czech-thiiis-out-blog

[czech-thiiis-out-blog]

Holubí dům (House of doves) - Jiří Schelinger

Link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K7-Apk3tcjE

Lyrics

Zpívám ptákům a zvlášť holubům,

stával v údolí mém starý dům.

Ptáků houf zalétal ke krovům,

měl jsem rád holubích křídel šum.

Vlídná dívka jim házela hrách,

mávání perutí víří prach.

Ptáci krouží a neznají strach,

měl jsem rád starý dům, jeho práh.

Hledám dům holubí, kdopak z vás cestu ví,

míval stáj roubenou, bílý štít.

Kde je dům holubí a ta dívka kde spí,

vždyť to ví, že jsem chtěl pro ni žít.

Sdílný déšť vypráví okapům,

bláhový, kdo hledá tenhle dům.

Odrůstáš chlapeckým střevícům,

neslyšíš holubích křídel šum.

Nabízej úplatou cokoli,

nepojíš cukrových homolí.

Můžeš mít třeba zrak sokolí,

nespatříš ztracené údolí.

Hledám dům holubí, kdopak z vás cestu ví,

míval stáj roubenou, bílý štít.

Kde je dům holubí a ta dívka kde spí,

vždyť to ví, že jsem chtěl pro ni žít.

Translation

My chant is for birds and especially doves.

There used to stand an old house in my valley.

A shoal of birds used to live bellow the trusses.

I cherished the sound of pigeon wings.

A cheerful maiden used to feed them grain.

Waving of pigeon wings rushes off the dust.

Birds circle above, lacking knowledge of fear.

I used to like the old house, it's doorstep.

I seek the house of doves. Who among you knows the way?

It had curbed stabling, white gable.

Where is the house of doves? And the maiden, where does she sleep?

When she knows, that I wished to live for her.

Chatty rain narrates to the gutters:

'Foolish is who seeks that house.

You're outgrowing lads shoes.

You can't hear the sound of pigeon wings.

You can offer a bribe of any price.

But you'll never taste a loaf of sugar.

You may even look through the eyes of a falcon.

But you'll never catch a glimse of the lost valley.'

I seek the house of doves. Who among you knows the way?

It had curbed stabling, white gable.

Where is the house of doves? And the maiden, where does she sleep?

When she knows, that I wished to live for her.

Explanation

This song is for the listener to interpret. The general idea is that the 'lost valley' and 'house of doves' are just metaphores for childhood which the singer as anybody else inevitably loses and is no more able to relive the sensations of it even through he wants to. Cheerful maiden is probably refering to a childhood love interest. But as I said it depends on the point of view of the listener.

Autors of the lyrics and music are Jaroslav Uhlíř (read [jaroslav uhli:ř]) and Zdeněk Svěrák (read [zdeniek sviera:k] very famous czech duo who wrote numerous evergreen czech songs like Severní vítr (Wind of the North), Dělání (Working) or Není nutno (Not required).

If you are confused by the letter 'ř' in the pronounciation here's a bit of explanation. 'Ř' is a very specific letter that only exists in czech language thus I had no idea how to write it's pronounciation. It is something between 'š' (read like the 'sh' in the word 'she') and hard czech 'r'. The sound is created by vibrating your toung behind your front teeth. Foreigners who didn't learn czech since their childhood usually never learn this letter perfectly and even czech children often have problems learning both 'r' and 'ř'.

[czech-thiiis-out-blog]

Kryštof- Ženy (Women)

song link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLTlbqZHSjk

Se spánky z břidlicových střech se zády rtutě na voknech, páry z broušenýho skla, se stehny váhy, tě každej zná, tě každej zná, tě každej zná a když Tě vochutná, vím, že víš, že. Se spánky z břidlicových střech se zády rtutě na voknech, páry z broušenýho skla, se stehny váhy, tě každej zná, tě každej zná, tě každej zná a když Tě vochutná, vím, že víš, že. Nejsi ženou vobnošenou, nejsi ženou vobnošenou. Nejsi ženou vobnošenou, nejsi ženou vobnošenou. Né jsi ženou vobnošenou, ani ne, ani ne, ani né jsi ženou vobnošenou, nejsi ženou vobnošenou, nejsi ženou vobnošenou...

Translation

With your temples out of slate roofs With your back of quicksilver on windows Vapors of cut glass With Libra’s tights everybody knows you Everybody knows you, everybody knows you And when they taste you I know you know

With temples out of slate roofs With back of quicksilver on windows Vapors of cut glass With Libra’s tights everybody knows you Everybody knows you, everybody knows you And when they taste you I know you know

You’re not a worn-out woman You’re not a worn-out woman You’re not a worn-out woman You’re not a worn-out woman

You’re not a worn-out woman, not even, not even Not even a worn-out woman You’re not a worn-out woman, you’re not a worn-out woman

Explanation

There’s not much to explain, as this band usually writes lyrics that don’t make much sence. But it’s a song about how women can still be sexy, energetic and interesting, even after their 40s, when they already have families, children and stable jobs, but just because they’re not 20 anymore doesn’t mean they have to feel any less attractive, as ‘everybody knows’ they still are.

