Off we go

Jedzie pociąg

Karuzela

Kółko graniaste

Maszerują dzieci drogą

Nie chcę cię

Nitko nitko

26/03/2016 17:14

The songs below are part of ‘Karuzela’ The Polish collection compiled, adapted, translated and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

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To listen to music from these songs click on O

To watch the author sing a song click on the title at:

© Dany Rosevear 2008 All rights reserved

You are free to copy, distribute, display and perform these works under the following conditions:

· you must give the original author credit

· you may not use this work for commercial purposes

· for any re-use or distribution, you must make clear to others the licence terms of this work

· any of these can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder

Your fair use and other rights are no way affected by the above.

The Polish Collection

It is hoped that where possible these songs will be sung in their home language. An English version is provided so children can enjoy the tunes before they have mastered Polish. Literal translations do not always make sense to the English ear so these have been translated freely to complement the music and capture the spirit of the song.

You will find more Polish songs in Hop Skip and Away We Go

Polish pronunciation guide

Spoken Polish is quite different from spoken English. The guide is provided to aid the pronunciation of some of the more distinctive sounds in the Polish language. The letters not listed below are pronounced approximately as in English. There are 32 characters in the Polish alphabet. Stress falls on the last but one syllable.

a sounds like ah (father)

ą sounds like French on

c sounds like c (dance)

ć /ci sounds like ch (cello)

ch sounds like ch (loch)

cz sounds like ch (church)

d sounds like d (dance) but in final position is unvoiced and more like t

dz sounds like dz (adze) but like j (jewel) when followed by an i

e sounds like e (met) at the beginning or within a word

ę sounds like French ain

g sounds like g (go) but in final position is unvoiced and more like k

h is never silent sounds like ch (loch)

i sounds like ee (feet)

j sounds like y (yes)

ł sounds like w (wake) but in final position is unvoiced and more like f

ń/ni sounds like ni (onions)

o sounds like o (gone)

ó sounds like oo (boot)

r slightly rolled as in Spanish

ś/si a very very soft sh no equivalent in English

sz sounds like sh (ship)

u sounds like u (duke) or as in una

w sounds like v(vote)

y sounds like i (ship) but harder

ź/zi sounds like z/zh (azure)

ż/ rz sounds like French j (Jean)

If you have a Polish parent to help you with the pronunciation you will find these songs not too difficult to learn despite the spelling! There are also sites on line including You Tube to help you sing in the original language.

Jedzie pociąg O

‘Off to Warsaw/the train is leaving’ Don’t be late the train is leaving the station. It’s off to Warsaw.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OJSppIzhpE&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nGCh6eyXyM

Children stand in line with the left hand on the shoulder of the child in front. The right hand mimics the movement of the train wheels The conductor stands in the middle as the line moves round in a circle. On the outside four passengers and a guard stand at the station.

Jedzie pociąg z daleka, Ani chwili nie czeka, Ani chwili nie czeka, I przed name ucieka. Our train comes from far away, Jump on board and find your place, Jump on board and find your place, Time to go, it’s not too late. Konduktorze łaskawy, Zabierz nas do Warszawy! Trudno, trudno to będzie, Dużo osób jest wszędzie. Conductor, oh please take us, Off to Warsaw with no fuss. Not an easy job for you, Passengers need seating too. Pięknie pana prosimy, Jeszcze miejsca widzimy. A więc prędko wsiadajcie, Do Warszawy ruszajcie! I will kindly ask you please, Is there still a place for me? All on board are ready so, Off to Warsaw we will go!

The guard waves his flag, the conductor blows his whistle and the train sets off as those on the station wave. At the end of each verse the guard stops the train and four at the front alight onto the platform, those on the ‘platform’ hand their tickets to the conductor and take their place at the end of the train ready to move off with an ‘ooh, ooh!’. After three verses the guard and conductor become passengers and are replaced by others in the line.

Karuzela O

Boys and girls wake up the carousel is waiting.

‘Carousel’ is often sung on St Andrew’s Day which traditionally falls on the day before Advent.

Chłopcy, dziewczeta dalej śpieszmy się. Karuzela czeka, woła nas z daleka. Starsi już poszli a młodsi jeszcze nie. Boys call the girls to come and join the fun. Carousel is waiting, from afar it’s calling, Old ones have gone, but the youngsters are all here. }x2 Hej, hopsa, sa, jak ona szybko mnknie! }x2 Hej dalej, dalej, do zabawy śpieszmy się! Hey, hopsa sa, how very fast we run! Hey, move it, move it, move it, dancing is such fun!

