We want to know exactly what we're singing.
March 6, 2010 10:14 AM

I need help translating this Polish song! The internet has failed me so far.

[Me and my Polish friend aren't fluent speakers of the language. However we absolutely love our culture and embrace it. Long story short, we heart Poland.]

We've been working on performing a song by this song Zakopower, a Polish band. Having lived around Polish people most our lives, we have the actual Polish down. But we're seeking to get a translation into English so we can explain what we're singing.

Lyrics henceforth:
Kie ci bedzie chłopce casem w zyciu smutno
kie ci bedzie chłopce moze w zyciu źle
ej, nie rób krzywdy dzieciom ani babie
leć do karcmy wartko i ozluźnij sie
Kie pocujes chłopce ze przybywo siły
ze za tobom juz ostaje smutku płań
ej, posiedź kwile i se pomedytuj
cy to worce do wiecora bywać hań
Chłopcyska przy barze do tobie zdrówkajom, hej!
Bielućkie zwiyrzątka główkami kiwajom, hej!
Staro prowda - zycie casem moze zmierzieć
zebyś prasnon syćko i se poseł w świat
ej, ale w doma dzieci no i baba
ona ci oddała swej młodości kwiat
Chłopcyska przy barze do tobie zdrówkajom, hej!
Bielućkie zwiyrzątka główkami kiwajom, hej!
Niek chłopcy przy barze zdrówkajom se sami, hej!
Jo zaś bede siedzioł z babom i dzieciami, hej!
Niek chłopcy przy barze zdrówkajom se sami, hej!
Jo zaś bede siedzioł z babom i dzieciami, hej!
Ramala ramala ramala ramale je!

All help appreciated! I ask you fellows because I assume at least one of you can speak and write Polish pretty well, and I don't like what Google and other services do to this. Plus, they failed in the first place to translate half of it! Haven't been able to talk to any people I know who would be fluent.
posted by Askiba to Writing & Language (2 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
a (REALLY) rough translation, from the spouse and transcribed by me, although you know this is in the southern/mountain dialect:

If you happen, boy, to be sad sometime in your life
if you happen, boy to have it bad in your life
hey don't beat your kids and woman
Go quickly to the pub and relax.
When you feel your strength returning,
and the sadness has been left behind,
hey sit a while and ponder
if it's worth something [dialect]
refrain
Your pub buddies will drink to your health Hey!
White animals are nodding their heads Hey!

An old adage--Life can make you
give up and walk away into the world
hey, but at there's kids and a woman at home
She gave you the flower of her youth,

Your pub buddies will drink to your health Hey!
White animals are nodding their heads Hey!

Let the pub buddies drink to their own health Hey!
While I'll sit with the woman and kids Hey!

Let the pub buddies drink to their own health Hey!
While I'll sit with the woman and kids Hey!

Ramala is a nonsense word yeah!
posted by Cold Lurkey at 10:35 AM on March 6, 2010


Thanks! That seems pretty spot on.
posted by Askiba at 10:52 AM on March 6, 2010


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