Grechuta & Myslovitz - "Kraków"

Today I have a song recommendation for you. It’s a very special song for me and I thought it would be amazing to make it understandable for foreigners.  

I really like Marek Grechuta and his songs, they’re always so simple yet extraordinarily beautiful and emotional. Such a shame we won’t hear a new song from him anymore… But I’m grateful for those we have. I really like wandering around Cracow while listening to this one.  Can’t believe it has 10 years already!

Cracow itself is a pretty exceptional place, I’m so happy to be able to attend an University in this city. This music video managed to capture it’s spirit a bit, but obviously it’s a lot better  to walk along those streets yourself.  I’m sure there will be more posts on this blog about Cracow in the future, it’s just a matter of time :)

Of course it’s not the literal translation, I wanted to stay correct with the lines so I changed a word or two, as long as the meaning of the sentence was the same (or almost the same). Do you think something like this would help you in learning Polish?  I find songs and movies really helpful while learning a new language.  I will probably do this again, so feel free to suggest which Polish song you'd like to see subtitled next. And I will do my best :)

I will also try to add subtitles directly into the video later. I hope I’ll figure out how to do it somehow, it’s a black magic for me right now.. :/

Myslovitz & Grechuta – Kraków

Kraków jeszcze nigdy tak jak dziś                          Never before had Cracow had
nie miał w sobie takiej siły i                                    such a power and
może to ten deszcz, może przez tę mgłę             maybe it’s the rain, maybe it’s because of the fog,
ale w każdej twarzy ciągle widzę cię.                   but I can see you in every passing face.
Wśród turystów rynek tonie znów,                      Main square is overcrowded with tourists once again,
ktoś zakrzyknął głośno, błysnął flesz.                    someone jelled noisily, the flash has flashed.
Na Gołębiej twój płaszcz zaczepił mnie                On Gołębia Street your coat has catched my eye
w wystawowym oknie, w tłumie gdzieś.              in the show window,  or in the crowd. 

Widzę cię. Tak, wiem -                                              I see you. Yes, I know –
nie zrobię więcej zdjęć.  Tak, wiem…                     I won’t take any more photographs. Yes, I know…
Nie będę prosił, lecz – tak, wiem.                           I’m not going to beg, but – yes, I know.
To przecież żaden grzech. Tak, wiem…                  After all it’s not a sin. Yes, I know…
               
Kraków hejnał gra, tak wita mnie.                          Cracow is playing it’s trumpet call as a welcome.
Patrzy na mnie jakby wiedział, że                           It looks at me as if it knows that
wracam po to by,                                                       I came back just to
choć na kilka chwil, zamknąć oczy                          even for a moment, close my eyes
i móc uwierzyć, że                                                      and believe that
Widzę cię. Tak, wiem -                                               I see you. Yes, I know –
nie zrobię więcej zdjęć.  Tak, wiem…                      I won’t take any more photographs. Yes, I know…
Nie będę prosił, lecz – tak, wiem.                            I’m not going to beg, but – yes, I know.
To przecież żaden grzech. Tak, wiem…                   After all it’s not a sin. Yes, I know…

Widzę cię. Tak, wiem -                                              I see you. Yes, I know –
nie zrobię więcej zdjęć.  Tak, wiem…                     I won’t take any more photographs. Yes, I know…
Nie będę prosił, lecz – tak, wiem.                           I’m not going to beg, but – yes, I know.
To przecież żaden grzech. Tak, wiem…                  After all it’s not a sin. Yes, I know…

 

Magdalena