Rob Reacts to... 'Hej, sokoły!' - Polish Folk Song

First time listening to a Polish / Ukrainian folk song. A fantastic melody!

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#poland #polish #hejsokoly #folksong

[RobReacts]

If you are enjoying my Polish Reaction Videos, why not go check out our vlog channel where we have visted poland!

[carsonix]

I like your fascination about Poland. As a Pole - thank You.

[markbielak]

Rob, this is a Polish song, composed by a Pole, it is not of Ukrainian or Cossack origins. Hey you, falcons!, original title Żal [1] -"Sorrow/Sadness/Longing" (also known as Żal za dziewczyna, (Longing for the girl left) then Żal za Ukrainą (Sorrow/Longing for the Ukraine), Na zielonej Ukrainie, (In the green Ukraine) - Polish song composed by Maciej Kamieński (1734–1821)[1][2][3], creator of operas and vaudevilles, including the first Polish opera.
In the original version, the song was only a sentimental story about the longing of a boy staying "in a strange place" for his beautiful-eyed girlfriend who remained in his "land" ("kraina"), but without specifying which country (kraina) it is about[8]. However, already in songbooks from the mid-nineteenth century, in addition to longing for a girl left behind in a distant country, there was also singing about longing for "green Ukraine", which inscribed the song in the popular trend of romantic fascination with "Kresy" (Borderlands)/including Ukraine, ( lost by Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth -during its partition-to Russia in late 18th century), and the Cossacks, present in 19th century in Polish literature and music.
The character of a borderland ballad is given to the song by a verse popularized in the 20th century, which explains that the girl and green Ukraine are bid farewell to a Uhlan or Cossack (depending on the version) who sets off on horseback "from Black Water", i.e. from the Black Sea, on a long journey to a foreign country.
The oldest known version of the lyrics has no references to Ukraine or the refrain beginning with the words Hey, falcons
The chorus beginning with Hey Falcons is a later addition[10][1]. The text of the refrain appears only in a scout songbook from around 1917.

The ballad became popular at the beginning of the 20th century among Polish scouts and falconers, and later also among Polish soldiers, especially during the Polish-Bolshevik war of 1920[10]. It was then popularized by Polish soldiers in Ukraine, the text was translated into Ukrainian, and now it is treated as a "Ukrainian folk song"[19]. The song is also sung as a traditional piece in Belarusian[20], and recently became popular in Slovakia, Czechia, Lithuania and Canada. In Poland, it continues to be sung as a tourist, scout and military song, and now as a popular wedding song[11]. It's been also popularized in various historical dramas and other films

[nerilka]

There is one more aspect about this motive, very common in those old patriotic songs, when a young guy is saying goodbye to his girlfriend to fight in a war. In Polish every word has a gender and the word "Polska" is feminine ("Ukraina" also). I sometimes felt a bit odd refering my country as "it" when talking in English. What I mean is that I always felt about those stories like that this young men needs to choose between the two of them: the woman he loves and the country he loves. In some song I learned at school it was like: you're also Polish so you will understand that her independence is more important than our love. That's maybe just my interpretation, but that's how I was feeling about those stories being like a 'love triangle'.

[bobeczek]

This and Lithuania (parts ) were considered regions of the Commonwealth, so obviously it's not about the countries as they stay today. Because after that period when Poland was partitioned lots of Great Polish literature was made and one that is considered a Polish national drama is Pan Tadeusz, and there he misses his homeland of Lithuania but he means the region, because he is Polish at heart

[wuuemm]

Actually, the song is purely of Polish origin. In the second half of the XVIII century, then in XIX, Polish-Ukrainian or - better - Polish - Cossack conflicts were somewhat forgotten and Ukraine was a subject to a kind of fascination and longing for times where these nations had lived together within the European's largest state organism, the Commonwealth (Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodów).

[TAMARARUFF]

This is a Polish song.Is lot of Polish history attached with this era, Very touched and very emotional

[annamariagebicka]

It is so nice that you are interested in Poland. ❤❤❤

[jolantaslowik]

We sang this song as students at horse rallies in Poland. It brings a tear to my eye when I hear it.
Thank you for it.❤

[SxVaNm]

There is a sizable Polish community here in Australia, great hardworking people with an amazing history and culture.

[j.k.]

This song is actually pretty old and has many different versions in many languages. Earliest known polish version comes from XVIII or XIX century, though author of text is unknown, while music is currently associated with composer Maciej Kamieński.

[HRNY_DRGN]

When I'm drunk, I usually sing "Hej, sokoły", "Kniazia Jaremy Nawrócenie" and the polish version of "Spanish Ladies"

[kletniak]

This is about war, cause Ukraine it was border region between Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Ottoman Empire and Russian Tsardom, were been a lot of battles.

[arekfrommallorca]

I learnt that song when I was 12 or 13. Nowadays, my wife loves that song, inspite of that she understands a little as she is from Peru and she speaks very basic Polish.

[pmrock]

Listen to "Dumka na dwa serca" - Edyta Górniak, Mieczysław Szcześniak. A song from the film "Ogniem i Mieczem", which by the way I also recommend you if you like this atmosphere.

[kornik]

Thanks for your video, I'm from Poland and learning with you English 🤗🤗

[eeMaa]

My heart is squeezed as at family gatherings me and my 15 cousins always took our nan to dance... she was in the middle circle and we swapped so each of us could dance with her to her fav song❤😢

[martawieszczycka]

If a random group of Poles suddenly has to sing something together, they will almost certainly sing "Hej Sokoły" :)
With a guitar by the fire, on trips, at weddings, anywhere where people sing together.
I think it's very nice that the most popular Polish song is about a young Ukrainian patriot who loves his country - Ukraine and his Ukrainian girlfriend. Especially nowadays it's nice.

[perpanismok]

I see that in the comments butza whether it's a Polish or Ukrainian song. Ukrainians can recognize it and translate it into their language and that's ok, it's about Ukraine. But that doesn't mean it's not a Polish song, it's part of our folklore and our musical tradition, we sing it at summer camps, various camps, in schools at bonfires or at weddings., ,Hey, Sokoły" a Polish song composed by Maciej Kamieński (1734-1821) the creator of operas and vaudevilles. That's it

[aurorafox]

I loved this song as a kid and always sang it on karaoke with my mom