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)
Opowieść zimowa
Armia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jest w lesie ptak na wieży dzwon
Jak dotąd tylko ja jak dotąd tylko Ty
Jak warto żyć gdy serce drży
W zimową noc niech nie wie nic
Zły
Czy ryby jeszcze drżą w oceanie
Czy przyjdziesz znów daleko stąd
Czy będę jeszcze Twoim przyjacielem
I skąd ten blask ten w dali ptak
Skąd w białej mgle zniszczony płaszcz
Nie mogę znieść
Nie mogę Ci nic powiedzieć
Pustynia śpi zabija świat
Pustynia śpi zabija świat
Jak cicho obok nas jak cicho tu i tam
I niemy krzyk gdy serce drży
W zimową noc niech nie wie nic
Zły
Zły zły zły zły zły zły zły zły
Czy ryby jeszcze drżą w oceanie
Czy wiatr się zrywa czy bije dzwon
Czy przyjdziesz znów daleko stąd
Czy będę jeszcze Twoim przyjacielem
I gdzie ten świat za którym się
Nie goni nawet i we śnie
Nie mogę Ci nic powiedzieć
Nie mogę Ci nic powiedzieć
Tyle co nic tyle co nic
W długą zimową noc
Uśmiech na dnie głupiec na chmurze
Uśmiech na dnie głupiec na chmurze
Trzy bajki jeszcze raz
Trzy bajki cały czas
Niech bestia śpi gdy serce drży
W zimową noc niech nie wie nic
Zły
Zły zły zły
Tyle co nic tyle co nic
W długą zimową noc
The song "Opowieść zimowa" by Armia portrays a winter night adventure in a forest. The opening lines, "Jest w lesie ptak na wieży dzwon" are repeated several times throughout the song, serving as a reminder of a mysterious, almost magical atmosphere. The lyrics hint at a deep understanding and intimacy between the two individuals featured in the story. Despite the cold and danger surrounding them, their shared experience transforms into a memory they will never forget. This is emphasized in the phrase "Jak warto żyć gdy serce drży" which means "how it's worth living when the heart is trembling."
The repeated question, "Czy ryby jeszcze drżą w oceanie" means "Do fish still tremble in the ocean," serves as a reminder of life outside of the forest, but also questions the state of the world — is everything falling apart, or is everything still functioning as usual? The song's ending feels somewhat surreal, with lines such as "Uśmiech na dnie głupiec na chmurze" which mean "a smile on the bottom, a fool in the clouds." This could potentially imply that the entire story was just a dream or a memory, and it is unclear if what had occurred was even real.
This song's lyrics are abstract and up for interpretation, but many fans believe them to be a reflection on the unpredictability of life, and finding beauty in unexpected places. Armia is known for their introspective lyrics and punk-rock sound, and "Opowieść zimowa" is one of their most well-loved songs.
Line by Line Meaning
Jest w lesie ptak na wieży dzwon
In the forest, there is a bird on a tower that rings a bell
Jak dotąd tylko ja jak dotąd tylko Ty
So far, it's just been me and you
Jak warto żyć gdy serce drży
How meaningful life is when the heart trembles
W zimową noc niech nie wie nic Zły
Let evil not know anything in the winter night
Czy ryby jeszcze drżą w oceanie
Are the fish still trembling in the ocean?
Czy wiatr się zrywa czy bije dzwon
Is the wind tearing or is it the bell ringing?
Czy przyjdziesz znów daleko stąd
Will you come again from far away?
Czy będę jeszcze Twoim przyjacielem
Will I still be your friend?
I skąd ten blask ten w dali ptak
And where does this light come from, this distant bird?
Skąd w białej mgle zniszczony płaszcz
Where from in the white fog, the ruined coat?
Nie mogę znieść
I cannot bear it
Nie mogę Ci nic powiedzieć
I cannot tell you anything
Pustynia śpi zabija świat
The desert sleeps and kills the world
Jak cicho obok nas jak cicho tu i tam
How quiet it is around us, here and there
I niemy krzyk gdy serce drży
And the silent scream when the heart trembles
Zły
Evil
Zły zły zły zły zły zły zły zły
Evil, evil, evil, evil, evil, evil, evil
I gdzie ten świat za którym się
And where is that world we're chasing
Nie goni nawet i we śnie
That doesn't even chase us in our dreams
Tyle co nic tyle co nic
As good as nothing, as good as nothing
W długą zimową noc
In the long winter night
Uśmiech na dnie głupiec na chmurze
A smile at the bottom, a fool in the clouds
Trzy bajki jeszcze raz
Three fairy tales once again
Trzy bajki cały czas
Three fairy tales all the time
Niech bestia śpi gdy serce drży
Let the beast sleep when the heart trembles
Zły zły zły
Evil, evil, evil
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@zakapiorprl
Armia wieczna Legenda, najlepsza płyta.
@piotrnowicki3269
Armii słucham i wracam do niej najczęściej zawsze na wiosnę.. Ta muzyka, to brzmienie, ten klimat. Nadzieja taka w tej muzyce. Coś wspaniałego. Mimo mrocznych klimatów w niektórych kawałkach plus mix w życiu prywatnym potrafi trzymać na "powierzchni".
@zadowolony40
Cały czas w formie ale jak dla mnie skład ze Stopą, Malejonkiem, Brylewskim, Bananem no i oczywiście z Budzyńskim to dopiero wymiatali.
@niepoprawnahistoriaurbex
Jest siła. Wspaniały zespół!
@Apoc-pj2cq
Tyle lat a jest moc.
@tojarobak1
Niesamowite wykonanie !
@antoneczka
Pierwszy raz widziałam Armię w 1990 w Głogowie jak grali razem z Proletariatem. Niesamowity koncert ! Tego kawałka nigdy nie zapomnę!
@h3nrywhite852
Dreszcz. I łza dla dni które minęły.Moc i głębia .
@piotrkostka8494
Najlepszy numer Armii - bez dwóch zdań.
@user-il8ti2vl4w
to czego nigdy nie widziałem