Just like in any other country, national anthem (hymn narodowy) is sung during important national holidays, games, in schools and on other occasions. I think it is pretty easy to learn and couple of my friends asked me to teach them the words. And that’s how I’ve got an idea for today’s blog.
Polish National Anthem (Mazurek Dąbrowskiego) is a lively folk dance with patriotic words written shortly after the country lost its independence in a series of partitions by Austria, Russia, Prussia (1772, 1791, 1795).
It was created between 16 and 19 of July, 1795 in Reggio di Emilia in Italy, on the occasion of the departure of the Polish legions, led by general Jan Henryk Dąbrowski (1755-1818) to fight in the Napoleonic wars (supporting the French dictator).
The author of the “Song of the Polish Legions in Italy” – as the anthem was originally called – was Józef Wybicki, General Dąbrowski’s close associate. The folk tune and the inspiring texts, with the first strophe beginning with “Poland’s not dead as long as we live” immediately captured the attention of the soldiers, Poland’s émigrés and the country inhabitants.
Below you will find the full text of the official 4-strophe anthem in English translation:
1. Poland is not yet lost
While we live
We will fight (with swords) for all
That our enemies had taken from us.
Refrain:
March, march Dabrowski
From Italy to Poland
Under your command
We will reunite with the nation.
2. We will cross the Vistula and Warta Rivers,
We will be Poles, Bonaparte showed us how to win.
Refrain: March, march…
3. Like Czarniecki to Poznan, after Swedish annexation,
We will come back across the sea to save our motherland
Refrain: March, march…
4. Father, in tears, says to his Basia: “Just listen,
It seems that our people are beating the drums.”
Refrain: March, march…
1. 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.
2. Przejdziem Wisłę, przejdziem Wartę,
Będziem Polakami,
Dał nam przykład Bonaparte,
Jak zwyciężać mamy.
Marsz, marsz, Dąbrowski…
3. Jak Czarniecki do Poznania
Po szwedzkim zaborze,
Dla ojczyzny ratowania
Wrócim się przez morze.
Marsz, marsz, Dąbrowski…
4. Już tam ojciec do swej Basi
Mówi zapłakany –
“Słuchaj jeno, pono nasi
Biją w tarabany.”
Marsz, marsz, Dąbrowski…
Do następnego razu! (Till next time…)
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My name is Kasia Scontsas. I grew near Lublin, Poland and moved to Warsaw to study International Business. I have passion for languages: any languages! Currently I live in New Hampshire. I enjoy skiing, kayaking, biking and paddle boarding. My husband speaks a little Polish, but our daughters are fluent in it! I wanted to make sure that they can communicate with their Polish relatives in our native language. Teaching them Polish since they were born was the best thing I could have given them!
I have been writing about learning Polish language and culture for Transparent Language’s Polish Blog since 2010.
Comments:
Jan:
And soon Poles can sing it in English only.
Aidan Langley:
@Jan I’m from English and i’m studying your country
Well, Poles hat singing in Polish. A matter of time before the Polish lyrics of the national anthem disappear.
Kasia:
@Jan I have to disagree with Jan. We do not sing it in English. I just posted this translation so people know what the song is about. I have never heard anyone sing it in English and I’m sure that true polish anthem and will never disappear.
Paddy:
As it happens I have been learning the anthem, see here:
To me it’s an essential part of moving to live and work somewhere, integration wise.
Jan:
20 years ago there was hardly a Polish singer singing his or her songs in English.
It is only a matter of time before Polish singers do not know how to sing properly in Polish anymore if this trend continues.
Polka:
polish anthem is very special to me, however I would take Bonaparte out of it
I would replace with something more inspiring and universal or something more domestic
Polka:
instead of “Bonaparte line” I would try something different:
“Naszym trumfem bedzie Pan Bog
Laurem uwienczony”
or
“Nasza Wiaro zwycierzymy,
Miloscia osiagniemy”
or
“szukac Prawdy i Madrosci
i Milosci wiecznej”
etc….
Dwayne Francke:
This will be a great blog, might you be interested in doing an interview about just how you created it? If so e-mail me!
Comments:
Jan:
And soon Poles can sing it in English only.
Aidan Langley:
@Jan I’m from English and i’m studying your country
Emilia Misiura:
I just love the Polish Anthem.
Emilia
http://www.ArtWanted.com.Emilia
Jan:
Well, Poles hat singing in Polish. A matter of time before the Polish lyrics of the national anthem disappear.
Kasia:
@Jan I have to disagree with Jan. We do not sing it in English. I just posted this translation so people know what the song is about. I have never heard anyone sing it in English and I’m sure that true polish anthem and will never disappear.
Paddy:
As it happens I have been learning the anthem, see here:
http://pozdrowieniazursynowa.blogspot.com/2011/03/moja-walka.html
To me it’s an essential part of moving to live and work somewhere, integration wise.
Jan:
20 years ago there was hardly a Polish singer singing his or her songs in English.
It is only a matter of time before Polish singers do not know how to sing properly in Polish anymore if this trend continues.
Polka:
polish anthem is very special to me, however I would take Bonaparte out of it
I would replace with something more inspiring and universal or something more domestic
Polka:
instead of “Bonaparte line” I would try something different:
“Naszym trumfem bedzie Pan Bog
Laurem uwienczony”
or
“Nasza Wiaro zwycierzymy,
Miloscia osiagniemy”
or
“szukac Prawdy i Madrosci
i Milosci wiecznej”
etc….
Dwayne Francke:
This will be a great blog, might you be interested in doing an interview about just how you created it? If so e-mail me!