A Czech song - Sametová

[rsalc1]

Hello:
I recently saw on youtube the video of Zluty Pes singing "Sametová".
I liked the mood of the song very much and found its lyrics at karaoke.cz.

Sorry about the long post, but this song is very beautiful and I would like to discuss it.

Sametová
Vzpomínám když tehdá před lety začaly lítat rakety
zdál se to bejt docela dobrej nápad
Saxofony hrály unyle a frčely švédský košile
někdo se moh docela dobře flákat.

Když tam stál rohatej u školy my neměli podepsaný úkoly
už tenkrát rozhazoval svoje sítě
Poučen z předchozích nezdarů sestrojil elektrickou kytaru
a rock´n´roll byl zrovna narozený dítě

Vzpomínáš, taky s tu žila a nedělej, že jsi jiná
taková malá pilná včela, taková celá Sametová

Přišel čas a jako náhoda byla tu bigbeatová pohoda
kytičky a úsmevy sekretárok.
Sousedovic bejby Milena je celá blbá z Boba Dylana
ale to nevadí, já mám taky nárok

Starý, mladý nebo pitomý mlátily do toho jako my
hlavu plnou Londýna nad Temží
Starej dobrej satanáš hraje u nás v hospodě mariáš
pazoura se mu trumfama jenom hemží

Vzpomínáš, už je to jinak a jde z toho na mě zima
ty jsi holka tehdá byla, taková celá Sametová

A do toho tenhle Gorbačov co ho znal celej Dlabačov
kopyta měl jako z Arizóny
Přišel a zase vodešel a nikdo se kvůli tomu nevěšel
a po něm tu zbyly samý volný zóny

Vzpomínáš, jak jsi se měla
když jsi nic nevěděla
byla to taková krásná cela a byla celá
Vzpomínáš, jak jsi se měla
když jsi nic nevěděla
byla to taková krásná cela a byla celá Sametová

I have tried to understand this song, but my Czech vocab is limited, so here is what I have so far:

I remember years ago
when the rockets began flying (referring to Yuri Gagarin)
it seemed to be quite a good idea
Saxophones were playing melancholy
frčely(?) Swedish shirts (hm, not sure what this means)
someone could docela dobře flákat(???)

Když tam stál rohatej u školy
When there stood rohatej(?) in school (what is the subject of this sentence?)
we didn't have podepsaný(?) homework
and at that time we cast our nets(???)
Poučen z předchozích nezdarů (this talks about a "previouis failure" but I am not sure what this phrase means)
sestrojil elektrickou kytaru (what is the subject of this phrase?)
built electric guitar
and rock'n'roll was just a newborn child.

You remember (something about "she lived")
a nedělej, že jsi jiná (I don't understan this)
such a small, hardworking bee
such a total "Velvety"

Time came and at random
there was "bigbeat" ease (???)
Bouquets and smiles sekretárok(?)
Sousedovic bejby Milena(???)
is completely crazy about Bob Dylan
but it doen'st matter, I have also nárok(?)

Old, young or stupid
mlátily do toho jako my (I don't understand this one)
head full of London on the Thames

Old good Satan
plays cards(?) with us in the pub
pazoura se mu trumfama jenom hemží (I don't understand this)

You remember it's otherwise
and jde z toho na mě zima(???)
you are a girl and then you were such a total "Velvety"

A do toho(???) this Gorbacov
co ho znal celej Dlabačov (???)
kopyta(???) had like from Arizona
He came and again he left
and no one came in despite it
and after him there were left samý (?) free zones

You remember how you were (from the verb mít se)
when you didn't see anything
(subject???) was such a beautiful cela(?)
and it was totally "Velvety".

Can anyone help translate this song?
Can anyone explain what the lyrics mean?

Thanks!
Rene

[Alexx]

First of all I am too young to remember those times, so I am not really sure what some things mean , so just some input

Hello:
I recently saw on youtube the video of Zluty Pes singing "Sametová".
I liked the mood of the song very much and found its lyrics at karaoke.cz.

