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These 10 songs were chosen because they have short, beginner-friendly lyrics. They’re packed with super common vocabulary and have only very few complex sentences and tricky words.
Quick links:
- List of songs plus key phrases
- “Nie mam czasu” by Mgły
- “Ty i tylko ty” by T.Love
- “Nigdzie, teraz, tutaj” by Armia
- “Wszyscy Polacy” by Bayer Full
- “Pies” by Ralph Kaminski
- “Niedziela będzie dla nas” by Maciej Maleńczuk & Wojciech Waglewski
- “Spokój” by Super Girl and Romantic Boys
- “Czysty jak łza” by Happysad
- “Kocham cię, kochanie moję” by Maanam
- “Czwartek” by Świetliki
- Go to the playlists with simple songs
- Download the vocabulary list to practise
- Follow Sing Polish for more music tips
List of songs plus key phrases
“Nie mam czasu” by Mgły
Mgły (which means “fogs” or “mists” is an indie band from Kraków, known for a dreamy, minimalist sound and introspective lyrics.
In “Nie mam czasu” (I don’t have the time) we learn not just how to say “time” but other simple phrases like “nothing hurts”, “time is money” and “you have to go”.
Key phrases for beginners (click on the arrow to expand)
| Polish | English |
| Czas | Time |
| Nie mam czasu na nic | I don’t have [the] time for anything |
| Nic nie boli | Nothing hurts |
| Czas to przecież pieniądz | Time is money after all |
| Mogę kupić czego | I can buy something |
| Szkoda | It’s a pity |
| Musisz iść | You have to go |
| Mówisz mi | You say to me |
| Co mi dasz | What will you give me |
| Czekam wciąż | I’m still waiting |
| Na nas | For us |
| Tyle lat | Many years |
| Lecz ty nie wiesz | But you don’t know |
| Ciągle nie wiesz | You still don’t know |
| Ta gra | This game |
| Gra o czas | A game of time |
“Ty i tylko ty” by T.Love
The legendary rock group T.Love was formed in the 1980s. The band is fronted by Muniek Staszczyk and serves a mix of punk energy and pop sensibility.
“Ty i tylko ty” (You and just you) show us how to say “I don’t know what’s going on”, “I know”, “I don’t know” and much more.
Key phrases for beginners (click on the arrow to expand)
| Polish | English |
| Ty i tylko ty | You and just you |
| Nie wiem co się dzieje | I don’t know what’s going on |
| Nie mogę cię zawołać | I can’t call [out for] you |
| Kiedy jesteś daleko | When you’re far away |
| Nie mogę ci powiedzieć tego co czuję | I can’t tell you what I feel |
| Kiedy budzę się rano | When I wake up in the morning |
| I myślę o tobie | And think about you |
| Wiem | I know |
| Nie wiem | I don’t know |
| Kiedy patrzę ci w oczy | When I look into your eyes |
| Cały świat eksploduje | The whole world explodes |
“Nigdzie, teraz, tutaj” by Armia
This influential alternative rock/punk band was founded in 1985. They’re famous for their philosophical lyrics and unusual use of brass instruments like the French horn.
Listen to “Nigdzie, teraz, tutaj” to practise the common adverbs “nowhere”, “now” and “here”.
Key phrases for beginners (click on the arrow to expand)
| Polish | English |
| Nigdzie | Nowhere |
| Teraz | Now |
| Tutaj | Here |
| Ogień płonie | Fire burns |
| My i oni | Us and them (literally: we and they) |
“Wszyscy Polacy” by Bayer Full
Bayer Full are the kings of disco polo, Poland’s own brand of simple, catchy party songs that have been both loved and mocked since the 1990s.
Whether we like the genre or not, in “Wszyscy Polacy” we get tons of useful vocabulary like “in the evening”, “in the morning”, “boy”, “girl”, and “family”.
Key phrases for beginners (click on the arrow to expand)
| Polish | English |
| Wieczorem | In the evening |
| Kiedy | When |
| Gwiazdy mocno lśnią | Stars shine brightly |
| Wszyscy Polacy | All Poles |
| To jedna rodzina | Are one family |
| Starszy czy młodszy | Older or younger |
| Chłopak czy dziewczyna | Boy or girl |
| Bawmy się | Let’s have fun |
| śmiejmy się | Let’s laugh |
| Nocą | At night |
| Po pracy | After work |
| W domu śpisz | You’re sleeping at home |
| Każdy ma szczęśliwe sny | Everyone has happy dreams |
| A rano | And in the morning |
| Słońce jeszcze śpi | The sun is still asleep |
| To wtedy | That’s when |
| Zaśpiewamy ja i ty | We’ll sing, you and I |
| A kiedy z Polski wyjechałeś gdzieś | And when you left Poland [for] somewhere [else] |
| Nawet po latach | Even after years |
| My rozpoznamy się | We’ll recognise each other |
“Pies” by Ralph Kaminski
Ralph is a distinctive singer-songwriter who blends pop and electronics in a theatrical style.
