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Małgośka

Maryla Rodowicz · 1972

One of Maryla Rodowicz's most beloved songs — a bittersweet folk-pop ballad about heartbreak and resilience. A jilted bride is consoled by friends after her fiancé leaves her for another woman. Rich in everyday vocabulary and idiomatic expressions.

Lyrics & Translation

Polski English
Verse 1
To był maj Pachniała Saska Kępa Szalonym zielonym bzem To był maj Gotowa była ta sukienka I noc się stawała dniem Już zapisani byliśmy w urzędzie Białe koszule na sznurze schły Nie wiedziałam Co ze mną będzie Gdy tamtą dziewczynę Pod rękę ujrzałam z nim
It was May Saska Kępa was fragrant With wild green lilac It was May The dress was ready And the night was turning into day We were already registered at the registry office White shirts dried on the line I didn't know What would become of me When I saw that girl Walking arm in arm with him
Chorus
Małgośka, mówią mi On niewart jednej łzy On nie jest wart jednej łzy Małgośka, wróżą z kart, on nie jest grosza wart A weź go czart, weź go czart Małgośka tańcz i pij A z niego sobie kpij, a z niego kpij sobie kpij Jak wróci, powiedz nie, niech zginie gdzieś na dnie Hej głupia ty, głupia ty
Małgośka, they tell me He's not worth a single tear He is not worth a single tear Małgośka, the cards say he's not worth a penny Let the devil take him Małgośka, dance and drink And mock him, just mock him If he comes back, say no, let him perish somewhere at the bottom Hey you fool, you fool
Verse 2
Jesień już Już palą chwasty w sadach I pachnie zielony dym Jesień już Gdy zajrzę do sąsiada Pytają mnie, czy jestem z kim Widziałam biały ślub Idą święta Nie słyszałam z daleka słów Może rosną Im już pisklęta A suknia tej młodej Uszyta jest z moich snów
It's autumn now They're already burning weeds in the orchards And the green smoke rises It's autumn now When I look in on the neighbours They ask me if I'm with someone I saw a white wedding The holidays are coming I couldn't hear the words from afar Perhaps they already Have little ones growing And the dress of that young bride Is sewn from my dreams

  • Vocabulary

    • bz — lilac (archaic/poetic form of bez)
    • urząd — registry office / government office
    • sznur — line, cord (as in a washing line)
    • pod rękę — arm in arm (literally: under the arm)
    • ujrzeć — to catch sight of, to see (perfective, literary)
    • wart — worth (predicative adjective, takes genitive)
    • grosz — a grosz (smallest Polish coin — 'not worth a penny')
    • czart — devil, fiend (archaic/folk expression)
    • kpić — to mock, to scoff at
    • chwasty — weeds
    • sad — orchard
    • pisklęta — chicks, little ones (used here figuratively for a baby)

    Grammar note

    "Wart" (worth) governs the genitive case: "wart jednej łzy" (worth one tear), "grosza wart" (worth a penny). "Noc się stawała dniem" uses the instrumental to describe a transformation: the night was becoming day. "Tańcz i pij" are imperative forms — direct commands: dance! and drink!

    Cultural context

    Maryla Rodowicz is often called "the queen of Polish pop." "Małgośka" (1972) tells the story of a woman abandoned by her fiancé, consoled by friends with the folk-flavoured refrain. Saska Kępa is a leafy, bohemian district of Warsaw that evokes a romantic, pre-modern atmosphere. "Weź go czart" (let the devil take him) is a traditional folk curse. Małgośka is a diminutive of Małgorzata (Margaret).

    Intermediate popfolkclassicculture

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