Food and farming

Czarny baranie

Czerwone jabłuszko

Ja Kujawiak, ty Kujawiak

Mało nas

Miała baba

Rolnik sam w dolinie

Trojak

Wele wele wetka

 

26/03/2016 16:57

 

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 of this website 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.


 

 

Czarny baranie O

 

‘Black sheep’ is a children’s folk song from Cracow.

 

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

 

 

 

Directions:

Make two circles one inside the other. Those on the outside walk round holding hands and ask the questions. The black sheep answer the questions as they circle inside and mime to the words.

When the last verse is sung the inner circle skips to the outside and roles are reversed ready for the next game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Gdzieżeś ty bywał, czarny baranie, czarny baranie?

We młynie, we młynie, mościwy panie. x2

Black sheep, oh black sheep, where do you dwell, oh where do you dwell?

In the mill, in the mill, there I live well. x2

 

Cóżeś tam robił, czarny baranie, czarny baranie?

Mlął mączkę, miął mączkę, mościwy panie. x2

Black sheep, oh black sheep, what do you

do there, what do you do there?

Grind the corn, grind the corn, making fine

flour. x2

 

Cóżeś tam jadał, czarny baranie, czarny baranie?

Kluseczki z mączeczki, mościwy panie. x2

Black sheep, oh black sheep, what do you eat? Dumplings and bread rolls, I never eat meat. x2

 

 

 

 

 

Jakóżeś je jadł, czarny baranie, czarny baranie?

Łyk, łyk, łyk, łyk, łyk, łyk, mościwy panie. x2

Black sheep, oh black sheep, how do you eat, how do you eat?

Yum yummy, yum yummy, that’s how I eat! x2

 

Cóżeś tam pijał, czarny baranie, czarny baranie?

Miód, mleczko, miód, mleczko, mościwy panie. x2

Black sheep, oh black sheep, what do you

drink, what do you drink?

Slop and swill, slop and swill, oh what a

stink!  x2

 

Jakóżeś je pił, czarny baranie, czarny baranie?

Chlip, chlip, chlip, chlip, chlip, chlip, chlip, mościwy panie. x2

Black sheep, oh black sheep, how do you

drink, how do you drink?

Slurp, slurp, slurp, slurp, slurp, slurp, that’s

how I drink! x2

Gdzieżeś tam sypiał, czarny baranie, czarny baranie?

Z młynarką, pod miarką, mościwy panie. x2

Black sheep, oh black sheep, where do you sleep, where do you sleep?

In the mill, in the mill, life is so sweet. x2

 

Jakże cię bili, czarny baranie, czarny baranie?

Łup cup cup, łup cup cup, mościwy panie. x2

Black sheep, oh black sheep, how do you sleep, how do you sleep?

Snore, snore, snore, snore, snore, snore, that’s how I sleep! x2

 

Jakżeś uciekał, czarny baranie, czarny baranie?

Hopsasa do lasa, mościwy panie.  x2

Black sheep, oh black sheep, where will you run, where will you run?

Hopsa sa to the woods, there to have fun! x2

Jakżeś uciekał, czarny baranie, czarny baranie?

Hopsasa do lasa, mościwy panie.  x2

Black sheep, oh black sheep, where will you run, where will you run?

Hopsa sa to the woods, there to have fun! x2

 

 

 


 

 

Czerwone jabłuszko O

 

Little red apple’ is a popular folk song ‘from the soils of eastern Poland’. ‘Masurek’, ‘oberek’ and ‘kujawiak’ refer to different regional dance traditions.

 

Listen to a rousing rendition of this song as ‘Gęsi za wodą’ where other movements are illustrated. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADilHmVUen8.

Watch young children dance at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kEkTFYQZNU

The dance below is performed at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU3y4NTCdyo&feature=related .

 

In a large circle pairs stand side by side facing anti clockwise,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Czerwone jabłuszko po stole się toczy,

Takie dziewczę kocham, co ma jasne oczy.

