Mury (song)
Encyclopedia
Mury was a sung poetry
protest song
written by Polish
singer Jacek Kaczmarski
in 1978. In People's Republic of Poland
, in the early eighties of 20th century it became a symbol of the opposition to the communist regime
. It became popular among the workers of Solidarity (NSZZ Solidarność) and is one of Kaczmarski's best known songs.
by the Catalan
singer Lluís Llach
. In this poem Kaczmarski's intention was primarily to note how a song or poem can cease to become a 'property' of the author and is 'stolen' by the masses, who may adapt it to their causes even if it were not the author's intention in the first place. In this context, the song can also be interpreted as a praise the Catalonia
n struggle for independence but also as of an important of the artist and a critique certain aspects of mass social movements.
and ironically despite the intention of the poet to criticize social movements for 'stealing' the texts, the messages of struggling for independence and against oppressive authorities contained in it meant that Mury quickly gained the protest song
status. It was sung by protesting workers and students and soon was accepted nationwide as the unofficial anthem
of Solidarity. Its refrain
(Wyrwij murom zęby krat!, "Pull the bars from the walls!") became the signal of underground Radio Solidarity
and the most popular part of the song (while its last pessimistic part was often left out); a fact which Kaczmarski saw as amusing giant misunderstanding of the song's meaning. Nonetheless it became one of the most popular songs by Kaczmarski.
In 1987, after the period of severe repressions by the government managed to erode some support for Solidarity, and before the Polish Round Table Agreement
of 1989, Kaczmarski, disappointed with disillusionment he saw in Polish society, wrote another song, 'Mury '87', which takes up the theme of 'Mury' and criticizes the apathy in the society. In that song, which he called an 'antonym
' of 'Mury', he argued that instead of singing and hoping, people need to be acting.
In 2005, the song was performed by Jean Michel Jarre
jointly with Gdańsk University
Choir and the Polish Baltic Philharmonic during the concert Przestrzeń Wolności (Space of Freedom
, 26 August 2005) on the occasion of the Solidarity creation's 25 anniversary.
Sung poetry
Sung poetry is a broad and imprecise music genre widespread in Eastern European countries, such as Poland and the Baltic States, to describe songs consisting of a poem and music written specially for that text. The compositions usually feature a delicate melody and scarce musical background, often...
protest song
Protest song
A protest song is a song which is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of topical songs . It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre...
written by Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
singer Jacek Kaczmarski
Jacek Kaczmarski
Jacek Kaczmarski was a Polish singer, songwriter, poet and author.Kaczmarski was a voice of the Solidarity trade union movement in 1980s Poland, for his commitment to a free Poland, independent of Soviet rule. His songs criticized the ruling communist regime and appealed to the tradition of...
in 1978. In People's Republic of Poland
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
, in the early eighties of 20th century it became a symbol of the opposition to the communist regime
Communist state
A communist state is a state with a form of government characterized by single-party rule or dominant-party rule of a communist party and a professed allegiance to a Leninist or Marxist-Leninist communist ideology as the guiding principle of the state...
. It became popular among the workers of Solidarity (NSZZ Solidarność) and is one of Kaczmarski's best known songs.
Inspiration
The lyrics for Mury, though written by Kaczmarski in 1978, adapted the music for the song L'EstacaL'Estaca
L'Estaca is a song composed by the Catalan artist Lluís Llach in 1968.This song, which has been translated into several languages, has become so popular that in many countries it is considered a local song. It was composed during the dictatorship of General Franco in Spain and is a call for unity...
by the Catalan
Catalan people
The Catalans or Catalonians are the people from, or with origins in, Catalonia that form a historical nationality in Spain. The inhabitants of the adjacent portion of southern France are sometimes included in this definition...
singer Lluís Llach
Lluís Llach
Lluís Llach i Grande is a Catalan composer and songwriter.Though partially dependent on arrangers, like Manel Camp or Carles Cases in his early works, Llach's songwriting has largely evolved from the more basic early compositions to a vastly more complex harmonic and melodic writing...
. In this poem Kaczmarski's intention was primarily to note how a song or poem can cease to become a 'property' of the author and is 'stolen' by the masses, who may adapt it to their causes even if it were not the author's intention in the first place. In this context, the song can also be interpreted as a praise the Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
n struggle for independence but also as of an important of the artist and a critique certain aspects of mass social movements.
Solidarity's anthem
Despite its pessimistic conclusion (A mury rosły, rosły…, "And the walls grew, grew…")and ironically despite the intention of the poet to criticize social movements for 'stealing' the texts, the messages of struggling for independence and against oppressive authorities contained in it meant that Mury quickly gained the protest song
Protest song
A protest song is a song which is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of topical songs . It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre...
status. It was sung by protesting workers and students and soon was accepted nationwide as the unofficial anthem
Anthem
The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music , or more generally, a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a distinct group of people, as in the term "national anthem" or "sports anthem".-Etymology:The word is derived from the Greek via Old English , a word...
of Solidarity. Its refrain
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
(Wyrwij murom zęby krat!, "Pull the bars from the walls!") became the signal of underground Radio Solidarity
Radio Solidarity
Radio Solidarity is the name of a radio show produced by the anarchist Workers Solidarity Movement, based in Ireland. Its is broadcast on Near 90fm and podcast globally, covering current issues, politics and struggle in Ireland and further afield....
and the most popular part of the song (while its last pessimistic part was often left out); a fact which Kaczmarski saw as amusing giant misunderstanding of the song's meaning. Nonetheless it became one of the most popular songs by Kaczmarski.
In 1987, after the period of severe repressions by the government managed to erode some support for Solidarity, and before the Polish Round Table Agreement
Polish Round Table Agreement
The Polish Round Table Talks took place in Warsaw, Poland from February 6 to April 4, 1989. The government initiated the discussion with the banned trade union Solidarność and other opposition groups in an attempt to defuse growing social unrest.-History:...
of 1989, Kaczmarski, disappointed with disillusionment he saw in Polish society, wrote another song, 'Mury '87', which takes up the theme of 'Mury' and criticizes the apathy in the society. In that song, which he called an 'antonym
Antonym
In lexical semantics, opposites are words that lie in an inherently incompatible binary relationship as in the opposite pairs male : female, long : short, up : down, and precede : follow. The notion of incompatibility here refers to the fact that one word in an opposite pair entails that it is not...
' of 'Mury', he argued that instead of singing and hoping, people need to be acting.
In 2005, the song was performed by Jean Michel Jarre
Jean Michel Jarre
Jean Michel André Jarre is a French composer, performer and music producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and New Age genres, and known as an organiser of outdoor spectacles of his music featuring lights, laser displays, and fireworks.Jarre was raised in Lyon by his mother and...
jointly with Gdańsk University
Gdansk University
- History :The University of Gdańsk was established in 1970 by the amalgamation of the Higher School of Economics in Sopot and Gdańsk College of Education .- School Authorities :* Rector: Prof. dr hab. Bernard Lammek...
Choir and the Polish Baltic Philharmonic during the concert Przestrzeń Wolności (Space of Freedom
Space of Freedom
Space of Freedom was a concert performed by French musician Jean Michel Jarre in Poland, at the Gdańsk Shipyard, on August 26, 2005, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Solidarity trade union's foundation...
, 26 August 2005) on the occasion of the Solidarity creation's 25 anniversary.
