Hej panienki posłuchajcie
Piersi Lyrics
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Raz, dwa trzy
I gazetki przeczytajcie
Raz, dwa, trzy
Są tam wesołe nowinki
Wesołe nowinki
Będzie pobór na dziewczynki
Raz, dwa, trzy
Raz, dwa, trzy
Posadzimy na armatę
Raz, dwa, trzy
A zaś panny bez feleru
Panny bez felerów
Pójdą służyć do saperów
Raz, dwa, trzy
Która krzyknie: ja potrafię
Raz, dwa, trzy
Będzie służyć w telegrafie
Pik, pik, pik
A zaś panny bez humoru
Panny bez humoru
Pójdą służyć do taborów
Raz, dwa, trzy
Gdy ksiądz proboszcz się dowiedział
Raz, dwa, trzy
Na plebani nie usiedział
Raz, dwa, trzy
Myślał w nocy i nad ranem
W nocy i nad ranem
Jak tu zostać kapelanem
Wojskowym
The song "Hej, panienki posłuchajcie" by Piersi has a cheerful and catchy tune but the lyrics carry a satirical commentary about the political and social norms of the time. The song addresses young women and instructs them to read newspapers to stay informed of the latest news. The news includes details of the draft, specifically that it will now include girls who are "cranky and snub-nosed" and that they will be positioned on cannons. The song also highlights that girls without "defects" will be sent to work for the army's sappers, and those who can shout "I can do it" will be sent to work in the telegraph. Finally, the song mentions that those girls who lack a sense of humor will be sent to military transport.
It is notable that the song was released in 1989, during the breakdown of the Communist regime in Poland. The song can be interpreted as a creative critique of the expectations and limitations placed on women in Poland at the time. The use of humor and satire meant that the song was subversive but not overtly political, and it was able to become a popular anthem of freedom during Poland's transition to democracy.
Line by Line Meaning
Hej, panienki posłuchajcie
Hey, young ladies, listen up
Raz, dwa trzy
One, two, three (a count-off)
I gazetki przeczytajcie
And read the newspapers
Są tam wesołe nowinki
There are some happy news
Wesołe nowinki
Happy news
Będzie pobór na dziewczynki
There will be a draft for girls
Raz, dwa, trzy
One, two, three (a count-off)
Wszystkie krzywe i dziobate
All crooked and beaked
Posadzimy na armatę
We'll put them on the cannon
A zaś panny bez feleru
But the ladies without flaws
Panny bez felerów
Ladies without flaws
Pójdą służyć do saperów
Will go to serve as sappers
Raz, dwa, trzy
One, two, three (a count-off)
Która krzyknie: ja potrafię
Whoever screams: I can do it
Będzie służyć w telegrafie
Will go to serve in the telegraph
Pik, pik, pik
Beep, beep, beep (the sound of the telegraph)
A zaś panny bez humoru
But the ladies without humor
Panny bez humoru
Ladies without humor
Pójdą służyć do taborów
Will go to serve in the transport units
Raz, dwa, trzy
One, two, three (a count-off)
Gdy ksiądz proboszcz się dowiedział
When the priest found out
Na plebani nie usiedział
He couldn't sit still in the rectory
Myślał w nocy i nad ranem
He thought at night and in the morning
W nocy i nad ranem
At night and in the morning
Jak tu zostać kapelanem wojskowym
How to become a military chaplain
Contributed by Kaelyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.