She became famous in 1973 with the song "Małgośka" with lyrics by Agnieszka Osiecka. A year later, during the World Cup Opening Ceremony in Munich, she performed a song "Futbol" (Football).
The singer's body of work comprises over 600 recorded songs, with over 20 polish albums as well as albums in English, Czech, German and Russian. Apart from "Małgośka" the artist's most famous songs are "Niech żyje bal" (Long Live the Ball*), "To już było" (This has already been), "Wielka Woda" (The great water), "Rozmowa przez ocean" (A talk over the ocean), "Bossanova do poduszki" (A bedside bossanova), "Łatwopalni" (flammables) and her latest album's hits such as "Wszyscy chcą kochać" (Everybody wants to love) and "Będzie co ma być" (What ought to be, will be). In 2005 she recorded an album "Kochać" (to love) with lyrics by Katarzyna Nosowska. On the occasion of World Cup 2006, she recorded a song "Za Janasa" (For Janas) with the same songwriter's lyrics.
Maryla Rodowicz had performed in concert worldwide: in Europe, America, Australia, and Asia. She has won many awards for her singing. She has also articipated in various festivals including outside the borders of Poland, for example in Oklahoma City, Los Angeles, and Tulsa, as well as in Poland including "Festiwal Piosenki i Piosenkarzy Studenckich" (The Student Songs and Singers' Festival) in Krakow and at "Krajowy Festiwal Piosenki Polskiej" (The National Polish Song Festival) in Opole.
Rodowicz is also an actor who has performed in several movies and musical entertainment. She regularly performs in a Polsat TV channel series "Rodzina zastępcza" (A Foster Family).
In 1992 she released her autobiography under the title of "Niech żyje bal" (Long Live the Ball*).
*Ball, as in party, not the spherical object.
Desperado
Maryla Rodowicz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Idąc niebem na skos,
Wtedy zjawia się Desperado,
By srogi wyzwać los,
Gwiazdy płyną srebrną armadą,
Świetlisty sypią kurz,
Lecz nie patrzy w nie Desperado,
Cel wybrał już...
Ajajajaj, ajajaja...
Bo Desperado cel wybrał już.
Rzucił precz nadzieję daremną,
Lękom się śmieje w nos...
Gwiazda Desperado jest ciemna,
Spod ciemnej gwiazdy los,
I nie patrzy w świat Desperado,
Jak mierny, bierny widz,
Bo się rządzi jedną zasadą:
Wszystko, lub nic.
Ajajajaj, ajajajaj,
On ma zasadę: wszystko lub nic!
Płynie przez ponure odmęty,
Nieświadom skał i raf,
Desperado - święty, przeklęty,
Zdany na losu traf.
Desperado, Igrzysko Boże,
Wśród zmierzchu krwawych łun,
Pożałuje go kiedyś może,
Siedem gitary strun...
Ajajajaj, ajajajaj,
Wspomni go siedem gitary strun.
Czemuś Desperado mi bliski,
Bo ja, normalna rzecz,
Mówię w życiu: nic, albo wszystko,
A konwenansom precz,
Kiedy księżyc prześwieca blado,
Na pożegnanie dnia,
Śpiewam Ci - dalej walcz Desperado,
Bo ty to ja
Ajajajaj, ajajajaj,
Walcz Desperado, bo ty to ja!
The song "Desperado" by Maryla Rodowicz tells a story of a lonely and courageous man, who challenges fate and follows his own path, even if it leads him towards danger and uncertainty. The character of Desperado is illustrated as a mysterious and unpredictable adventurer, who appears at night, when the moon shines faintly, and who walks through the sky as if defying gravity. He is portrayed as a man who is not afraid to take risks and who lives by his own rules, aiming for a better life and greater success, regardless of the obstacles that he might face. The lyrics also suggest that Desperado is a person who has suffered greatly in the past, and who has given up on hope and trust, preferring to rely only on his own instincts and his strength of spirit.
The chorus of "Desperado" emphasizes the character's determination and his willingness to take on any challenge, stating that he has already chosen his destiny and that he will not back down from it. The verses describe the various aspects of Desperado's personality and his journey, including the way he views the stars and the moon, the way he laughs at fear, the way he navigates through dangerous waters, and the way he is haunted by memories of his past. The repetition of the refrain "ajajajaj" underscores the emotional intensity of the song and gives it a hypnotic quality.
Line by Line Meaning
Kiedy księżyc przyświeca blado,
When the moon shines faintly,
Idąc niebem na skos,
Walking askew through the sky,
Wtedy zjawia się Desperado,
Then Desperado appears,
By srogi wyzwać los,
To challenge fate gravely,
Gwiazdy płyną srebrną armadą,
Stars flow in a silver army,
Świetlisty sypią kurz,
Shimmering and sprinkling dust,
Lecz nie patrzy w nie Desperado,
But Desperado doesn't look at them,
Cel wybrał już...
The goal has already been chosen...
Ajajajaj, ajajaja...
Ajajajaj, ajajaja...
Bo Desperado cel wybrał już.
Because Desperado has already chosen the goal.
Rzucił precz nadzieję daremną,
He cast away vain hope,
Lękom się śmieje w nos...
He laughs in the face of fear ...
Gwiazda Desperado jest ciemna,
Desperado's star is dark,
Spod ciemnej gwiazdy los,
Fate comes from the dark star,
I nie patrzy w świat Desperado,
And Desperado doesn't look at the world,
Jak mierny, bierny widz,
Like a passive spectator,
Bo się rządzi jedną zasadą:
Because he is governed by one rule:
Wszystko, lub nic.
Everything or nothing.
Ajajajaj, ajajajaj,
Ajajajaj, ajajajaj,
On ma zasadę: wszystko lub nic!
He has the rule: everything or nothing!
Płynie przez ponure odmęty,
He flows through gloomy depths,
Nieświadom skał i raf,
Unaware of rocks and reefs,
Desperado - święty, przeklęty,
Desperado - holy, cursed,
Zdany na losu traf.
Dependent on fate's whims.
Desperado, Igrzysko Boże,
Desperado, God's Play,
Wśród zmierzchu krwawych łun,
Amidst the bloody dusk,
Pożałuje go kiedyś może,
Perhaps he will regret him one day,
Siedem gitary strun...
Seven guitar strings...
Ajajajaj, ajajajaj,
Ajajajaj, ajajajaj,
Wspomni go siedem gitary strun.
Seven guitar strings will remember him.
Czemuś Desperado mi bliski,
Why do I feel close to Desperado,
Bo ja, normalna rzecz,
Because I, a normal thing,
Mówię w życiu: nic, albo wszystko,
In life I say: nothing, or everything,
A konwenansom precz,
And away with conventions,
Kiedy księżyc prześwieca blado,
When the moon shines faintly,
Na pożegnanie dnia,
In farewell to the day,
Śpiewam Ci - dalej walcz Desperado,
I sing to you - keep fighting, Desperado,
Bo ty to ja
Because you are me.
Ajajajaj, ajajajaj,
Ajajajaj, ajajajaj,
Walcz Desperado, bo ty to ja!
Fight Desperado, because you are me!
Contributed by Nicholas M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.