He was born in Ostrava, Czech Republic and has played guitar since he was 13. He began studies at the Technical University of Ostrava but eventually left the school. He tried various jobs and eventually ended up working as a freelance lyricist. He gained fame with his first song for Marie Rottrová, Lásko, voníš deštěm (You Smell of Rain, My Love) - it was a remake of Black Sabbath 's ballad "She's Gone". He lives in Ostrava, has a wife and two children.
In 1982 he started performing in public, a sound decision in that a number of his songs gained wide popularity. His first album, Darmoděj (Aimless), released in 1988 was an immediate sell-out. An aura of myth arose around Nohavica which survived even the crisis period of his treatment for alcoholism. His subsequent release of the lovely, slightly pessimistic Mikymauzoleum (Mickey Mousoleum), an album of mainly melancholy songs. In 1994 he live recorded an album Tři čuníci (Three Piglets), intended for children, with humoristic songs.
In 1996 Nohavica released Divné století (Strange Century). He and his producer employed new instruments and voices for the new songs on the album, and it became a huge success. Two years later Jaromír Nohavica and Kapela (ie. the Band) came out with Koncert (Concert), a record featuring Nohavica playing with a band, and this fact recognizably changed his music. The album contains mainly older material, but the new treatment gave it a new appeal. His studio album from 2000, Moje smutné srdce (My Sad Heart), contains mostly sad songs about love.
Nohavica also starred in Petr Zelenka's movie Rok Ďábla (Year of The Devil), which was awarded the main prize at the 37th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 2002 and several other international film festivals.
Apart from his native Czech Republic, he also enjoys some popularity in neighbouring Poland and Slovakia.
He has just released a brand new CD called Ikarus which was recorded during his January's sets of concerts in Ostrava.
Darmoděj
Jaromír Nohavica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
a šel po hlavní třídě
šel včera městem muž
a já ho z okna viděl
na flétnu chorál hrál
znělo to jako zvon
a byl v tom všechen žal
ten krásný dlouhý tón
ano - to je on
to je on
Vyběh jsem do ulic
jen v noční košili
v odpadcích z popelnic
krysy se honily
a v teplých postelích
lásky i nelásky
tiše se vrtěly
rodinné obrázky
a já chtěl odpověď
na svoje otázky
otázky
Dohnal jsem toho muže
a chytl za kabát
měl kabát z hadí kůže
šel z něho divný chlad
a on se otočil
a oči plné vran
a jizvy u očí
celý byl pobodán
a já jsem náhle věděl
kdo je onen pán
onen pán
Celý se strachem chvěl
když jsem tak k němu došel
a v ústech flétnu měl
od Hieronyma Bosche
stál měsíc nad domy
jak čírka ve vodě
jak moje svědomí
když zvrací v záchodě
a já jsem náhle věděl
ano - to je Darmoděj
můj Darmoděj
Můj Darmoděj
vagabund osudů a lásek
jenž prochází všemi sny
ale dnům vyhýbá se
můj Darmoděj
krásné zlo jed má pod jazykem
když prodává po domech
jehly se slovníkem
Šel včera městem muž
podomní obchodník
šel ale nejde už
krev skápla na chodník
já jeho flétnu vzal
a zněla jako zvon
a byl v tom všechen žal
ten krásný dlouhý tón
a já jsem náhle věděl
ano - já jsem on
já jsem on
Váš Darmoděj
vagabund osudů a lásek
jenž prochází všemi sny
ale dnům vyhýbá se
váš Darmoděj
krásné zlo jed mám pod jazykem
když prodávám po domech
jehly se slovníkem
"Darmoděj" is a song by Czech musician Jaromír Nohavica that recounts the story of a man who sees another man walking down the street, playing a mournful tune on a flute. Intrigued, the singer rushes out of his house to follow him through the city, eventually catching up to him and grabbing his coat. The man turns to face him, revealing a scarred face and a haunting gaze. The singer realizes that this is Darmoděj, a wandering soul who travels through dreams and avoids the days. Darmoděj is described as a beautiful evil with poison under his tongue, who wanders through people's dreams and sells needles with a dictionary. The singer is both fascinated and fearful of this enigmatic figure, perhaps seeing a reflection of himself in this lonely, wanderlust-struck vagabond.
