While it's night in Warsaw it's raining heavily
Lightning and thunder that split the sky
which is darker than the veil that covers death
they've closed the doors in Warsaw
at home somebody's crying
someone else would like to make love
how can I, honey, hold you on my heart
if tonight you can die in Warsaw
how can I, honey, hold you on my heart
if tonight you can die in Warsaw.
They've killed a 20-year-old boy 1
they've killed him out of rage or fear
because of that honest look in his eyes
because he was a future force
on the square I've seen many flowers
trampled and scattered with fury
by those who use the law and the stick
and on the others he claims to be the master
by those who use the law and the stick
and on the others he claims to be the master.
Upon the altar there's a black Madonna 2
but it's the white miner's hand 3
who has signed bills to the faith of a world
on the skin of a people already tired
sick to death of churches and prophets
from side to side all the same
because in the trenches
there's the people
not the heads of state or the generals,
because in the trenches
there's the people
not the bishops and not even the cardinals.
They've betrayed us and they did it again and again
with cynicism and determination
they've sent to prison brothers and comrades
and they've put a leash on the illusion
there's no master people
there's still no winning people
but only a bunch of poor people
to humiliate and to make powerless,
but only a bunch of poor people
to bend and to make obedient.
And for everyone today is a bad day
too many guilty people are defending themselves
too much anger for those who stll live with hope
in a world that, you see, is falling apart
it's a night and in Warsaw it's raining heavily
a rain coming down on the pain
how can I, honey, hold you on my heart
if tonight you can die in Warsaw
How can I, honey, hold you on my heart
if tonight you can die in Warsaw.
1. the reference is to Grzegorz Przemyk, a 19-year-old poet, that in May 1983 was massacred and killed by members of the political regime police. Grzegorz Przemyk was the son of the famous anticommunist opposition activist Barbara Sadowska. Grzegorz Przemyk's funeral became a demonstration against the regime. The funeral was celebrated by Father Jerzy Popiełuszko, killed by the political police in October 1984 as well. 2. Madonna of Czestochowa 3. the white miner's hand is that of Pope John Paul II