Out of the dozen plus records Armia have released, „Legenda” (1990) and „Triodante” (1994) are widely regarded as classic Polish rock gems. The band have established their position with hundreds of concerts (with Killing Joke and New Model Army among others) and by appearing at many prestigious festivals in and outside Poland. Their concert activity is documented on such albums as „Exodus” (1991), „Soul Side Story” (2000), „Koncert na 20-lecie” (2006), and „Przystanek Woodstock 2004” (2007).
In 2006 the band released a live DVD called „Koncert na 20-lecie”, which documents the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the band’s formation. Among the guest stars are Kazik Staszewski of Kult, Moskwa, as well as former members Darek Malejonek and Sławek Gołaszewski (with his band Asunta). The 35-song track list includes some legendary Siekiera songs, with an over-an-hour long interview with Tomasz Budzyński added as a bonus.
Over the twenty years of the band’s career, its line-up consisted of many outstanding and distinguished figures of Polish rock music. The Armia of now are: Tomasz Budzyński (voice), Tomasz Krzyżaniak (drums), Krzysztof Kmiecik (bass), Paweł Klimczak (guitar), Rafał Giec (guitar), and Jakub Bartoszewski (French horn).
The power of Armia lies in the combination of Tomasz Budzyński’s poetry with the music which is at the same time sophisticated and expressive, and which merges elements of rock, folk, and even classical music. The use of the unusual instruments for today’s rock standards, such as French horn, flute, cello or violin, renders the band offer unique and guarantees them a special place on the Polish rock scene. Armia remains a band whose original music is not to be pigeonholed. The lyrics abound with references to outstanding works of the world’s literature such as Dante’s „ Divine Comedy” or poems by Samuel Beckett and Artur Rimbaud, as well as Franz Kafka novels, which again makes Armia sensational on a worldwide scale. Tomasz Budzyński’s lyrics call for a serious reflection upon the spiritual condition of man today. The band try to provide the listeners with more than mere entertainment, through their art inviting them to make an existential quest for the meaning of life.
2009 is special in the history of the band, as by the end of November they will have released two brilliant (and so different) records in one year. In February, “der Prozess” was out, another concept-album in Armia’s discography. The very title suggest the link with Franz Kafka’s masterpiece, an inspiration which Tomasz Budzyński does not deny. The album is not an illustration of the book, however, but an individual glance at the existential tragedy of each human being, coloured by the references to Kierkegaard philosophy. Most personal lyrics combined with the aggressive and complex music bring a really stunning effect. Six compositions by Paweł Klimczak make a sophisticated suite with a unique combination of hardcore stylistics with elements of jazz and even the modern avant-garde classical music. The wall of guitars, the fantastic drumming from Tomasz Krzyżaniak and Banan’s fairytale French horn make an uncanny background for the powerful vocals of Tom with theatrical touches.
Yet at the moment Armia have just finished working at the brand new album called „Freak”, which is to be released on 20 November 2009, by Isound Labels. Sensationally, founder members Robert Brylewski and Sławomir Gołaszewski took part in the session. Apart from the characteristic psychedelic guitars by Afa and the magic instruments by Merlin, the album features some free-jazz saxophones by Marek Pospieszalski and Łukasz Kluczniak (who has already contributed to the band’s concerts), as well as the otherworldly accordion from Karol Nowacki and some backing vocals from Gerard Nowak of The Soundrops. The album is produced by Tomasz Budzyński and the material has been recorded at Robert Lica Friedrich’s studio in Puszczykowo near Poznań.
“Freak”, which little resembles the monumental sound of “der Prozess”, comes as a complete stylistic shift for Armia. The fact that all the tracks are sung by Tomasz Budzyński in English only adds to the novelty of the album.
Armia’s discography:
AntiArmia (1987)
Legenda (1990)
Exodus (1991)
Czas i byt (1992)
Triodante (1994)
Duch (1996)
Droga (1999)
Soul Side Story (2000)
Pocałunek Mongolskiego Księcia (2003)
Ultima Thule (2005)
Koncert na 20-lecie (DVD, 2005)
Przystanek Woodstock 2004 (2006)
Der Prozess (2009)
Freak (2009)
Katedra
Armia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Zaczarowana noc
Hej ho, hej ho
Zaczarowana noc.
Hej ho, hej ho
Zaczarowana noc.
Hej ho, hej ho
Zaczarowany...
Heretyk czeka na stos
Na wieczny ogień i na wieczne niebo
Heretyk czeka na stos
Na wszystko to, co się nie przyśniło
Ogień leci do chmur
Otwiera się właz i ucieka dno
Heretyk czeka na stos
Drabina śmierci i rakiety grzmot
Hej, hej, hej jeszcze wyżej leć!
Hej, hej, hej jeszcze wyżej leć!