The song has been interpreted in various ways, with some seeing Darmoděj as a metaphor for death or the human condition, while others see him as a symbol of the artist's own alienation and longing for freedom. The lyrics are poetic and layered, capturing both the beauty and the melancholy of life with Nohavica's distinctive voice and guitar playing.
Line by Line Meaning
Šel včera městem muž
A man walked through the city yesterday
a šel po hlavní třídě
And he walked along the main street
šel včera městem muž
A man walked through the city yesterday
a já ho z okna viděl
And I saw him from the window
na flétnu chorál hrál
He played a chorale on the flute
znělo to jako zvon
It sounded like a bell
a byl v tom všechen žal
And there was all the grief in it
ten krásný dlouhý tón
That beautiful long tone
a já jsem náhle věděl
And suddenly I knew
ano - to je on
Yes - that’s him, the one
to je on
That’s him
Vyběh jsem do ulic
I ran out on the streets
jen v noční košili
Only in my nightshirt
v odpadcích z popelnic
Garbage from trash cans
krysy se honily
Rats were running around
a v teplých postelích
And in warm beds
lásky i nelásky
Loves and unloves
tiše se vrtěly
Quietly they were spinning
rodinné obrázky
Family pictures
a já chtěl odpověď
And I wanted an answer
na svoje otázky
To my questions
otázky
Questions
Dohnal jsem toho muže
I caught up with that man
a chytl za kabát
And grabbed his coat
měl kabát z hadí kůže
He had a coat made of snake skin
šel z něho divný chlad
A strange coldness came from him
a on se otočil
And he turned around
a oči plné vran
And eyes full of crows
a jizvy u očí
And scars around the eyes
celý byl pobodán
He was stabbed all over
a já jsem náhle věděl
And suddenly I knew
kdo je onen pán
Who that lord is
onen pán
That lord
Celý se strachem chvěl
He trembled with fear
když jsem tak k němu došel
When I reached him
a v ústech flétnu měl
And had the flute in his mouth
od Hieronyma Bosche
From Hieronymus Bosch
stál měsíc nad domy
The moon stood above the houses
jak čírka ve vodě
Like a speck in the water
jak moje svědomí
Like my conscience
když zvrací v záchodě
When it’s vomiting in the toilet
a já jsem náhle věděl
And suddenly I knew
ano - to je Darmoděj
Yes - that’s Darmodye, the one
můj Darmoděj
My Darmodye
Můj Darmoděj
My Darmodye
vagabund osudů a lásek
A vagabond of fates and loves
jenž prochází všemi sny
Who passes through all dreams
ale dnům vyhýbá se
But avoids days
můj Darmoděj
My Darmodye
krásné zlo jed má pod jazykem
He has a beautiful poison under his tongue
když prodává po domech
When he sells from house to house
jehly se slovníkem
Needles with a dictionary
Šel včera městem muž
A man walked through the city yesterday
podomní obchodník
A door-to-door salesman
šel ale nejde už
But he walked no more
krev skápla na chodník
Blood dripped onto the pavement
já jeho flétnu vzal
I took his flute
a zněla jako zvon
And it sounded like a bell
a byl v tom všechen žal
And there was all the grief in it
ten krásný dlouhý tón
That beautiful long tone
a já jsem náhle věděl
And suddenly I knew
ano - já jsem on
Yes - I am him, the one
já jsem on
I am him
Váš Darmoděj
Your Darmodye
vagabund osudů a lásek
A vagabond of fates and loves
jenž prochází všemi sny
Who passes through all dreams
ale dnům vyhýbá se
But avoids days
váš Darmoděj
Your Darmodye
krásné zlo jed mám pod jazykem
I have a beautiful poison under my tongue
když prodávám po domech
When I sell from house to house
jehly se slovníkem
Needles with a dictionary
Contributed by Chloe F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-yr1iq5mq3x
Nádherná
@MarekGyaneshwarpuri
Velmi pěkná píseň.
@dagmarjedlickova8745
Nádhera!
@lubosvagasky652
1985 jeseň PŠ Litoměřice . relax.prestávky morze výcviku ....
@acousticcoverium4707
Acoustic cover:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrporW8-PZs