The players stand in a circle holding hands and place each heel in turn into the centre. Stretch hands up high then low to the floor. Jump up and down then skip sideways clockwise round the circle. On repetition jump up and down and move faster sideways in the opposite direction.

Kółko graniaste O

In Poland ‘Kółko graniaste’ is as popular with toddler as our ‘Ring-a-ring-roses’. The meaning of the words are not clear, ‘graniaste’ is not used anywhere except in this song, but the words work for their rhyme and rhythm.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yXsiyX3lR0&feature=related

Kółko graniaste, czworokanciaste, Kółko nam się połamało, Cztery grosze kosztowało, A my wszyscy ... bęc! HEJ! Round goes the circle, four cornered circle, Breaking circles is not clever, It will cost you four new pennies, And we’ll all go ... boom! HEY!

Walk in a circle holding each other's hands. At the word "bęc!" – drop hands and fall to the floor. Continue playing getting faster each time.

Maszerują dzieci drogą O

Popular in the scouting movement, ‘Maszerują dzieci drogą’ or the ‘Children’s road march’, is a rousing tune well suited to striding along country lanes.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWxZBGHf-gE

Children set off in pairs, side by side facing clockwise round in a circle or freely around the room.

Maszerują dzieci drogą, raz, dwa, trzy! Lewą nogą, prawą nogą, raz, dwa, trzy! }x2 A nad drogą słonko świeci I uśmiecha się do dzieci, Raz, dwa, raz, dwa, trzy! Marching out along the highways, one, two, three! }x2 First the left leg then the right leg, one, two, three! Sun beams down upon our pathway, Smiling warmly when we laugh, hey! One, two, one, two, three! Maszerują dzieci drogą, raz, dwa, trzy! Lewą nogą, prawą nogą, raz, dwa, trzy! }x2 Naprzód zuch, naprzód śmiało, Będzie przygód ty nie mało, Raz, dwa, raz, dwa, trzy! Marching out along the highways, one, two, three! First the left leg then the right leg, one, two, three! }x2 Forward children, forward boldly, Step by step together journey, One, two, one, two, three!

Children march round the circle and clap three times each time ‘raz, dwa, trzy’ is sung. Continue marching and clap in time for the last line. Repeat as before in the opposite direction.

Nie chcę cię O

This dance, ‘Go away’, possibly originates from Silesia in Northern Poland which was once part of Germany.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMlx_1ja9XI&feature=related

Learn to identify the left and right hand and encourage an understanding of feelings and friendship.

Start with pairs standing and facing each other.

Nie chcę cię, nie chcę cię, nie chcę cię znać! Chodź do mnie, chodź do mnie, rączkę mi dać. Go away, go away, I don’t want you, Come to me, come to me, friends should be true. Prawą mi daj, lewą mi daj Będziemy razem tańców, tańców. Prawą mi daj, lewą mi daj, Będziemy razem tańców, tańców. Give me your left, give me your right, Dance with me, dance with me, friends unite, Give me your left, give me your right, Dance with me, dance with me, friends unite.

Walk four steps back starting with the left leg. Hold left elbow and shake the left finger. Repeat with the right. Walk four steps forwards making a hand gesture of encouragement. Shake left hand and then right. Waltz round on the spot or more simply hold both hands and move forward and back. Repeat last two instructions.

Nitko nitko O

‘Nitko nitko’, literally ‘thread, thread’ is a bobbin winding song. Winding the thread games are found in most European traditions. Keep singing the song until a ball is formed and unwound.

Children stand in a circle holding hand except the leader and the tail.

Nitko, nitko, hej niteczko, }x2 Zwijaj mi się równiuteńko. W ładne kółko mi się zwiń, Tylko mi się nie zerwij. Tiptoe, tiptoe, hey let’s tiptoe, }x2 Wind the thread it will not break-o, Circle turns into a ball, Wind it back, we will not fall.

The leader moves rhythmically in a spiral round the inside of the circle. Eventually a ball is formed. The tail end child on the outside of the circle then leads the others back round the outside. The song is repeated until the circle has returned to its original position.

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