Hej, hej, hej jeszcze wyżej leć!
Hej, hej, hej jeszcze wyżej,
Coraz wyżej leć!
Zieleń czeka na brąz
Pocałunki i spojrzenia
Zieleń czeka na brąz
Wieczorny dom i wysokie drzewa
Ja czekam na ciebie i mnie
Na pierwszy oddech i ostatni taniec
Ja czekam na ciebie i mnie
Na księżyc jakiego nigdy nie widziano
Hej, hej, hej jeszcze wyżej leć!
Jeszce wyżej leć!
Hej, hej, hej jeszcze wyżej leć!
Jeszcze wyżej, coraz wyżej leć!
Hej, hej, hej jeszcze wyżej leć!
Hej, hej, hej jeszcze wyżej,
Coraz wyżej leć!
Szalona miłość
Szalona miłość
Szalona miłość
Szalona miłość
Katedra czeka na świt
Wynurza łódź i otwiera drzwi
Katedra czeka na świt
Opada sen, topolowy liść
Niebo zajmuje swój dom
Drabina okno, a rakieta mysz
Katedra czeka na świt
Do domu wraca zbłąkany syn
Hej ho, hej ho
Zaczarowana noc
Hej ho, hej ho
Szalona miłość
Hej, hej, hej!
Jeszcze wyżej, coraz wyżej leć!
The song "Katedra" by Armia tells a story of different individuals waiting for something or someone. The opening lines of the song, "Hej ho, hej ho, Zaczarowana noc" (Hey ho, hey ho, enchanted night) suggest that the atmosphere is mysterious and magical, creating a sense of anticipation among the characters. The lyrics then describe a heretic waiting for the stake, something that represents eternal heaven and hell. The lines "Na wszystko to, co się nie przyśniło" (For everything that was not dreamed) adds to the ominous tone of the song, suggesting that the heretic is waiting for more than just physical punishment. The next set of lines, "Ogień leci do chmur, Otwiera się właz i ucieka dno" (Fire flies to the clouds, hatch opens, and the bottom escapes), suggests an apocalyptic event where the boundaries between heavens and earth break down.
The next set of lyrics talks about waiting for a lover or loved ones, the color green waiting for brown, which may signify vegetation waiting for soil. The lines, "Ja czekam na ciebie i mnie, Na pierwszy oddech i ostatni taniec" (I wait for you and me, For the first breath and the last dance) suggest a nostalgic longing for something intangible or impossible to achieve. The song then ends with the image of a lost son returning home through the cathedral's door, completing the cycle of anticipation and waiting.
Line by Line Meaning
Hej ho, hej ho
Zaczarowana noc
Hey ho, hey ho, an enchanted night
Heretyk czeka na stos
Na wieczny ogień i na wieczne niebo
The heretic waits for the stake, for eternal fire and eternal heaven
Heretyk czeka na stos
Na wszystko to, co się nie przyśniło
The heretic waits for the stake for everything that hasn't been dreamed
Ogień leci do chmur
Otwiera się właz i ucieka dno
Fire flies to the clouds, a hatch opens and the bottom escapes
Heretyk czeka na stos
Drabina śmierci i rakiety grzmot
The heretic waits for the stake, for the ladder of death and the rocket's thunder
Zieleń czeka na brąz
Pocałunki i spojrzenia
Green waits for brown, kisses and gazes
Zieleń czeka na brąz
Wieczorny dom i wysokie drzewa
Green waits for brown, for an evening house and tall trees
Ja czekam na ciebie i mnie
Na pierwszy oddech i ostatni taniec
I'm waiting for you and me, for the first breath and the last dance
Ja czekam na ciebie i mnie
Na księżyc jakiego nigdy nie widziano
I'm waiting for you and me, for a moon that has never been seen
Katedra czeka na świt
Wynurza łódź i otwiera drzwi
The cathedral waits for dawn, a boat emerges and opens the door
Katedra czeka na świt
Opada sen, topolowy liść
The cathedral waits for dawn, a sleep descends, a poplar leaf
Niebo zajmuje swój dom
Drabina okno, a rakieta mysz
The sky takes its home, the ladder window and the rocket mouse
Katedra czeka na świt
Do domu wraca zbłąkany syn
The cathedral waits for dawn, a lost son returns home
Hej, hej, hej jeszcze wyżej leć!
Hey hey hey fly even higher!
Jeszce wyżej leć!
Fly even higher!
Hej, hej, hej jeszcze wyżej leć!
Coraz wyżej, coraz wyżej leć!
Hey hey hey fly even higher, higher and higher!
Szalona miłość
Mad love
Szalona miłość
Mad love
Szalona miłość
Mad love
Hej ho, hej ho
Szalona miłość
Hey ho, hey ho, mad love
Contributed by Natalie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.