Hej_Sokoły

<i>Hej Sokoły</i>

Hej Sokoły

Polish-Ukrainian folk song

Hej, Sokoły (Hey, falcons, Polish: Hej, Sokoły, Ukrainian: Гей, соколи, romanized: Hey, sokoly), proper title Żal za Ukrainą (Longing for Ukraine) or Na zielonej Ukrainie (In green Ukraine) is a Polish and Ukrainian folk song.

Tomasz Padura (1801–1871), one of the composers believed to be the author of the song
Maciej Kamieński (1734–1821), one of the composers believed to be the author of the song

History

The song's authorship is not completely certain.[1] Some historians attribute the writing of the song to the Ukrainian-Polish poet-songwriter Tomasz Padura (1801–1871)[1][2] (however, according to the latest Ukrainian research, there are no lyrics of the song in any of Padura's song collections[3]). Others believe it was written by the Polish classical composer Maciej Kamieński (1734–1825).[4][5] The original Polish-language version was translated (sometimes with modified lyrics) into several languages.[6]

According to Olga Kharchyshyn, "Hej Sokoły" is based on the 19th century Polish folk song "Żal za Ukrainą", but with a new refrain and opening verses. It first appeared in the current form in the latter half of the 20th century and was subsequently translated from Polish into Ukrainian.[7]

Popularity

The tune was popular among Polish soldiers during the Polish-Soviet War, and was also sung by the Polish Home Army guerrillas during World War II. Polish folk singer Maryla Rodowicz performed a cover of the song. The song is widely known in Poland, Ukraine and Slovakia, and to a lesser extent in Belarus, Russia and the eastern Czech Republic.

It is sometimes presented as a Polish folk song[8] and/or Ukrainian folk song.[9] The lyrics vary only slightly between the two languages.

Lyrics

The lyrics exist in several versions about a Ukrainian girl to whom her betrothed (a cossack[10] or an uhlan[11]) says goodbye for the last time.

First verse

More information Polish, English translation ...
Other verses
More information Polish, English translation ...


Usage during the Russian invasion of Ukraine

A number of social media videos put out by Ukrainian forces to celebrate victories in the Russian invasion of Ukraine feature the song as the backing track.[21] On 16 April 2022, the General staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine put out a video with a version of the song recorded by Pikkardiyska Tertsiya as a show of gratitude towards the military aid from Poland.[22]

On 23 March 2023, the Slovak Armed Forces uploaded a video on YouTube showing the transfer of four MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, featuring a version of the song recorded by the Military Music Band of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic.[23]

Notes

  1. [1]
    Kharchyshyn, Olga (2019). ""Hej, sokoły!" ("Гей соколи!"): тексти і контексти пісні" (PDF). The Ethnology Notebooks. 149 (5). National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. doi:10.15407/nz2019.05.1246. ISSN 1028-5091. S2CID 214327906.
  2. [2]
    ПОЛЬСЬКО-УКРАЇНСЬКА ПІСНЯ «HEJ, SOKOŁY!» ЯК ІНТЕРКУЛЬТУРНЕ КОМУНІКАТИВНЕ ЯВИЩЕ
  3. [3]
    Звідки прилетіли «соколи»? Рефлексії над генезою популярної пісні, uamoderna.com
  4. [4]
    Żal (muz. Maciej Kamieński), Cyfrowa Biblioteka Polskiej Piosenki
  5. [5]
    Maciej Kamieński, Żal za Ukrainą: piosnka przypisana Wandzie Pudłowskiej, ed. Kiev: B. Koreywo, 1875
  6. [6]
    Glotow, Aleksander (2020). "SZEWCZENKO, SŁOWACKI CZY...?". Studia Methodologica (in Polish). 51. Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University: 28. doi:10.25128/2304-1222.20.51.03. ISSN 2307-1222. S2CID 235842645.
  7. [7]
    Kharchyshyn 2019, p. 1246.
  8. [8]
    Głuszkowski, Michał (2009). "Obraz własny mieszkańców Wierszyny - polskiej wsi na Syberii na tle historii ich miejscowości. Na podstawie tekstów pisanych oraz ustnych relacji wierszynian". Literatura ludowa (Journal of Folklore and Popular Culture). 53 (2). Polish Ethnological Society: 14. ISSN 0024-4708.
  9. [9]
    Гей, Соколи
  10. [10]
    Hej sokoły - piosenka ludowa; tekst piosenki
  11. [11]
    Schlender, Grażyna (2018). Historia Polski w pieśni w stulecie odzyskania niepodległości (PDF). archiwum Państwowe w kaliszu. pp. 46–47. ISBN 978-83-938559-9-5.
  12. [12]
    in meaning: the Black Sea
  13. [13]
    or ułan
  14. [14]
    or uhlan
  15. [15]
    or Omijajcie góry, lasy, pola, doły
  16. [16]
    or Fly past the mountains, forests, fields and valleys
  17. [17]
    or najpiękniejsze
  18. [18]
    or but the most beautiful
  19. [19]
    or Przepióreczka or Zazuleńka (kukułeczka)
  20. [20]
    or quail or cuckoo
  21. [21]
    Army Rumour Service: Russian Troop Movements Reported Near Ukraine | Page 4861 | Army Rumour Service, accessdate: 25 June 2022
  22. [22]
    UA General staff of the armed forces account on youtube: Pikkardiyska Tertsiya Hej, sokoly!, accessdate: 24 March 2023
  23. [23]
    Armed Forces of the Slovak Republics account on youtube: 4 STÍHAČKY MIG-29 SME ÚSPEŠNE ODOVZDALI UKRAJINSKÝM BRATOM V ZBRANI | Ozbrojené sily SR, accessdate: 24 March 2023
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