Laboratorium Pieśni (Song Laboratory) is a group of female singers from Pol… Read Full Bio ↴Laboratorium Pieśni (Song Laboratory) is a group of female singers from Poland, created in 2013.
Using traditional, polyphonic singing they perform songs from all over the world, mainly: Ukraine, Balkans, Poland, Belarus, Georgia, Scandinavia and many other places. They sing a capella as well as with shaman drums and other ethnic instruments (shruti box, kalimba, flute, gong, zaphir and koshi chimes, singing bowls, rattles etc.), creating a new space in a traditional song, adding voice improvisations, inspired by sounds of nature, often intuitive, wild and feminine.

Käppee
Laboratorium Pieśni Lyrics

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Akoill on paha ajatus, on paha ajatus
Tunto pitkätukkasilla, tunto tukkasilla
Juoni jonninjoutavilla, jonnin joutavilla

Etten mie sinä, etten mie sinä ikänä
Saa en miestä mielehistä, miestä mielehist

Miule hemmo, miule hemmo heitettihin

Nukkavieru viskattihin, vieru viskattiin

Miule hemmo, miule hemmo heitettihin
Aivan käppee annettihin, käppee annettihin

Jumavei ja jumavoi käppee heikko hemmo
Käppee heikko hemmo jumavei juu

Hemmo on heikko, hemmo heikko ja käpeä
Vielä villi viinanjuoja, villi viinanjuoja

Hemmo on heikko, hemmo heikko ja käpeä
Äkkiouto ja äkänen, äkkiouto

Jumavei ja jumavoi, käppee heikko hemmo
Käppee heikko hemmo jumavei juu

Overall Meaning

Laboratorium Pieśni's song "Käppee" is filled with poetic lyrics that paint a picture of a person who has been cast aside and rejected by society. The song begins with "Akoill on paha ajatus, on paha ajatus Tunto pitkätukkasilla, tunto tukkasilla Juoni jonninjoutavilla, jonnin joutavilla" which translates to "Wicked thoughts in the minds of the long-haired, sense in the hair, a scheme of nonsense". This verse speaks to the idea that society is judging people based on their appearance and not what's inside.

The chorus, "Etten mie sinä, etten mie sinä ikänä Saa en miestä mielehistä, miestä mielehist" translates to "I will never get a man of my dreams". The rejection this person is experiencing has left them feeling hopeless and dejected. They continue to sing about a man named Hemmo who has been cast out and rejected, "Miule hemmo, miule hemmo heitettihin Nukkavieru viskattihin, vieru viskattiin Miule hemmo, miule hemmo heitettihin Aivan käppee annettihin, käppee annettihin" which translates to "Hemmo was thrown away, ragged and poor, left with nothing". The use of the word "käppee" which means "chaff" or "worthless things" is intended to show how little society values those who are cast aside.

The song concludes with "Jumavei ja jumavoi käppee heikko hemmo Käppee heikko hemmo jumavei juu" which translates to "Heikko Hemmo is worthless, Jumavei Juu". The use of the name "Heikko Hemmo" is meant to be symbolic of all those who have been rejected and cast out of society. The song is a powerful commentary on society's tendency to reject those who don't fit within their narrow definition of what is acceptable.

Line by Line Meaning

Akoill on paha ajatus, on paha ajatus
Evil thoughts are in my mind, in my mind

Tunto pitkätukkasilla, tunto tukkasilla
The feeling of despair is in long-haired ones, in the hair

Juoni jonninjoutavilla, jonnin joutavilla
Schemes are pointless, pointless

Etten mie sinä, etten mie sinä ikänä
I will never be able to have a man like you, a man of my dreams

Saa en miestä mielehistä, miestä mielehist
I cannot obtain the man I wish for, I wish for

Miule hemmo, miule hemmo heitettihin
My dear one, my dear one, was thrown away

Nukkavieru viskattihin, vieru viskattiin
Thrown into the rough bed, thrown into the dirt

Aivan käppee annettihin, käppee annettihin
Given an unfair treatment, treated wrongly

Jumavei ja jumavoi käppee heikko hemmo
Oh my, the weak man is treated poorly

Käppee heikko hemmo jumavei juu
The weak man is mistreated, oh my!

Hemmo on heikko, hemmo heikko ja käpeä
The man is weak, weak and helpless