Set upon the table, apples red are rolling,

See my dearest sweetheart, eyes so brightly shining.

First time: Walk round the circle, outside hands on hips, inner hand on waist and shoulder.

Second time: Inner circle hold hands high. Outside circle stamp three times and walk into the circle and hold hands high. This sequence is repeated three more times

 

 

 

Gęsi za wodą, kaczki za wodą,

Uciekaj dziewczyno, bo cię pobodą.

Ja ci buzi dam, ty mi buzi dasz,

Ja cię nie wydam, ty mnie nie wydasz.

Water’s for the ducks, water’s for the geese,

Run away girl, you’ll not flee so far from me.

I’ll give you a kiss, you’ll give me a kiss,

Nothing will it cost, nothing will be lost.

}x2

 
 


Mazurek, mazureczek,

Oberek, obereczek,

Kujawiak, kujawiaczek,

Chodźże, Maryś, chodźże, chodź, chodź.

}x2

 
Mazurek, mazureczek,

Oberek, obereczek,

Kujawiak, kujawiaczek,

Let us fly away together.

 

First time: In the same position walk forward in waltz movement; one, two and up on tiptoes and hands joined and held high in front, the same back. Repeat this movement

Second time: Inside partners make an inner circle, and move clockwise; those on the outside make a circle and move in the opposite direction.

 

First time: Inside partners make an inner circle, and move clockwise; those on the outside make a circle and move in the opposite direction.

Second time: Walk round the circle outside hands joined and held out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Ja Kujawiak, ty Kujawiak O

 

I Kujawiak, you Kujawiak’ is a simple version of the Kujawiak, a slow gentle dance from the Kujawy region of central Poland.

 

Make a circle of pairs standing side by side and facing anti clockwise with hands on hips. Traditionally boys are on the inside girls outside.

 

Watch at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoaUpKKCIL4&feature=related

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Ja Kujawiak, ty Kujawiak,

Wszyscyśmy tu Kujawiacy,

Mamy soli, mamy chleba,

Mamy wszystko, co potrzeba.

I Kujawiak, you Kujawiak

Together here in Kujawiacy,

We have salt and we have brown bread,

We have everything that you need.

 

La la la la la la, la la la, la la la la, la la la la. La la la la la la, la la la, la la la la la la la.

La la la la la....

 

Oj, i zagrajże od ucha,

Oj, i nie patrz, żem koniucha.

Siwa owca, koń cisawy,

Nie ma ziemi nad Kujawy.

Oh how lively, hear us playing,

We are farmhands free and dancing.

We have grey sheep, horse s brown.

Our Kujawy it has such beauty.

 

La la la la la la, la la la, la la la la, la la la la. La la la la la la, la la la, la la la la la la.

La la la la....

Walk slightly bending knees steadily round the circle.

 

Face partners; sway gently from side to side four times in opposite directions with hands on hips and legs apart.

 

 

 

Make three high steps forward to each other’s right side then three steps back. Repeat to the left. .With a steady step do-si-do right then left shoulders passing .Bow or curtsey.

 

Girls pass through to the centre of the circle to make a wheel with right hands in the centre. Wave left hand up and down; walk round. Reverse movement with left hands in the middle. Boys on the outside walk round in the opposite direction hands on hips.

 

 

 

Boys pass to the centre to make a circle with hands placed on shoulders. Circle first to the right and then to the left. Outside girls circle round on the spot hands on hips first one way and then the other. Boys turn to face partner in the outer circle. Do-si-do as above. Place hands on partner’s shoulders and walk round. Boys twirl partner round under arm.

 

 


 

 

Mało nas O

 

‘Many hands make light work’ so the saying goes, likewise ‘Too many cooks spoil the broth’! ‘Bake the bread’ works well accompanying a harvest topic. Make one of the wonderful Polish breads using sesame, sunflower or pumpkin seeds; there are plenty of recipes on line.