Sorry about the long post, but this song is very beautiful and I would like to discuss it.

Sametová
Vzpomínám když tehdá před lety začaly lítat rakety
zdál se to bejt docela dobrej nápad
Saxofony hrály unyle a frčely švédský košile
někdo se moh docela dobře flákat.

Když tam stál rohatej u školy my neměli podepsaný úkoly
už tenkrát rozhazoval svoje sítě
Poučen z předchozích nezdarů sestrojil elektrickou kytaru
a rock´n´roll byl zrovna narozený dítě

Vzpomínáš, taky s tu žila a nedělej, že jsi jiná
taková malá pilná včela, taková celá Sametová

Přišel čas a jako náhoda byla tu bigbeatová pohoda
kytičky a úsmevy sekretárok.
Sousedovic bejby Milena je celá blbá z Boba Dylana
ale to nevadí, já mám taky nárok

Starý, mladý nebo pitomý mlátily do toho jako my
hlavu plnou Londýna nad Temží
Starej dobrej satanáš hraje u nás v hospodě mariáš
pazoura se mu trumfama jenom hemží

Vzpomínáš, už je to jinak a jde z toho na mě zima
ty jsi holka tehdá byla, taková celá Sametová

A do toho tenhle Gorbačov co ho znal celej Dlabačov
kopyta měl jako z Arizóny
Přišel a zase vodešel a nikdo se kvůli tomu nevěšel
a po něm tu zbyly samý volný zóny

Vzpomínáš, jak jsi se měla
když jsi nic nevěděla
byla to taková krásná cela a byla celá
Vzpomínáš, jak jsi se měla
když jsi nic nevěděla
byla to taková krásná cela a byla celá Sametová

I have tried to understand this song, but my Czech vocab is limited, so here is what I have so far:

I remember years ago
when the rockets began flying (referring to Yuri Gagarin)
it seemed to be quite a good idea
Saxophones were playing melancholy
frčely(was "in") Swedish shirts (hm, not sure what this means, me neither)
someone could docela dobře flákat(hang around, not work)

Když tam stál rohatej u školy
When there stood rohatej (rohatej = slang for devil) in school (what is the subject of this sentence?)
we didn't have podepsaný (signed by parents) homework
and at that time we cast our nets (rozhazovat sítě - spread network of something)
Poučen z předchozích nezdarů (this talks about a "previouis failure" but I am not sure what this phrase means - Poučen - I found "hindsighted" in my dictionary)
sestrojil elektrickou kytaru (what is the subject of this phrase? - on (he) is subject)
built electric guitar
and rock'n'roll was just a newborn child.

You remember (something about "she lived" - you lived here either)
a nedělej, že jsi jiná (I don't understan this - and do not pretend you are different)
such a small, hardworking bee
such a total "Velvety"

Time came and at random
there was "bigbeat" ease (or relief, arter rock'n'roll)
Bouquets and smiles sekretárok (secretaries (PAs))
Sousedovic bejby Milena (Milena (womans name), babe from neighbourhood))
is completely crazy about Bob Dylan
but it doen'st matter, I have also nárok (right, right she is crazy about me probably)

Old, young or stupid
mlátily do toho jako my (they beat to it (drums?) as we was)
head full of London on the Thames

Old good Satan
plays cards(mariáš - card game) with us in the pub
pazoura se mu trumfama jenom hemží (like "he has full hand of aces")

You remember it's otherwise
and jde z toho na mě zima(what makes me cold)
you are a girl and then you were such a total "Velvety"

A do toho(???) this Gorbacov (And then appeard some guy Gorbacov)
co ho znal celej Dlabačov (famous gay in same place called Dlabačov)
kopyta(hoofs?) had like from Arizona
He came and again he left
and no one hang himself up because of it
and after him there were left samý (duty) free zones

You remember how you were (from the verb mít se)
when you didn't see/know anything
Itwas such a beautiful cela (cell, keep)
and it was totally "Velvety".

