Zegarmistrz Światła Purpurowy - Tadeusz Woźniak

Zegarmistrz Światła Purpurowy - Tadeusz Woźniak



This is a Polish song from 1972.  I came across this song in a video game called "This War of Mine".  The game is about being a civilian in a war torn town and the brutality that comes with it.  

I didn't know the lyrics to the song the first few times I heard the song but I really liked it.  The acoustic solo to start then moving to a piano backing with drums, horns and other singers.  I found it to be a stirring piece.  

After listening to the song many times I decided to track down the translated lyrics. Here is a version of the translated lyrics.  Here is the source https://easternblocsongs.wordpress.com/2011/05/12/tadeusz-wozniak-zegarmistrz-swiatla-1972/:

Zegarmistrz Swiatła (Watchmaker of Light)

This I know: when they come after me, too,
in the watchmaker’s indigo light
the blue inside my head will splash,
clear and ready, will flow through me.

It may take days to cleanse this source
as ground and air extinguish alike.
I see reflections and points of light.
I’ll leave, forever, go…I don’t know where.

And, yes. When they come after me
in the watchmaker’s magenta light
the cobalt head of a match will flash and burn,
cast a shadow, clear and sharp

as the days flow from me, leave my shape
where the floors and air once were.
I’ll look at everything again, one last time,
and go, forever, with no idea of where.

And for all I know, when they come for me too
in the watchmaker’s purple light,
the turquoise in my mind will splash,
a translucent flare, and flood my days.

It may take time to quench these flames
as ground and air fade away alike,
as all I know sharpens to a point of light
and I leave forever, going…I don’t know where.

For I know, when they come for me at last
in the watchmaker’s damson light
the water inside my head will flare,
run clear as glass, then flow to fade.

It may take days to cleanse this source
as ground and air dissolve alike.
I see reflections and points of light.
I’ll leave, forever, go…I don’t know where.

An especially moving song.

You should also post a link to the 'War of Mine' trailer because it uses the song to powerfully subvert the usual mentality of war games which is callousness nihilism mixed with syrupy sentimentality about soldiers' 'noble sacrifice'.

It interesting to note that the song is only two stanzas and based off a poem of the same title (Zegarmistrz światła / Watchmaker of Light) by Polish paramedic-turned-philosopher Bogdan Chorążuk.

Here are two translation - first a fairly literal one I made using various on-line dictionaries and translators:


Next -- here is Tadeusz Woźniak's more poetic interpretation [from http://culture.pl/en/article/the-song-from-this-war-of-mine]


In both interpretations the basic meaning is similar - this is a poem about facing the moment of Death with a typically Slavic mixture of sentiment and stoicism. This song is supposedly more well known by Poles than the Polish national anthem.

The translated lyrics from Zegarmistrz Światła Purpurowy stirred emotions in me. When I first read them it certainly spoke volumes of someone who was familiar with seeing death.



Both trailers for "This War of Mine" were good so I will post both of them.  



and



In the second trailer the song playing is "Omega - The girl with Pearl's Hair" which is also a very good song. It is from a Hungarian band and the song was written in 1968.  

Here is a link to the song:



And here are some of the translated lyrics to the song. This song doesn't stir the emotions that Zegarmistrz Światła Purpurowy does but it is still a nice song.

One day the sun, too tired to shine
Slept in the deep, green sombre lake
And in the darkness, the world did ail
Until she came, for all our sake.

Oh that girl with pearls in her hair
Is she real or just made of air
Life went on as before
Man would live once more...

Oh that girl with pearls in her hair
Is she real or just made of air
La la la lalala la la lalala la laaaaaa

The dawn did break and she went home
Back to the deep, dark seas alone
She lives in a world of fairy tales
Her lovely hair and only pearls.

Oh that girl with pearls in her hair
Is she real or just made of air
Long since she's been asleep
In the ocean deep.

Oh that girl with pearls in her hair
Is she real or just made of air
La la la lalala la la lalala la laaaaaa

Oh that girl with pearls in her hair
Is she real or just made of air
Long since she's been asleep
In the ocean deep.

Oh that girl with pearls in her hair
Is she real or just made of air
La la la lalala la la lalala la laaaaaa

And when you feel lonely and blue
A little star will fall on you
White child in pearls your way will show
As did white stones long years ago.

Oh that girl with pearls in her hair
Is she real or just made of air
I know she'll wait for me
She will set me free.

Oh that girl with pearls in her hair
Is she real or just made of air
I know she'll wait for me
She will set me free.

Oh that girl with pearls in her hair
Is she real or just made of air
La la la lalala la la lalala la laaaaaa

La la la lalala la la lalala la laaaaaa

La la la lalala la la lalala la laaaaaa...

Source http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/o/omega/the_girl_with_pearls_in_her_hair.html