by Adolf Heyduk (1835 - 1923)
Translation Singable translation by Constance Bache (1846 - 1903)

Na lapačky přišli páni
Language: Czech (Čeština) 
Na lapačky přišli páni,
ukryju se ruče v stráni,
však cigána za vojáka
zlaťák s vínem nevyláká.

Volné rád mám živobytí
za svobodu toužím mříti,
ne za vůdce, jenž se skrývá,
když zaň žebrák krev vylívá.

Ať jde jenom vůdce s pány, 
kabátek-li premovaný,
a zář hvězdná z porty zlatné,
nepřátelům žíly zatne.

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English [singable] (Constance Bache)


Researcher for this page: Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website: 2021-10-24
Line count: 12
Word count: 53

For the war recruits are bidden
Language: English  after the Czech (Čeština) 
For the war recruits are bidden,
but among the trees I'm hidden.
We come not at your inviting,
soldiers for their conqueror fighting!

Not for those who slaves would make us,
who to war by force would take us;
not for tyrants will we perish,
freedom is the dream we cherish!

Hear it then, ye kingly powers,
servitude shall ne'er be ours,
gipsies are your subjects never;
free in life and death forever!

About the headline (FAQ)

From the Novák score.


Text Authorship:

Based on:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

    [ None yet in the database ]


Researcher for this page: Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website: 2021-10-24
Line count: 12
Word count: 73