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.
Zatímco se koupeš
Jaromír Nohavica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Umýváš si záda
Na největší loupež
Ve mně se střádá
Tak jako se dáváš vodě
Vezmu si tě já já zloděj
Už v tom vážně plavu
Piju druhou kávu
A kouřím třetí Spartu
A za velmi tenkou stěnou
Cítím jak se mydlíš pěnou
Nechej vodu vodou
Jen ať si klidně teče
Chápej že touha je touha
A čas se pomalu vleče
Cigareta hasne
Káva stydne
Krev se pění
Hmm hmm
Bylo by to krásné
Kdyby srdce bylo klidné
Ale ono není
Hmm hmm
Zatímco se koupeš
Umýváš si záda
Svět se se mnou houpe
Všechno mi z rukou padá
A až budeš stát na prahu
Všechny peníze dal bych za odvahu
Nechej vodu vodou
Jen ať si klidně teče
Chápej že touha je touha
A čas se pomalu vleče
Cigareta hasne
Káva stydne
Krev se pění
Hmm hmm
Bylo by to krásné
Kdyby srdce bylo klidné
Ale ono není
Hmm hmm
Nebylo a není
Hmm hmm
Zatímco se koupeš
The lyrics of Jaromir Nohavica's song Zatímco se koupeš convey a sense of longing, desire, and regret. The opening lines "Zatímco se koupeš, umýváš si záda" translates to "while you are bathing, washing your back". The singer of the song is experiencing the feeling of being a thief or a robber, as the biggest robbery is taking place inside of him. He is watching the person he desires as they are bathing and fantasizing about being with them. He feels consumed by desire and wants to steal that person's heart.
The second verse paints a picture of the singer's emotional state. He is "swimming" in his feelings, while isolating himself from the world. He drinks coffee and smokes cigarettes to distract himself from reality. Yet he cannot escape the sound of his object of desire bathing just beyond a thin wall.
The chorus, "Nechej vodu vodou, jen at si klidne tece" translates to "let the water flow, let it run calmly." He is asking his object of desire to not cover up her emotions and let them flow like water. He knows that his longing is strong, and time seems to stand still. The cigarette is burning out, the coffee is getting cold, and his emotions are boiling over, but his heart cannot find peace.
The final verse brings the song full circle. As the person comes out of the bath, he is willing to give up everything for the chance to be loved. He is willing to risk his wealth and security for a chance at being with his love. In the end, the song expresses the theme that love is often accompanied by an intense desire and pain that can be both beautiful and heart-wrenching.
Line by Line Meaning
Zatímco se koupeš
While you're taking a bath
Umýváš si záda
You're washing your back
Na největší loupež
The biggest robbery
Ve mně se střádá
Is building up inside me
Tak jako se dáváš vodě
Just as you give yourself to water
Vezmu si tě já já zloděj
I'll take you, yes, I, the thief
Už v tom vážně plavu
I'm seriously in it
Za stěnou z umakartu
Behind the cardboard wall
Piju druhou kávu
I'm drinking my second coffee
A kouřím třetí Spartu
And smoking my third Sparta cigarette
A za velmi tenkou stěnou
And behind a very thin wall
Cítím jak se mydlíš pěnou
I feel you lathering with soap
Nechej vodu vodou
Let water be water
Jen ať si klidně teče
Just let it flow calmly
Chápej že touha je touha
Understand that desire is desire
A čas se pomalu vleče
And time slowly drags on
Cigareta hasne
The cigarette is going out
Káva stydne
The coffee is getting cold
Krev se pění
Blood boils
Bylo by to krásné
It would be beautiful
Kdyby srdce bylo klidné
If the heart were calm
Ale ono není
But it isn't
Svět se se mnou houpe
The world is shaking with me
Všechno mi z rukou padá
Everything is slipping from my hands
A až budeš stát na prahu
And when you'll be standing on the threshold
Všechny peníze dal bych za odvahu
I'd give all my money for courage
Nebylo a není
It wasn't and it isn't
Contributed by Cameron C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bluupelagos2408
Dokonalý Jarek a jeho tvorba.❤👍👍👍❤
@vladimirsterba-hf3el
Evinko schazis mě čím dál víc miluju tě váš taťka a láďa
@jozichamurapi6426
Najkrajšia pesnička o túžbe..
@piotrkosior8388
Piękne. Wybitne. Stawiam wyżej niż Dylana
@lenkakominkova1870
Moc pěkná písnička 😉
@thestringwarrior7969
Zatímco se koupeš
Umýváš si záda
Na největší loupež
Ve mně se střádá
Tak jako se dáváš vodě
Vezmu si tě já já zloděj
Už v tom vážně plavu
Za stěnou z umakartu
Piju druhou kávu
A kouřím třetí Spartu
A za velmi tenkou stěnou
Cítím jak se mydlíš pěnou
Nechej vodu vodou
Jen ať si klidně teče
Chápej že touha je touha
A čas se pomalu vleče
Cigareta hasne
Káva stydne
Krev se pění
Hmm hmm
Bylo by to krásné
Kdyby srdce bylo klidné
Ale ono není
Hmm hmm
@otacermak229
Není nad to mít jako backing vocal Karla Plíhala
@mironick666
Ale je tam pocut aj Vita Sazavskeho a Zdenka Vrestala. Od r.1998 mi to znie v hlave :-)
@lubosvagasky652
Na PŠ 4304 spojári oddychovky na výcvykovky morze výcvyku a oddychu .................
@janakasparkova1167
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