Can anyone help translate this song?
Can anyone explain what the lyrics mean?

I guess after velvet revolution lot of people tend to remember only the pros of pre-89 era. Author tends to pick some funny details from past life to make woman remember there was some ups and downs in this regime, but still it was like beautiful, velvety prison. Then came some Gorbatchow with reforms and then revolutions, and lot of things changed which made certain people sentimental about certain things. But this honestly need someone who lived in that times longer than me.

Thanks!
Rene

If you will rewrite it once again, maybe I can help more, this is getting to be a little messy.

[rsalc1]

Alexx,

Díky za vysvětlení.
I have rewritten the song, this time one paragraph in Czech and just below it my improved but not quite complete Czech translation.

Can anyone who lived during the pre 1989 time help explain the meaning of the song?

Sametová
Vzpomínám když tehdá před lety začaly lítat rakety
zdál se to bejt docela dobrej nápad
Saxofony hrály unyle a frčely švédský košile
někdo se moh docela dobře flákat.

I remember years ago
when the rockets began flying (referring to Yuri Gagarin)
it seemed to be quite a good idea.
Saxophones were playing melancholy
Swedish shirts were in (can anyone explain this phrase?)
and people could just hang around.

Když tam stál rohatej u školy my neměli podepsaný úkoly
už tenkrát rozhazoval svoje sítě
Poučen z předchozích nezdarů sestrojil elektrickou kytaru
a rock´n´roll byl zrovna narozený dítě

When the devil (rohatej) stood there by(?) the school
we didn't have homework signed by parents
and at that time we spread our nets (rozhazovat sítě - spread network of something)
Poučen z předchozích nezdarů (this talks about a "previouis failure" but I am not sure what this phrase means - Poučen - I found "hindsighted" in my dictionary) - NOT SURE WHAT THIS PHRASE MEANS
he built the electric guitar (not sure who is he (on) in this case)
and rock'n'roll was just a newborn child.

Vzpomínáš, taky s tu žila a nedělej, že jsi jiná
taková malá pilná včela, taková celá Sametová

You remember, you lived here too
and don't pretend that you are different
you were a small, hardworking bee, completely "Velvety"
(I am not sure who is "Velvety")

Přišel čas a jako náhoda byla tu bigbeatová pohoda
kytičky a úsmevy sekretárok.
Sousedovic bejby Milena je celá blbá z Boba Dylana
ale to nevadí, já mám taky nárok

Time went by and by chance
there was "bigbeat" relief (after rock'n'roll)
Bouquets and smiles of secretaries
Milena, a babe from the neighborhood
is completely crazy about Bob Dylan
but it doen'st matter, I have also nárok (right, right she is crazy about me probably)

Starý, mladý nebo pitomý mlátily do toho jako my
hlavu plnou Londýna nad Temží

Old, young or stupid
they beat (their drums) just like we did
(and we had our) head full of London on the Thames

Starej dobrej satanáš hraje u nás v hospodě mariáš
pazoura se mu trumfama jenom hemží

Old good Satan is playing a card game with us at the pub
he has a hand full of aces

Vzpomínáš, už je to jinak a jde z toho na mě zima
ty jsi holka tehdá byla, taková celá Sametová

You remember, it's now otherwise (different)
and it is making me cold (is the singer complaining about something here?)
You are a girl, and back then you were completely "Velvety"

A do toho tenhle Gorbačov co ho znal celej Dlabačov
kopyta měl jako z Arizóny
Přišel a zase vodešel a nikdo se kvůli tomu nevěšel
a po něm tu zbyly samý volný zóny

And then came a guy named Gorbačov
co ho znal celej Dlabačov (I still don't understand this: what is the subject, what does it mean???)
he had hoofs (boots maybe???) like from Arizona
(did Gorby have special boots or hoofs???)
He came and again he left
and no one hanged himself up because of it
and after him there were left samý (duty) free zones
(is the song praising or criticizing Gorby?)

