga srca" (Were those cannons or the beating of my heart?). This line, appearing after the descriptions of encroaching darkness, suggests that the perceived external threat might be amplified or even internalized as the narrator's own fear or anxiety. The "cannons" could represent war or societal collapse, while the heart's beat signifies personal turmoil, blurring the line between external danger and internal panic.
This lyrical construction is effective because it contrasts the tender intimacy of the past with a bleak, almost apocalyptic present. The specific, often unsettling imagery—like the "fish heads in basements"—creates a powerful sensory experience that underscores the emotional weight of the encroaching "dolaze." The ambiguity of the final question leaves the listener contemplating whether the greatest threat is external or the internal response to it.