Siekiera, motyka
Encyclopedia
Siekiera, motyka is a famous Polish military songs from the period of World War II
. It became the most popular song of occupied Warsaw
, and then, of entire occupied Poland.
(Home Army). The music - and in part the lyrics - was based on an existing melody and the words of older songs.
, ballads and other patriotic songs would remain popular in occupied Poland throughout the period. Siekiera, motyka would remain the most popular patriotic, occupation period street song of occupied Poland.
The song tells about the life in occupied Warsaw. A notable theme of the song, particularly strong in some variants, was the criticism of German practice of łapanka's, the street round-ups that carted off random passers-by to forced labor duties.
The song was reprinted in several books and discs after the German occupation ended. The song was also featured in a movie Zakazane piosenki
(Forbidden Songs) made in Poland in 1946.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It became the most popular song of occupied Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, and then, of entire occupied Poland.
Creation
The lyrics of the song were created around August 1942 in Warsaw by Anna Jachnina; it quickly spawned many variants. In 1943 it was published in print by the Polish resistance underground presses, in the Posłuchajcie ludzie... [Listen, folks], book, one of the bibuła publications of Propaganda Commission (Komisja Propagandy) of Armia KrajowaArmia Krajowa
The Armia Krajowa , or Home Army, was the dominant Polish resistance movement in World War II German-occupied Poland. It was formed in February 1942 from the Związek Walki Zbrojnej . Over the next two years, it absorbed most other Polish underground forces...
(Home Army). The music - and in part the lyrics - was based on an existing melody and the words of older songs.
Performance and influence
Germans from late 1942 penalized singing of that song (and similar ones), but sung poetrySung 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...
, ballads and other patriotic songs would remain popular in occupied Poland throughout the period. Siekiera, motyka would remain the most popular patriotic, occupation period street song of occupied Poland.
The song tells about the life in occupied Warsaw. A notable theme of the song, particularly strong in some variants, was the criticism of German practice of łapanka's, the street round-ups that carted off random passers-by to forced labor duties.
The song was reprinted in several books and discs after the German occupation ended. The song was also featured in a movie Zakazane piosenki
Zakazane piosenki
Zakazane piosenki is a 1946 Polish musical film directed by Leonard Buczkowski. It was the first feature film to be created in Poland following the six years of World War II....
(Forbidden Songs) made in Poland in 1946.
External links
- Music (mid file)
- Various historical recordings of the song