Vzpomínáš, jak jsi se měla
když jsi nic nevěděla
byla to taková krásná cela a byla celá Sametová

You remember how you were feeling (from the verb mít se)
when you didn't know anything
it was such a beautiful cell
and it was completely "Velvety"
(it sounds that they were living in a cell in a Velvety prison, doesn't it?)

Any comments will be appreciated!
Hezký den,
Rene

[eso]

"Swedish shirts" - sixties fashion - You had to put them on over the head, because they could be unbuttoned only under neck with 2 buttons. I don't know, why they called them Swedish.
http://photos04.allegroimg.pl/photos/40 ... /576714753

and at that time we spread our nets (rozhazovat sítě - spread network of something)
HE (devil) spreaded HIS nets (to catch sinners)

Poučen z předchozích nezdarů...
He (devil) learnt from previous failures
and he build electric guitar.

já mám taky nárok
I have my claim too.

Dlabačov is part of Prague. (and subject)

[eso]

Can anyone who lived during the pre 1989 time help explain the meaning of the song?

Song lyrics talk about period from 1960 - 1989 both with nostalgia and irony.

It covers differend periods and topics. It includes many references to events and moods of these times.

Like

hlavu plnou Londýna nad Temží - people listened to British radio for foreign pop and rock music

usmevy sekretarok - smiles of assistans - hard to explain, powerfull assistants were typical ingredient of normalization industry, both real and in socialist movies and tv shows.

[rsalc1]

eso,
Díky za vysvětlení.

and at that time we spread our nets (rozhazovat sítě - spread network of something)
HE (devil) spreaded HIS nets (to catch sinners)

Poučen z předchozích nezdarů...
He (devil) learnt from previous failures
and he build electric guitar.

So I can translate this whole section:
Když tam stál rohatej u školy my neměli podepsaný úkoly
už tenkrát rozhazoval svoje sítě
Poučen z předchozích nezdarů sestrojil elektrickou kytaru
a rock´n´roll byl zrovna narozený dítě

As:
When the devil stood by the school
we had no homework signed by our parents
and at that time he (the devil) had spread his net
He learned from previous mistakes
and built the electric guitar
and rock'n'roll was born just like a newborn child.

Dlabačov is part of Prague. (and subject)

I still don't understand "co ho znal celej Dlabačov".
This is a problem I have with the Czech language: sometimes I can't find the subject of a sentence. I don't know what is the subject in that Dlabacov sentence, therefore I can't decypher it

-Rene

[eso]

Dlabačov is part of Prague. (and subject)

I still don't under stand "co ho znal celej Dlabačov".
This is a problem I have with the Czech language: sometimes I can't find the subject of a sentence. I don't know what is the subject in that Dlabacov sentence, therefore I can't decypher it

All (people in) Dlabacov knew him (Gorbacov).

Irony - if all people from Dlabacov knew Gorbacov, then he HAS to be famous person!

[eso]

You could be interested also in these songs with lyrics on same subject:

Müller Richard - Nina Ricci
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKoHS8kddGQ
Lyrics: http://www.hudba.sk/akordy/piesen/2723/text

Chinaski - 1970
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHnr-l4uscQ
Lyrics: http://lyricwiki.org/Chinaski:1970

[eso]

velvety - soft as velvet

[scrimshaw]

Couple guesses

you are probably right....a měl kopyta jako z Arizóny....maybe he had snake skin or leather boots like from the southwestern U.S.

A byla to taková krásná cela.
a byla celá sametová

it was such a beautiful cell,
and it was all velvety(soft and comfortable)

double meaning.....Sametová revoluce...Velvet revolution....In 1989 Czechosolvakia successfully, peacefully, threw out the communist rule.