“Pies” is a cute little tune that includes how to express that you’re ready, that you’re hungry, and that you want a hug :)
Key phrases for beginners (click on the arrow to expand)
| Polish | English | Comment |
| Jestem gotów na nową drogę | I’m ready for a new road | “Gotów” is the masculine form. If you’re a lady, you’ll say “Jestem gotowa”. |
| Z tobą | With you | See this post for more about “z tobą”! |
| Jestem gotów, by dzielić życie | I’m ready to share [my] life | |
| I siebie dzielić | And share myself | |
| To nie tydzień, a lata | It’s not a week, but years | literally “time flies from me” |
| Czas mi lata | Time flies | |
| I mało co pociesza | And there’s little comfort they say | |
| Mówią mi | They tell me | |
| Mówię sobie | I tell myself | |
| Warto czekać | It’s worth the wait | |
| Patrzę się w okno | I stare out the window | |
| Jak Reksiu i Dolly | like Reksiu and Dolly | “Reksiu” is a reference to the classic Polish cartoon about a dog. |
| Wypatrują mnie | They’re watching me | |
| Smucę się | I’m sad | |
| Długo nie ma mnie | I’ve been gone for so long | |
| Przytul mnie | Hug me | |
| Smutny jestem tak jak pies | I’m sad like a dog | |
| Nakarm mnie | Feed me | |
Głodny jestem tak jak pies | I’m hungry like a dog | A more common expression is “głodny jak wilk” (hungry like a wolf). Also “głodny” is the masculine form – girls say “Głodna jestem”. |
| Hau hau | Woof woof |
“Niedziela będzie dla nas” by Maciej Maleńczuk & Wojciech Waglewski
Two iconic figures joined forces for this song: Maciej Maleńczuk, a rebellious rocker with a gravelly voice, and Wojciech Waglewski, leader of the band Voo Voo and a respected guitarist.
Listen to “Niedziela będzie dla nas” to practise the days of the week and more.
Key phrases for beginners (click on the arrow to expand)
| Polish | English |
| W poniedziałek | On Monday |
| Ja nie mogę | I can’t |
| Bo pomagam mamie | Because I’m helping mum |
| We wtorek | On Tuesday |
| W środę | On Wednesday |
| Ty masz w domu pranie | You have laundry at home |
| W czwartek | On Thursday |
| Ja mam dyżur | I’m on duty |
| W piątek | On Friday |
| Dwa zebrania | Two meetings |
| W sobotę | On Saturday |
| Też nie możesz | You can’t either |
| Na lekcję ganiasz | You’re rushing to class |
| Niedziela będzie dla nas | Sunday will be for us |
| Drugi tydzień | Second week |
“Spokój” by Super Girl and Romantic Boys
SGRB is a cult electro-pop duo from the early 2000s, combining simple synth lines with nostalgic lyrics.
Learn the difference between “spokój” and “pokój” in this catchy tune.
Key phrases for beginners (click on the arrow to expand)
| Polish | English |
| Spokój | Peace (as in calm, not used in the sense “absence of war”) |
| Budzę się | I wake up |
| Wszędzie jest zimno | It’s cold everywhere |
| Dzwoni ktoś? | Is someone calling [on the phone]? |
| Nie, nikt nie dzwoni | No, nobody is calling [on the phone] |
| Nie ma nic | There’s nothing |
| Pusty pokój | Empty room [note that “pokój” also means “peace” as in absence of war] |
| Bo | Because |
| Nie umiem kochać już | I can’t love anymore |
| Nie umiem płakać już | I can’t cry anymore |
| Nie dotykaj więcej mnie | Don’t touch me anymore |
| Jest mi wszystko jedno | I don’t care |
| Widocznie | Apparently, evidently, visibly |
| Tak musiało być | It had to be this way |
| Dziś dla mnie | Today for me |
| Nie znaczysz nic | You don’t mean anything |
| Nie wejdziesz | You won’t enter |
| Przez zamknięte drzwi | Through the locked door |
| Przede mną wielka ciemność | Ahead of me is a great darkness |
| Idę gdzieś | I’m going somewhere |
| