Polish National Anthem

Since this week is full of events in Polish history which we are all celebrating and sharing with others (be sure to wear your red and maybe your amber or red beads as well!), I was surprised that I had not yet shared the Polish Anthem and it's English translation. 

„Mazurek Dąbrowskiego"

Written by: Józef Wybicki

Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła,

Kiedy my żyjemy.

Co nam obca przemoc wzięła,

Szablą odbierzemy.

Marsz, marsz, Dąbrowski,

Z ziemi włoskiej do Polski.

Za twoim przewodem

Złączym się z narodem.

Przejdziem Wisłę, przejdziem Wartę,

Będziem Polakami.

Dał nam przykład Bonaparte,

Jak zwyciężać mamy.

Marsz, marsz...

Jak Czarniecki do Poznania

Po szwedzkim zaborze,

Dla ojczyzny ratowania

Wrócim się przez morze.

Marsz, marsz...

Już tam ojciec do swej Basi

Mówi zapłakany —

Słuchaj jeno, pono nasi

Biją w tarabany.

Marsz, marsz...

 

 In English:

Poland is not yet lost
while we live
What foreign force has taken from us
We shall take back with the sword.

 March, march Dabrowski
From the lands of Italy to Poland
Under your command
We will reunite with the nation. // Sing Refrain twice We will cross the Vistula, We will cross the Warta (Rivers), We will be Poles.Bonaparte gave us the example,the ways to victory. March, march Dabrowski... Like Czarniecki to Poznan,after Swedish occupation *,For rescuing our homelandWe will come back across the sea. March, march Dabrowski... Already there a Father to his Basiasays tearfully -"Just listen, It seems that our people are beating the drums." March, march Dabrowski...     And now, a super cute little girl singing the Polish National Anthem... 

I hope the beauty of the lyrics and the true feeling of this hymn comes across to you in the translation.  When I hear it, I can feel the deep longing and insuppressible pride of those who wrote and sang this song going into battle and in memory of Poland's history over the past couple of centuries as they longed for Poland's sovereignty.

 *The word translates to "Occupation", although some view the Swedish Deluge as being a partition or annexation, depending on political and historical views.  I prefer the word Occupation as it's the true translation of the song and what happened at the time.

For further information, check out poland.gov.pl's page on the Polish National Anthem, which is full of historical information about the piece, lyrics, an instrumental recording of the refrain, and several versions of the song set to the music so that you can check out the notes to the song for solo voice, piano, different brass bands, etc.

Na razie...