1998 - Croatia
Performed by: Danijela
Music by: Petar Grašo, Remi Kazinotti, Stjepan Kalogjera
Lyrics by: Petar Grašo, Remi Kazinotti, Stjepan Kalogjera
Conductor: Stipica Kalogjera
Language: Croatian
Placing: 5th (131 points)
Other versions: English


"Neka mi ne svane" ("May the dawn never come") was the Croatian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 performed in Croatian by Danijela.
The song was performed first on the night, preceding Greece's Thalassa with "Mia Krifi Evesthisia". At the close of voting, it had received 131 points, placing 5th in a field of 25.


The song is a dramatic ballad, often described as the archetypal "Balkan Ballad" by fans, with Danijela wishing that she will "cease to exist" rather than live another day without her lover. The song begins quietly, with only Danijela's voice heard, but swells to a climax with backing vocals and light instrumentation. Memorable in her performance is when Danijela removes the black cape she wears to reveal the white evening dress beneath it and the audience starts to applause.


It is generally regarded as one of the stronger entries from the successor states of Yugoslavia. It was succeeded as Croatian representative at the 1999 Contest by Doris with "Marija Magdalena". As with many Croatian Eurovision entries, an English version was also recorded, entitled "Despair". An instrumental version with a piano replacing the vocals also exists.

In a May 2018 poll by Eurofest Hrvatska, the Croatian Eurovision Song Contest fan group, "Neka mi ne svane" was voted the best among 23 Croatian ESC entries to date.


LYRICS:


Neka mi ne svane

Još jedan dan je prošao
Još jednom mjesec došao
Tiho k'o neki dragi gost
Da mi do jutra bude most

Jer tuga vodi me kroz godine
I krade san, dok novi ne svane mi dan

Neka mi ne svane
Nek' me nema, nek' me ne bude
Neka me bez tebe ne probude
Neka mi ne svane
Nek' me nema, nek' me ne bude
Neka me bez tebe ne probude

Još jedan dan je prošao
Još jednom mjesec došao
Tiho k'o neki dragi gost
Da mi do jutra bude most

Jer tuga vodi me kroz godine
I krade san, dok novi ne svane mi dan

Neka mi ne svane
Nek' me nema, nek' me ne bude
Neka me bez tebe ne probude
Neka mi ne svane
Nek' me nema, nek' me ne bude
Neka me bez tebe ne probude

Neka me bez tebe ne probude
Neka mi ne svane
Nek' me nema, nek' me ne bude
Neka me bez tebe ne probude
Neka me bez tebe ne probude




English:


May the dawn never rise

Another day has passed by
Once more, the moon has come
Silently, like a dear guest
To abridge my mornings

For the sorrow leads me through the years
Steals the dream, till a new day dawns

May the dawn never rise
May I disappear, may I cease to exist
May I not wake up without you
May the dawn never rise
May I disappear, may I cease to exist
May I not wake up without you

Another day has passed by
Once more, the moon has come
Silently, like a dear guest
To abridge my mornings

For the sorrow leads me through the years
Steals the dream, till a new day dawns

May the dawn never rise
May I disappear, may I cease to exist
May I not wake up without you
May the dawn never rise
May I disappear, may I cease to exist
May I not wake up without you

May I not wake up without you
May the dawn never rise
May I disappear, may I cease to exist
May I not wake up without you
May I not wake up without you

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