In the forest

Jadą jadą misie

Kasztanek

My jesteśmy krasnoludki

Orzeszki laskowe

Szła dzieweczka

Last updated: 26/03/2016 17:01

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 2010 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.

Jadą jadą misie O

‘Go bears go’ is a song every grandparent could sing when they were small.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35YWwKrH2Rk

Make an outer circle of trees holding hands high above heads and an inner one of bears.

Jadą, jadą misie, tra la la la la, Śmieją im się pysie, ha ha ha ha ha, Przyjechały do lasu, narobiły hałasu, Przyjechały do boru, narobiły rumoru. In the deep dark forest, tra la la la la, Teddy bears are laughing, ha ha ha ha ha, Come with us and we’ll have fun, Join the knees up everyone, Come with us and you will see, Dancing bears so wild and free. Jadą, jadą misie, tra la la la la, Śmieją im się pysie, ha ha ha ha ha, A misiowa jak może, prędko szuka w komorze, Plaster miodu wynosi, pięknie gości swych prosi. In the deep dark forest, tra la la la la, Teddy bears are laughing, ha ha ha ha ha, We’ll go hunting in the wood, Find some food so fresh and good, Honeycomb and nuts to eat, Join in our fantastic feast. Jadą, jadą misie, tra la la la la, Śmieją im się pysie, ha ha ha ha ha, Zjadły misie plastrów sześć I wołają: "jeszcze jeść!" In the deep dark forest, tra la la la la, Teddy bears are laughing, ha ha ha ha ha, Teddy bears have so much fun, Eating six combs one by one, “We want more, we love it so!” But now it’s time to go back home. As first verse

Outer circle stands still waving hands above heads. The bears holding hands skip round. The bears stop; face a partner in the outer circle and holding hands hop and swing feet first one way then the other as in A. Next they skip round in one direction then the other. Finish swapped over so the trees are now bears and bears become trees for the next verse. Repeat for each verse. A

Kasztanek O

Chestnut tree invites the children to a party, will they come?

Watch at: http://www.edumuz.pl/articles.php?article_id=3284

Play the music all the way through between verses.

Stand in a space next to a partner.

Od samego ranka, od samego ranka, Widzisz na drzewie małego kasztanka. Kiwa ładnie głową, Klak, klak, klak! Chce się bawić z tobą , Tak, tak, tak! Early in the morning, when the sun is shining, Little chestnut tree is happy and smiling. Nod its head so gently; Well I’m blessed! Shall we have a party? Yes, yes, yes! Od samego ranka, od samego ranka, Widzisz na drzewie małego kasztanka. Tupie ładnie nóżką, Klak, klak, klak! Chce się bawić z tobą’ Tak, tak, tak! Early in the morning, when the sun is shining, Little chestnut tree is happy and smiling. Stomps its foot so nicely; Well I’m blessed! Shall we have a party? Yes, yes, yes! Od samego ranka, od samego ranka, Widzisz na drzewie małego kasztanka. Klaszcze ładnie w rączki, Klak, klak, klak! Chce się bawić z tobą’ Tak, tak, tak! Early in the morning, when the sun is shining, Little chestnut tree is happy and smiling. Claps its hands so gently; Well I’m blessed! Shall we have a party? Yes, yes, yes!

Place hands to cheek. Make large sun shape. Place hands above head. Nod head. Clap hands three times. Nod head and stamp three times. As the music plays hold partner’s hands and turn round one way then back again each time finishing with three stamps. Repeat first verse movements but stamp foot three times at the beginning of the third line. Move between verses as before. Repeat first verse movements but clap hands three times at the beginning of the third line. Move between verses as before.

My jesteśmy krasnoludki O

It’s autumn time and the dwarves are on the march. Mushroom picking and walks in the woods are important pastimes in Poland and the folklore of the forest is reflected in this song; ‘We are the dwarves’.

Watch at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9Q1P_C4vQY&feature=related

Stand in a circle or spaced around the room.

