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Hej Sokoły

Traditional (Polish-Ukrainian folk)

A beloved folk song shared between Polish and Ukrainian traditions, about a Cossack leaving his beloved behind. Enormously popular in Poland — you will hear it at weddings and folk festivals.

Lyrics & Translation

Polski English
Verse 1
Hej, tam gdzieś znad czarnej wody siada na koń kozak młody, czule żegna się z dziewczyną, jeszcze czulej z Ukrainą.
Hey, somewhere there by the dark water a young Cossack mounts his horse, he tenderly bids farewell to his girl, even more tenderly to Ukraine.
Chorus
Hej, hej, hej sokoły, omijajcie góry, lasy, doły, dzwoń, dzwoń, dzwoń dzwoneczku, mój stepowy skowroneczku, hej, hej, hej sokoły, omijajcie góry, lasy, doły, dzwoń, dzwoń, dzwoń dzwoneczku, mój stepowy dzwoń, dzwoń, dzwoń!
Hey, hey, hey falcons, fly over mountains, forests, valleys, ring, ring, ring little bell, my steppe little skylark, hey, hey, hey falcons, fly over mountains, forests, valleys, ring, ring, ring little bell, my steppe one, ring, ring, ring!
Verse 2
Pięknych dziewcząt jest niemało, lecz najwięcej w Ukrainie, tam me serce pozostało, przy kochanej mej dziewczynie.
There is no shortage of beautiful girls, but most of all in Ukraine, there my heart has remained, with my beloved girl.
Verse 3
Ona biedna tam została, przepióreczka moja mała, a ja tutaj w obcej stronie dniem i nocą tęsknię do niej.
She, poor thing, remained there, my little quail, and I here in a foreign land long for her day and night.
Verse 4
Żal, żal za dziewczyną, za zieloną Ukrainą, żal, żal serce płacze, że jej więcej nie zobaczę.
Sorrow, sorrow for the girl, for green Ukraine, sorrow, sorrow, the heart weeps, that I shall see her no more.
Verse 5
Wina, wina, wina dajcie, a jak umrę pochowajcie na zielonej Ukrainie przy kochanej mej dziewczynie.
Wine, wine, give me wine, and when I die, bury me in green Ukraine beside my beloved girl.

  • Vocabulary

    • sokół — falcon (plural: sokoły)
    • omijajcie — fly around / avoid (imperative plural)
    • dzwoneczek — little bell (diminutive of dzwonek)
    • skowroneczek — little skylark (diminutive of skowronek)
    • kozak — Cossack
    • stepowy — of the steppe (adjective)
    • przepióreczka — little quail (diminutive; used as a term of endearment)
    • tęsknię — I long for / I miss

    Grammar note

    "Omijajcie" is the plural imperative of "omijać" (to go around / avoid) — addressing the falcons directly. The diminutives "dzwoneczku" and "skowroneczku" are in the vocative case, a feature of Polish used when directly addressing someone or something.

    Cultural context

    The song originates on the borderlands between Poland and Ukraine. "Sokoły" (falcons) serve as messengers carrying the Cossack's longing home. It remains one of the most recognised Polish folk songs worldwide.

    Intermediate folktraditionalculturelistening

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