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.
Ostravo
Jaromír Nohavica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
město mezi městy hořké
moje štěstí
Ostravo Ostravo
černá hvězdo nad hlavou
Pámbů rozdal
jiným městům všecku krásu
a dámy všité do atlasu
Ostravo Ostravo
srdce rudé
zpečetěný osude
Ostravo Ostravo
kde jsem oči nechal
když jsem k tobě spěchal
Ostravo Ostravo
černá hvězdo nad hlavou
Ať mě moje nohy
nesly kam mě nesly
ptáci na obloze
jenom jednu cestu kreslí
Ostravo Ostravo
srdce rudé
zpečetěný osude
The song "Ostravo" by Jaromír Nohavica is a tribute to the city of Ostrava in the Czech Republic. The lyrics evoke a sense of bitterness and longing for a city that has been left behind by progress and modernization. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song by calling Ostrava a "city between cities bitter, my happiness" and naming it a "black star" over the head. These lines suggest a city that is not as glamorous or beautiful as other cities, and yet, for the singer, it holds a special place in his heart.
The second verse highlights the inequality of resources and development that have been distributed unequally across different cities. While other cities have been given all the beauty, Ostrava has been left with just its "red heart" and a "sealed fate." This verse represents a sense of unfairness and neglect that the city has faced. Despite this, the chorus evokes a sense of loyalty and belonging to Ostrava, reinforced by the phrase "black star over the head."
The final lines suggest a journey towards Ostrava driven by a compelling sense of destination. The singer's "eyes were lost" and his feet carried him wherever they did, but the "birds in the sky drew only one path." The path, of course, leads to Ostrava, the city that holds a special place in his heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Ostravo Ostravo
The city of Ostrava which is bitter but still my happiness.
město mezi městy hořké
Ostrava is a city that is distinctively bitter, situated amongst other cities.
moje štěstí
Despite its bitterness, Ostrava is my happiness.
černá hvězdo nad hlavou
Ostrava is symbolized by a black star above it.
Pámbů rozdal
God gave to other cities all the beauty, but not to Ostrava.
jiným městům všecku krásu
God gave all beauty to other cities, neglecting Ostrava.
parníky na řekách
Other cities have steamboats on their rivers.
a dámy všité do atlasu
Other cities are cherished like ladies sewn into an atlas.
srdce rudé
Ostrava has a red heart, signifying its passionate nature.
zpečetěný osude
Ostrava's fate is sealed and difficult to change.
kde jsem oči nechal
Ostrava is the place where I lost my eyes, metaphorically speaking.
když jsem k tobě spěchal
I hurried to Ostrava and in the process, lost sight of what was important.
Ať mě moje nohy
May my feet lead me wherever they take me.
nesly kam mě nesly
May they take me wherever destiny wants me to go.
ptáci na obloze
Birds in the sky signify freedom.
jenom jednu cestu kreslí
Birds fly only on one path, whereas I have many paths to choose from.
srdce rudé
Ostrava has a red heart, signifying its passionate nature.
zpečetěný osude
Ostrava's fate is sealed and difficult to change.
Contributed by Arianna L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
SEJFER
Nesmrtelná píseň! :)
Pavol Hlôška
Do řiti. Jeden člověk takhle roztleská a rozezpívá halu Karolina.
Filip Kejdana
Nadherna to pisnicka a to odtamtud znam poradne jen hokejovy stadion :)
Milan Chladný
moc hezká.také jsem prožil Karvinou, je mi to blízké. A jarka mám rád!
Rastin_69
2019 je to nesmrtelná písnička
mnemosyne
Pre na Jarek Nohavica Národný hrdina! A mysim to s plnou vaznostou.Bravo Jarku!Cesi,budte na tohto cloveka hrdíA právom.
slmns
Jarek to opet roztočil jak 87.
Abdul Bari Yaqub
I have spent a golden time for me the best city