The video description says:
In November 1993 I read the following note in the taz (German newspaper):
In the north-Serbian Wojwodina a 2,000-people-village collectively refuses military service / Now the "Spiritual Republic Zitzer" has declared independence...
Thereupon this song evolved, about this almost unbelievable story. It belongs to my song cycle "Peculiar Saints". For this upload of the song I've searched the Internet again and actually found some authentic video recordings from 1992 and added them to the song.
Here are the lyrics:
Teachers bomb children, bakers are firing around wildly.
The neighbours nice boys turn into rapists.
The war devastates the land and the people and no end is in sight.
Only very isolated, very endangered, here and there a ray of hope:
Ref: Such as this Tresnevac, Tresnevac, little village in the north.
Resistance and imagination against the murdering
One morning, the postwoman delivered 200 gray postcards,
from the military office. Horror spread from house to house
"Reserve excercise" was written on them, but they meant "order to kill"
In the evening, crowded together in the village club they were all united by the idea:
To say "No!" together now, "No!" despite all threats.
Continue teaching children, baking bread rolls, driving tractor.
Simply not to obey. Simply not to go to war.
Determined to get through whatever comes, together.
Oh, this Tresnevac, Tresnevac, little village in the north.
Resistance and imagination against the murdering
Ninety-two tanks stood around the vilage, ready to shoot.
But the Tresnevacians remained hard-nosed the whole time.
The pub became their peace camp, the tanks retreated.
Soon the tiny spot declared itself boldly a "Spiritual Republic".
For the connection of all the people who want the peace. Now.
Drew up their own constitution in the pub.
And their coat of arms: Billiard balls for their peaceful model
Their anthem, quietly beginning, the "Bolero" by Ravel
Tresnevac, Tresnevac,...
"The Bolero doesn't stay quiet", the teacher plainly says.
"Even if they isolate us, our dream doesn't die!"
It will infect other, such a dream needs its time.
For now, all TV channels only show the inevitability.
Teachers bombard children, bakers are firing around wildly.
The neighbours nice boys turn into rapists.
The war devastates the land and the people and no end is in sight.
Only very isolated, very endangered, here and there a ray of hope:
Such as this Tresnevac, Tresnevac,...