She released her first, self-produced solo album, Kamien (Stone), in 1996. It was a great success, consisting of melancholy pop songs. In the same year, she was voted ‘Vocalist of the Year’ by the Polish music industry and received a Fryderyk in recognition of her achievements.
In 1997, she received another Fryderyk, this time for the album Zebra, in the category of ‘Composer of the Year’. With Zebra she changed her style, moving in the direction of American soul music.
In 1999, she recorded one of the most popular Polish albums ever, with the Balkan composer Goran Bregović, entitled Kayah & Bregović: it is a blend of old Slavic songs and modern rhythms. Most of the music was composed by Bregović for the band Bijelo Dugme (White Button), which he had been a part of and movie soundtracks that he had worked on. The lyrics are both translations of the original text and inspired. In the same year she was awarded a Wiktor and another Fryderyk, in the category ‘Vocalist of the Year’.
In 2000, she released the album Jaka Ja Kayah which featured pop, jazz, and techno-influenced songs. She also released the single "Aniol Wiedzial" ("The Angel Knew") from the album, duetted with Cesaria Evora in Portuguese, and recorded English-language versions of some of her songs.
She was twice cast in advertisements for Polish mobile phone's Web - Orange POP (formerly Idea POP).
Sites: En.Wikipedia.
Jidisze Mame
Kayah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mit velkhe tayere farmegen bentcht got alemen?
Men koyft dos nisht fir kayne gelt, dos git men nor umzist
Oon dokh az men ferlirt dos, oy vi treren men fargist
A Tzvayten git men kaynem nit, es helft nisht kayn gevayn
Oy, ver es hot farloyrn, der vays shoyn vos ikh mayn
Mayn Yiddishe Mame
Mayn Yiddish Mame
Oy vey vi bitter ven zi felt
Vi shayn in likhtig iz in hoiz ven di mame iz do
Vi troyerig finster vert ven Got nemt ir oif Olam Haboh
In vasser in fayer volt zi gelofn far ihr kind
Nisht halten ihr tayer, dos iz gevis di gresten zind
Oy, vi gliklekh un raykh iz der mentsh vos hot
Aza shayne matuneh geshenkt foon Got
Nor ayn altichke Yiddishe Mame
Oy, Mame Mayn!
In "Jidisze Mame" by Kayah, the lyrics express a deep appreciation and love for the singer's Yiddish mother. The song begins with a question about who can pray for everyone with such dear words, and who blesses God with so much emotion. It emphasizes that such a gift cannot be bought with money alone and once it is lost, it cannot be regained, causing immense sorrow. The second verse further praises the Yiddish mother, highlighting her presence as a source of light and joy in the home, contrasting the deep darkness that descends when God takes her to the afterlife. The song acknowledges the sacrifices and unconditional love of a Yiddish mother, describing her willingness to run through water and fire for her child, even if it means relinquishing her own dear possessions. The bittersweetness of her existence is highlighted, as her happiness and richness are contrasted with the grief and darkness that come when she is taken away.
Line by Line Meaning
Ikh vil bay aykh a kashe fregen, zogt mir ver es ken
I want to ask you a question, tell me who knows
Mit velkhe tayere farmegen bentcht got alemen?
With what precious gifts does god bless everyone?
Men koyft dos nisht fir kayne gelt, dos git men nor umzist
You can't buy it with any money, it only comes for free
Oon dokh az men ferlirt dos, oy vi treren men fargist
But when you lose it, oh, how tears are shed
A Tzvayten git men kaynem nit, es helft nisht kayn gevayn
A second one cannot be found, no prayer will help
Oy, ver es hot farloyrn, der vays shoyn vos ikh mayn
Oh, whoever has lost it, they already know what I mean
Mayn Yiddishe Mame
My Jewish mother
Es gibt nisht besser oif der velt
There is nothing better in the world
Oy vey vi bitter ven zi felt
Oh, how bitter it is when she suffers
Vi shayn in likhtig iz in hoiz ven di mame iz do
How bright and light it is at home when mother is here
Vi troyerig finster vert ven Got nemt ir oif Olam Haboh
How gloomy and dark it becomes when God takes her to the afterlife
In vasser in fayer volt zi gelofn far ihr kind
She would run into water and fire for her child
Nisht halten ihr tayer, dos iz gevis di gresten zind
Not protecting her precious ones, that's surely the greatest sin
Oy, vi gliklekh un raykh iz der mentsh vos hot
Oh, how fortunate and wealthy is the person who has
Aza shayne matuneh geshenkt foon Got
Such a beautiful gift from God
Nor ayn altichke Yiddishe Mame
Only an aged Jewish mother
Oy, Mame Mayn!
Oh, my mother!
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Łukasz Szczepański
Kocham Cię za to! ❤
Janusz Woźniak
Mógłbym słuchać i słuchać.