 

Watch a family play:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH2oWuXKfyk&feature=related

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Mało nas, mało nas

do pieczenia chleba,

Tylko nam, tylko nam

ciebie tu potrzeba!

Join with us, join with us

Baking bread so warming,

Only us, only us

Are needed here this morning!

 

Dużo nas, dużo nas

do pieczenia chleba,

Więc już nam, więc już nam

ciebie tu nie trzeba!

All of us, all of us

Baking bread so warming,

Yet there are, yet there are

Too many here this morning!

Children hold hands and move round in a large circle. Inside two children with hands joined move in the opposite direction. At the end of the first verse a child is invited into the circle. This verse is repeated with more children continuing to join the inner circle.

 

When the inner circle is too large the second verse is sung and named children turn round to face the outer circle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Miała baba O

 

‘Grandma had a rooster’ is a dance in the Krakowiaki tradition. Add more verses with other animals and rhyming objects in which to place them.

 

See a simple version at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPEK5rh3kfk

 

Make two circles of facing pairs holding hands. Traditionally boys are inside girls in the outer circle.

 

}x2

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Miała baba koguta, koguta, koguta,

wsadziła go do buta, do buta, hej!

O mój miły kogucie, kogucie, kogucie

kogucie, kogucie, kogucie.

Czy ci dobrze w tym bucie, w tym bucie,

}x2

 
w tym bucie, w tym bucie jest?

Grandma had a rooster cute, rooster cute,

rooster cute.

Put it in an old brown boot, old brown boot, hey!

Oh my lovely rooster-roo, my lovely rooster-roo, my lovely rooster-roo, I love you.

Are you happy in that boot my dearest, in that boot my dearest dear!

 

}x2

 
Miała baba indora, indora, indora,

wsadziła go do wora, do wora, hej!

O mój miły indorze, indorze, indorse,

indorze, indorze, indorze.

Czy ci dobrze w tym worze, w tym worze,

w tym worze, w tym worze jest?

 

}x2

 
Grandma had a turkey black, turkey

black, turkey black.

Put it in a turnip sack, turnip sack, hey!

Oh my lovely turkey lurk, my lovely turkey lurk, my lovely turkey lurk, I love you.

Are you happy in that sack my dearest, in that sack my dearest dear!

 

}x2

 
Miała baba prosiaka, prosiaka, prosiaka, wsadziła go do saka, do saka hej!

O mój miły prosiaku, prosiaku, prosiaku, prosiaku, prosiaku, prosiaku,

}x2

 
Czy ci dobrze w tym saku, w tym saku, w tym saku, w tym saku jest!

Grandma had a big fat pig, big fat pig, big fat pig. Put it in a long blond wig, long blond wig, hey!

Oh my lovely piggy wig, my lovely piggy wig, my lovely piggy wig, I love you.

Are you happy in that wig my dearest, in that wig my dearest dear!

Skip sideways round the circle.

 

 

Facing partners hold each other’s waist, or link arms. Inside partner holds hand high, those outside place it on their hip. Skip round first one way then in the other direction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Sideways skip until ‘O mój...’ Child inside places one knee on the floor as their partner holding a hand skips round them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As before then reverse roles with outside child kneeling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Rolnik sam w dolinie O

 

In Poland ‘The farmer’s in the valley’ is as popular in pre schools as our ‘The farmer’s in his den’.

 

Watch a slightly different version at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUeDtJDcfhU&feature=related

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Rolnik sam w dolinie, 2x

Hejże, hejże, hejże ha!

Rolnik sam w dolinie.

Farmer’s in the valley, x2

Heigh ho, heigh ho, heigh ho, ha!

Farmer’s in the valley.

 

Rolnik bierze żonę, 2x

Hejże, hejż , hejże , ha!

Rolnik bierze żonę.

Farmer takes a wife-oh, x2

Heigh ho, heigh ho, heigh ho, ha!

Farmer takes a wife-oh.

 

Żona bierze dziecko...