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My jesteśmy krasnoludki, Hopsa sa, hopsa sa! Pod grzybkami nasze budki, Hopsa, hopsa sa! We are dwarves deep in the forest, Hopsa sa, hopsa sa! Under mushrooms you will find us, Hopsa, hopsa sa! Jemy mrówki, żabkie łapki, Oj tak tak, oj tak tak! A na głowach krasne czapki, To nasz, to nasz znak. We eat ants and we trap hedgehogs (frogs), Oh, yes yes, oh yes yes! On our heads are pointed red hats, That’s the way we are! Gdy ktoś skrzywdzi krasnoludka, Aj jaj jaj, aj jaj jaj! To zapłacze niezabudka, U u u u u! And if someone comes to harm us, Ay, ay, ay, ay ay ay! We will send them off home crying, Boo hoo, boo hoo, hoo! Gdy ktoś zbłądzi, to trąbimy, Trutu tu, trutu tu, Gdy ktoś senny, to uśpimy, Lu lu lu lu lu, We can play our trumpets loudly, Toot, toot, toot, toot, toot, toot! When you’re sleeping we’ll play quietly, Lulu, lulu, lu.

Point to selves. Jump up and down. Bend knees and make mushroom shape over heads. Jump up and down. Mime eating enthusiastically. Nod head vigorously. Make a hat shape over head Wave hands above head. Hold head and move from side to side. One finger to elbow, the other twirls. Repeat other side. Mime crying. Mime playing trumpet. Place two hands to one cheek sleeping fashion and move from side to side. Rock arm from side to sides.

Orzeszki laskowe O

It’s autumn and time to go gathering nuts. Don’t forget to leave some on the ground to grow again.

Watch at: http://www.edumuz.pl/articles.php?article_id=1326

Listen at: http://chomikuj.pl/Martluk/Praca/Dzieci/Zabawy+muzyczne+dla+dzieci

Stand in a space or in pairs.

My jesteśmy małe orzeszki laskowe, Brązowe czapeczki, sukieneczki nowe. We are brown and shiny, hazelnuts so tiny, Dressed in green caps frilly, warm when it is chilly. }x2 Tupu, tupu, hop, hop zatańczmy wesoło. Tuli, luli, lećmy i obróćmy koło. }x2 Tupu, tupu, hop, hop, dance away and don’t stop. Twirly, swirly whirly, in the morning early. Zobaczyły w lesie gałąź leszczynową, Słonko im spaliło buzie na brązowo. Tupu, tupu… There on forest branches, hazelnuts in clusters, Blazing sun burns brightly, turns the nuts brown quietly. Tupu, tupu… Przyszedł pan leśniczy, uchylił czapeczki, Wpadłyśmy do kosza, zostały listeczki. Tupu, tupu… Forester comes hither, every nut he gathers, In a basket drops them, only leaves are left then. Tupu, tupu…

Fingers and thumbs make circles. Place hands above head to make a cap. Jump twice. Skip round. Twirl round on the spot. Hold hands up high and sway. Make a large round sun with hands. Walk around stretching up to pick nuts and put in a basket. Make fingers flutter like leaves on trees.

Szła dzieweczka O

Everyone in Poland knows ‘A young girl went walking’; this Silesian folk song, from the early nineteenth century, is a big favourite at weddings, football matches and other special occasions.This gentle waltz it is more often sung than danced.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5gEA5ThUyg&feature=related

Szła dzieweczka do laseczka, do zielonego, ha, ha! do zielonego, ha, ha! do zielonego. Napotkała myśliweczka, bardzo szwarnego, ha, ha! bardzo szwarnego, ha, ha! bardzo szwarnego. Once a young girl went out walking, Through the green, green woods, ha, ha! Through the green, green woods, ha, ha! Through the green, green woods. There she met a handsome forester, He asked her for some food, ha, ha! Asked her for some food, ha, ha! Asked her for some food. Chorus: Gdzie jest ta ulica, gdzie jest ten dom Gdzie jest ta dziewczyna co kocham ją? Znalazłem ulicę, znalazłem dom, Znalazłem dziewczynę co kocham ją. Where is her street, where is her house, where does she dwell, Where is the girl, where is the girl I love so well? I found her street, I found her house, found where she dwells, I found the girl that I love so well. O mój miły myśliweczku, bardzom ci rada, ha, ha! bardzom ci rada, ha, ha! bardzom ci rada, Dałabym ci chleba z masłem, alem już zjadła, alem już zjadła, alem już zjadła. Oh my strong and handsome forester, You please me so much, ha, ha! You please me so much, ha, ha! You please me so much. I would give you bread and butter, But I ate it up, ha, ha! But I ate it up, ha, ha! But I ate it up. Chorus: Or sing this to: ‘lalala, lalala, lalala la’

Stand in a circle holding hands. Verse: with one foot in front and the other behind gently sway back and forth, swinging hands up and back in time to the music. Chorus: leader breaks line and takes it off weaving around the room continuing to swing hands.

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