Gypsy Songs

Song Cycle by Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904)

View original-language texts alone: Cigánské melodie

1.
 (Sung text)
Language: Czech (Čeština) 
Má píseň zas mi láskou zní,
když starý den umirá,
a chudý mech kdy na šat svůj
si tajně perle sbíra.

Má píseň v kraj tak toužně zní,
když svetem noha bloudí;
jen rodné pusty dálinou
zpěv volně z ňader proudí.

Má píseň hlučně láskou zní,
když bouře běží plání;
když těším se, že bídy prost
dlí bratr v umírání.

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1. My song resounds with love
Language: English 
My song resounds with love
when the old day is dying; 
it is sowing its shadows 
and reaping a collections of pearls.

My song resonates with longing
while my feet roam distant lands.
My homeland is in the distant wilderness -
my song stirs with nationalism.

My song reverberates with love
while unplanned storms hasten.
I rejoice in the freedom that I no longer have 
a part in the dying of a brother.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Czech (Čeština) to English copyright © 2004 by Gayle Royko Heuser and Anna Majtas Royko, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2004-03-22
Line count: 12
Word count: 72

Translation © by Gayle Royko Heuser, Anna Majtas Royko
2.
 (Sung text)
Language: Czech (Čeština) 
Aj! Kterak trojhranec můj přerozkošně zvoní,
jak cigána píseň, když se k smrti kloní!
Když se k smrti kloní, trojhran mu vyzvání.
Konec písni, tanci, lásce, bědování.
Konec písni, tanci, lásce, bědování.

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2. Ah! Why is my three-cornered bell ringing?
Language: English 
Ah! Why is my three-cornered bell ringing so passionately? 
As a gypsy song -- when death is imminent --
the death of a gypsy brings an end
to song, dance, love and all concerns!
To song, dance, love and all concerns!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Czech (Čeština) to English copyright © 2004 by Gayle Royko Heuser and Anna Majtas Royko, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2004-03-22
Line count: 5
Word count: 39

Translation © by Gayle Royko Heuser, Anna Majtas Royko
3.
 (Sung text)
Language: Czech (Čeština) 
A les je tichý kolem kol,
jen srdce mír ten ruší,
a černý kouř, jenž spěchá v dol,
mé slze v lících, mé slze suší.

Však nemusí jich usušit,
necht' v jiné tváře bije.
Kdo v smutku může zazpívat,
ten nezhynul, ten žije, ten žije!

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3. The forest is quiet all around
Language: English 
The forest is quiet all around; 
only the heart disturbs the peace.
As black smoke gushing,
tears flow down my cheeks and so they dry.

They need not dry --
let other cheeks feel them!  
The one who can sing in sorrow
will not die, but lives and lives on.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Czech (Čeština) to English copyright © 2004 by Gayle Royko Heuser and Anna Majtas Royko, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2004-03-22
Line count: 8
Word count: 49

Translation © by Gayle Royko Heuser, Anna Majtas Royko
4.
 (Sung text)
Language: Czech (Čeština) 
Když mne stará matka zpívat, zpívat učívala,
podivno, že často, často slzívala.
A ted' také pláčem snědé líce mučim,
když cigánské děti hrát a zpívat učim!

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Note: many singable translations rely on the repetition of "zpívat" in the first line. It was not present in the original text.
4. When my old mother taught me to sing
Language: English 
When my old mother taught me to sing, 
Strange that she often had tears in her eyes.
And now I also weep, 
when I teach Gypsy children to play and sing.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Czech (Čeština) to English copyright © 2004 by Gayle Royko Heuser and Anna Majtas Royko, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2004-03-22
Line count: 4
Word count: 31

Translation © by Gayle Royko Heuser, Anna Majtas Royko
5.
 (Sung text)
Language: Czech (Čeština) 
Struna naladěna,
hochu, toč se v kole,
dnes, snad dnes převysoko,
zejtra, zejtra, zejtra zase dole!

Pozejtří u Nilu 
za posvátným stolem;
struna již, struna naladěna,
hochu, toč, hochu, toč se kolem!

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5. The string is taut!
Language: English 
The string is taut -- young man turn, spin, twirl!
Today reach the heights, tomorrow down again and
after tomorrow, at the Holy Table of the Nile.
The taut string is stretched -- turn young man -- turn and twirl!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Czech (Čeština) to English copyright © 2004 by Gayle Royko Heuser and Anna Majtas Royko, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2004-03-22
Line count: 4
Word count: 37

Translation © by Gayle Royko Heuser, Anna Majtas Royko
6.
 (Sung text)
Language: Czech (Čeština) 
Široké rukávy a široké gatě
volnější cigánu nežli dolman v zlatě.
Dolman a to zlato bujná prsa svírá;
pod ním volná píseň násilně umírá.
A kdo raduješ se, tvá kdy píseň v květě,
přej si, aby zašlo zlato v celém světě!

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6. Wide sleeves
Language: English 
Wide sleeves and broad trousers give
more freedom than a robe of gold.
The robe of gold constricts the chest
and the song within the body dies.
He who is happy -- his song blooms with the desire
that the whole world would lose its taste for gold.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Czech (Čeština) to English copyright © 2004 by Gayle Royko Heuser and Anna Majtas Royko, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2004-03-22
Line count: 6
Word count: 47

Translation © by Gayle Royko Heuser, Anna Majtas Royko
7.
 (Sung text)
Language: Czech (Čeština) 
Dejte klec jestřábu ze zlata ryzého;
nezmění on za ni hnízda trněného.
Komoni bujnému, jenž se pustou žene,
zřídka kdy připnete uzdy a třemene.
A tak i cigánu příroda cos dala:
k volnosti ho věčným poutem, k volnosti ho upoutala.

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7. Given a cage of gold
Language: English 
Given a cage to live in, made of pure gold, 
the Gypsy would exchange it
for the freedom of a nest of thorns.
Just as a wild horse rushes to the wasteland,
seldom bridled and reined in, 
so too the Romani nature has been given eternal freedom!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Czech (Čeština) to English copyright © 2004 by Gayle Royko Heuser and Anna Majtas Royko, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
    Contact: 

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2004-03-22
Line count: 6
Word count: 47

Translation © by Gayle Royko Heuser, Anna Majtas Royko