And just a bit of interesting czech grammar here:

‘Obnošená’ [obnoshena:] means ‘worn out’ in czech, but the singer is putting ‘V’ in front of this word. That means, he is not speaking formally, as when ‘V’ is put in front of any word that normally starts on ‘o’ you make the word sound less formal.

[czech-thiiis-out-blog]

Chinaski- 1970

Song link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unVxdfiA328

Nevím, jestli je to znát

Možná by bylo lepší lhát

Jsem silnej ročník 70

Tak začni počítat

Nechci tu hloupě vzpomínat

Koho taky dneska zajímá

Silnej ročník 70

Tak začni počítat

Tenkrát tu bejval jinej stát

A já byl blbej na kvadrát

Jsem silnej ročník 70

Třeba například

Naši mi vždycky říkali

Jen nehas, co tě nepálí

Jakej pán takovej krám

Naši mi vždycky říkali

Co mužeš sleduj z povzdálí

A nikdy nebojuj sám

Nevím, jestli je to znát

Možná by bylo lepší lhát

jsem silnej ročník 70

Nemoh' jsem si vybírat

Tak mi to přestaň vyčítat

Naříkat, co jsem za případ

Jsem silnej ročník 70

A možná že jsem rád

Naši mi vždycky říkali

Jen nehas, co tě nepálí

Jakej pán takovej krám

Naši mi vždycky říkali

Co mužeš sleduj z povzdálí

A nikdy nebojuj sám

Čas pádí, čas letí, těžko ta léta vrátíš zpět

A tak i Husákovy děti dospěly do Kristových let

Čas pádí, čas letí, a je to zvláštní svět

A tak i Husákovy děti dospěly do Kristových let

Čas pádí, čas letí, těžko ta léta vrátíš zpět

A tak i Husákovy děti dospěly do Kristových let

Čas pádí, čas letí, a je to zvláštní svět

A tak i Husákovy děti dospěly do Kristových let

Čas pádí, čas letí...

Translation

Not sure if it’s visible,

Maybe I should rather lie

I’m the strong vintage 1970

So start counting

I don’t want to get embarrassingly nostalgic.

Nowadays, who even cares about

The strong vintage 1970

So start counting

Back then this was a whole different country

And I was such a foolish idiot.

I’m a strong vintage 1970

And for example

My parents were always telling me

Don’t put out a fire that’s not burning you.

The owner, the store.

My parents were always telling me

Everything you can, you better watch from the distance.

And never fight alone.

Not sure if i’s visible.

Maybe I should rather lie.

I’m the strong vinttage 1970

I really had no choice.

So stop picking on me

Weeping over me being such a bad case

I’m the strong vintage 1970

And maybe I‘m glad

My parents were always telling me

Don’t put out a fire that’s not burning you.

The owner, the store.

My parents were always telling me

Everything you can, you better watch from the distance.

And never fight alone.

The time is running, speeding up. You’ll have a hard time bringing these years back.

And so even Husák’s children turned into adults, now in Christ’s years.

The time is running, speeding up and there is such a strange world out there.

And so even Husák’s children turned turned adults, now in Christ’s years.

The time is running, speeding up…

Explanation

In Czech republic, people born around the year 1970 (during whitch a very large amount of children was born) had kind of an interesting fate. This generation has a special name in Czech, they are called Husák’s (read [husa:k]) children, after the last communist president.

Being born into communism, they grew up in the old regime and were taught it’s rules. In their teens, they were part of the Velvet revolution against communist government and believed that a brand new, bright and much bigger world was opening up to them and they were all going to be very succesful.

But after revolution came the 90s when much of the previously state owned property was stolen by corrupted politicians in a wild privatization. The damage done to Czech nation and it’s citizens during these years is still a great bother even up to these days and will continue to be even for many years to come.

And so these children who were painting the new, beautiful world after revolution met with a rought, hostile and corrupted reality which made a lot of them very untrusting and pessimistic about politics and life itself. Nowadays they often have a hard time finding their place in the world.

Sayings

Don’t put out a fire that’s not burning you.- this is a very common czech saying. According to it you shouldn’t be solving a problem that is not bothering you personally, as you might get wounded instead of the person who was actually being bothered by the ‘flames.’

The owner, the store.- According to this saying, you should never expect an honest work from a dishonest person. Person without a dignity will neither have any in his professional life. Same goes around.