Grzegorz Turnau (born on July 31, 1967 in Kraków, Poland) - Polish composer… Read Full Bio ↴Grzegorz Turnau (born on July 31, 1967 in Kraków, Poland) - Polish composer, arranger, pianist poet and singer.

Grzegorz Turnau created characteristic music style which binded to jazz, smooth-jazz and sometimes folk. In his music he uses such instruments as saxophone, pipe, hautboy, electric and acoustic guitars and also string instruments and complete rythm section (percussion, ethnic drumms and bass guitar).

His first album, recorded in 1991, was "Naprawdę nie dzieje się nic" ("Nothing really happens"). Afterwards, he has had such hits as "Między ciszą a ciszą" ("Between silence and silence") from 1995, among others. His latest album is "Fabryka Klamek" ("Factory of Door Handles"), recorded in 2010. Grzegorz Turnau is currently touring in support of his latest record.

24 Smutki
Grzegorz Turnau Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Istnieli albo nie istnieli
Na wyspie albo nie na wyspie
Ocean albo nie ocean
Pokn ich albo nie

Czy byo komu kocha kogo
Czy bylo komu walczy z kim
Dziao si wszystko albo nic

Tam albo nie tam

Przypuszczalni wtpliwi nie upamitnieni
Nie wyjci z powietrza z ognia z wody z ziemi
Nie zawarci w kamieniu ani w kropli deszczu
Nie mogcy na serio pozowa do przestrg

Miast siedem stao czy napewno
Sta wiecznie chciao gdzie dowody
Nie wymylili prochu nie
Proch wymylili i tak

Meteor spad to nie meteor
Wulkan wybuch to nie wulkan
Kto woa co niczego nikt
Na tej plus minus Atlantydzie

Istnieli albo nie istnieli
Na wyspie albo nie na wyspie
Ocena albo nie ocean
Pokn ich albo nie

Czy byo komu kochac kogo
Czy byo komu walczy z kim
Dziao si wszystko albo nic

Tam albo nie tam
Tam albo nie tam

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Grzegorz Turnau's song "24 Smutki" explore the concept of existence and the uncertainty of history. The first stanza asks whether something or someone existed or not, whether they were on an island or not, in an ocean or not, whether they had fought with someone or not. These questions reflect the uncertainty of history and our limited knowledge of the past.

The second stanza delves further into this uncertainty, describing those who are hypothetical, doubtful, or forgotten, who cannot be traced to any element or material form. However, despite their impermanence, they are still significant because they exist in the memories and imaginations of those who consider them. The third stanza presents examples of phenomena that may or may not have occurred, highlighting the way in which history can be elusive and contradictory.

Overall, the lyrics of "24 Smutki" suggest that history is an incomplete puzzle that we can only guess at, and that our understanding of reality is often limited and subjective.

Line by Line Meaning

Istnieli albo nie istnieli
Whether they existed or not

Na wyspie albo nie na wyspie
On an island or not on an island

Ocean albo nie ocean
An ocean or not an ocean

Pokn ich albo nie
Kill them or not

Czy byo komu kocha kogo
Was there anyone to love someone

Czy bylo komu walczy z kim
Was there anyone to fight with someone

Dziao si wszystko albo nic
Everything happened or nothing at all

Tam albo nie tam
There or not there

Przypuszczalni wtpliwi nie upamitnieni
Presumed doubtful, not remembered

Nie wyjci z powietrza z ognia z wody z ziemi
Not born from air, fire, water or earth

Nie zawarci w kamieniu ani w kropli deszczu
Not contained in stone or raindrop