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7 Responses to “Can Anyone Help with a Czech or Slovak Kids Song?”

1. Jana Bínová Says:
   November 18th, 2009 at 2:54 pm

   Já jsem malý mysliveček,
   sotva flintu nesu,
   hodím si ji přes rameno,
   a pospíchám k lesu.

   Přišel jsem tam časně z rána,
   byla ještě rosa,
   sedl jsem si pod stromeček,
   a poslouchal kosa.

   Kose, kose, černý ptáku,
   proč ty tady zpíváš,
   všechny panenky z trávy jdou,
   ty se na ně díváš.

   Všechny panenky z trávy jdou,
   jen má milá nejde,
   ona se tam posekala,
   všechna krev jí ujde.

   To mi ten kosáček zazpíval,
   v tý smutný písni svý,
   pospěšte, lidičky, pomozte,
   vezte ji k doktorovi.

   Pane doktor, já vás prosím,
   uzdravte vy mě ji,
   vždyť my se budeme v máji brát,
   už brzy budem svoji.

   Já ti tvou panenku zachráním,
   myslivečku mladý,
   počkej však s veselkou na zimu,
   máj ten znamená máry.

   V máji se můžete milovat,
   v zeleným háječku,
   po svatbě ale jí zazpíváš,
   pohřební písničku.

   Pane doktor, děkuju vám,
   že jste mi poradil,
   teď ještě abyste mou milou,
   od smrti zachránil.

   Written by an unknown author in late 18th, early 19th century.

   Translates –

   I´m a little gamekeeper (little in size)
   Barely able to lift up my rifle
   With the rifle over my shoulder
   I roam in the woods

   I came to the wood early in the morning
   The morning dew still on the grass
   Sitting there under a tree
   Blackbird´s song I was listening to

   Blackbird, blackbird, mournful bird
   I know why you´re singing
   All the girls returning from the morning mowing
   And you watch them dancing

   All the girls, except my lover
   Returning from the mowing
   She is lying in the grass
   Through wound her blood is pouring

   That´s the news the blackbird sang,
   in the mournful song
   Help me, people, hurry up
   Take her to the doctor

   Doctor, doctor, I´m begging you
   Please, do save her life
   We are just about to marry
   As soon as May arrives

   I will save your lover,
   You little gamekeeper
   But you´ll have to wait with wedding
   For to wed in May means hearse
   (an old Czech saying – May wedding foretells hearse in house)

   In the month of May, you may love
   in shades of green
   But if you´ll wed her the same month
   You´ll sing her funeral song

   Doctor, doctor, I thank you
   For the advice that you gave
   And now I beg you once again
   Save my lover´s life…

   TOUGH JOB! :-)

2. Lisa Says:
   November 18th, 2009 at 3:03 pm

   Thanks so much Jana! That must have been work!

   Cheers!

   Mama Lisa

3. Jana Bínová Says:
   November 19th, 2009 at 8:20 am

   It’s nice to find out some people cannot forget their roots… ;-) You site has been very helpful to me – for my language studies. Thanks to you.

4. Monique Says:
   December 12th, 2009 at 6:43 am

   You can hear three verses of this song sung here

5. Erin Says:
   February 15th, 2016 at 9:15 pm

   My mom and her sisters were trying to sing my daughter a song that their mother (my grandmother) would sing to them as babies. Only problem is, all they remember is the houpi! They know it’s somewhat like:
   Houpi, houpi,
   Geshka schnedly croupi

   Anyone know what this might be?thanks!

6. Hana Says:
   April 7th, 2016 at 7:09 pm

   Hi Erin,

   the song is: Houpy, houpy, kočka snědla kroupy…

   http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/can-anyone-help-with-a-czech-rhyme-that-sounds-like-hou-py-hou-py-hou-py/

   Hana

7. Lisa Says:
   April 8th, 2016 at 1:26 pm

   Thanks for your help Hana! -Lisa

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