Wife she takes a young child…

 

Dziecko bierze nianię ...

Young child takes a nanny ...

 

Niania bierze kotka...

Nanny takes a kitten...

 

Kotek bierze myszkę ...

Kitten takes a mouse-oh...

 

Myszka bierze serek...

Mousie takes a cheese-oh...

 

Ser zostaje w kole...

The cheese is in a circle…

 

Koło się obraca, serek sie przewraca,

Hejże, hejże, hejże ha!

Serek się przewraca.

Round, round turns the circle, round, round rolls the cheese-oh,

Heigh ho, heigh ho, heigh ho ha!

Round, round rolls the cheese-oh.

 

The circle walks to the left holding hands. The ‘farmer’ walks to the right.

 

 

 

 

 

The farmer chooses a partner and holding hands walks with round to the right.

 

 

 

Eventually seven are chosen all walking round the circle with hands joined.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once the cheese has been chosen everyone claps to the music as the ‘cheese’ turns.


 

 

Trojak O

 

Zasiali górale’ is the most common walking polonaise from the 16th century and is notable for its change of pace.

Watch this popular dance at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qasMubZ6rH0

 

Stand in line in groups of three, traditionally with a boy in the middle and a girl either side. Raise hands up, outside children place hands on hips.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Zasiali górale owies, owies,

Od końca do końca, tak jest, tak jest!

Zasiali górale żytko, żytko,

Od końca do końca wszystko, wszystko!

High in the alps we are sowing oats, sowing oats,

From this end to that end, so it is, so it is!

High in the alps we are sowing rye, sowing rye,

From this end to that end, all of us, all of us!

 

Tam na polu jest zabawa, zabawa, zabawa.

Żadna mi się nie podoba, tylko ta, tylko ta!

Tam na polu jest zabawa, zabawa, zabawa.

Żadna mi się nie podoba, tylko ta, tylko ta!

}x2

 
In the fields there always is a lot of fun, lot of fun.

None of that I like at all, only this, only that!

Swing right leg on a slant to the left, left leg to the right and then right leg to the left, bend knees. Repeat sequence. Make three steady slow steps forward and bend knees. Repeat backwards.

 

Child in the middle raises arms as those at the side twirl under.

Middle child links arms with child on right and skips round, hold hands aloft. The child to the left skips in place with hands on hips. Repeat sequence with child on the left linking arms.

 

 


 

 

Wele wele wetka O

 

The origin and meaning of this piece of Kashubian folk music is unclear; some say it is to do with food or devoid of meaning, others think that the song is linked to pagan rituals.

Watch an alternative dance at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBvvt4zhwFE 

 

In a circle, facing clockwise, stand side by side in pairs with hands held in the skating position.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Wele, wele, wetka, gdzeż te beła?

Wele, wele, wetka, u stareszki.

Wele, wele, wetka, cos dostała?

Wele, wele, wetka, miska peszki.

Wele, wele, wetka, tata przeniós,

Wele, wele, wetka, ful miech slewów.

Wele, wele, wetka, smakowało?

Wele, wele, wetka, jo jo jo.

Wele, wele, wetka, where’ve you been to?

Wele, wele, wetka, to the old’uns.

Wele, wele, wetka, what did they give you?

Wele, wele, wetka, a bowl of fruit mum.

Wele, wele, wetka, father held it,

Wele, wele, wetka, how he puffed so.

Wele, wele, wetka, did you taste them?

Wele, wele, wetka, yum, yum, yum.

 

Tra la la, tra la la, tra la la la la, tra la la,

Tra la la, tra la la, tra la la la la, tra la la!

Tra la la, tra la la, tra la la la la, la la la,

Tra la la, tra la la, tra la la la la, la la la!

 

Repeat first verse

Walk four steps forward then place right then left heel in front. Continue to repeat this sequence round the circle until the end of the verse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still holding hands sway from side to side. Circle round with partner on the spot.

 

 

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