polski.directory

[ Learn Polish. All resources, one place. ]
add to directory

← All Songs

Deszcze niespokojne

Edmund Fetting · 1966

The beloved theme song of the cult Polish TV series "Czterej pancerni i pies" (Four Tank-Men and a Dog, 1966–1970). Also known as "Ballada o pancernych" or "Ballada o czterech pancernych", it is one of the most recognisable Polish wartime ballads — a nostalgic, tender promise of return sung by a WWII tank crew.

Lyrics & Translation

Polski English
Verse 1
Na łąkach kaczeńce, a na niebie wiatr, a my na wojence oglądamy świat. Na łąki wrócimy, tylko załatwimy parę ważnych spraw. Może nie ci sami, wrócimy do mamy ze szkolnych ław.
Marsh marigolds in the meadows, and wind in the sky, and we at this little war look out at the world. We'll come back to the meadows, we just need to sort out a few important matters. Perhaps not quite the same, we'll come back to mother from the school benches.
Verse 2
Deszcze niespokojne potargały sad, a my na tej wojnie ładnych parę lat. Do domu wrócimy, w piecu napalimy, nakarmimy psa. Przed nocą zdążymy, tylko zwyciężymy, a to ważna gra!
Restless rains have torn up the orchard, and we've been at this war for quite a few years. We'll come home, we'll light the stove, we'll feed the dog. We'll make it before nightfall, we just have to win first — and that's an important game!
Verse 3
Na niebie obłoki, po wsiach pełno bzu, gdzież ten świat daleki, pełen dobrych snów? Powrócimy wierni my czterej pancerni, "Rudy" i nasz pies. My czterej pancerni powrócimy wierni, po wiosenny bez.
Clouds in the sky, lilac everywhere in the villages — where is that distant world full of good dreams? We will return faithful, we four tank-men, "Rudy" and our dog. We four tank-men will return faithful, for the spring lilac.

  • Vocabulary

    • kaczeńce — marsh marigolds (kaczeńce = plural of kaczenica)
    • wojenka — diminutive of wojna (war) — gives a bittersweet, almost tender tone
    • załatwić — to sort out / deal with / take care of (załatwimy = we will sort out)
    • potargać — to tear up / dishevel / batter (potargały = they have battered)
    • sad — orchard
    • napalić w piecu — to light / stoke the stove (napalić = to kindle; piec = stove/oven)
    • obłoki — clouds (poetic/archaic plural of obłok)
    • bez — lilac (the shrub; wiosenny bez = spring lilac)
    • pancerny — armoured / tank-man (czterej pancerni = four tank-men)
    • wierny — faithful, loyal (powrócimy wierni = we will return faithful)

    Grammar note

    "Powrócimy wierni" — the adjective wierni (faithful) is in the nominative plural masculine, agreeing with the subject my (we). Polish predicative adjectives agree with the subject in gender, number, and case. Note also the diminutive wojenka (from wojna), a device that softens the horror of war with an almost childlike, affectionate tone — characteristic of the song's bittersweet mood.

    Cultural context

    "Deszcze niespokojne" is the theme song of "Czterej pancerni i pies" (1966–1970), a hugely popular Polish TV series following a WWII tank crew and their dog Szarik. Words by Agnieszka Osiecka, music by Adam Walaciński, performed by Edmund Fetting. The series was set during the Soviet–Polish push westward in 1944–45 and became a defining piece of communist-era popular culture — still watched nostalgically today. "Rudy" (Ginger/Red) is the name of the tank.

    Intermediate classicculturelisteningpatrioticwar

Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!