# Baba sede v balon

"Baba sede v balon" is a Slovenian nonsense travelling rhyme in which an old woman hops in a balloon and bounces from London to Africa to Paris to Kočevje, buying something silly at each stop and ending up wet as a mouse.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Slovenia |
| Sung in | Slovenian |
| Words by | Traditional |
| First known | traditional nonsense rhyme; author unknown |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | playful, traditional |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/baba-sede-v-balon/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (sl)

Baba sede v balon
in se pelje v london,
v londonu kupi papriko,
da se pelje v afriko,
v afriki kupi kis,
da se pelje v pariz,
v parizu kupi čevlje,
da se pele v kočevje,
v kočevju pada dež,
baba mkra kakor meš (miš).

### English translation (en)

An old woman sits in a balloon
and rides off to London,
in London she buys paprika,
so she can ride to Africa,
in Africa she buys vinegar,
so she can ride to Paris,
in Paris she buys shoes,
so she can ride to Kočevje,
in Kočevje the rain is falling,
and the old woman's wet as a mouse.

## Common questions

**What is "Baba sede v balon" about?**

A whirlwind nonsense journey. An old woman ("baba") climbs into a balloon and flies to London (where she buys paprika), then Africa (vinegar), then Paris (shoes), then Kočevje in Slovenia — where it's raining, and she ends up soaked "wet as a mouse". Each rhyme leads absurdly to the next place.

**Why does "Baba sede v balon" jump from place to place like that?**

Because each destination is chosen purely to rhyme with what she buys — London with paprika-for-Africa, and so on. It is a rhyming chain of nonsense, the fun being in the ridiculous itinerary, not in any logic.

**Who wrote "Baba sede v balon"?**

No author is recorded; it is a traditional Slovenian nonsense rhyme, of the kind passed around among children for the pleasure of its silly, tumbling rhymes.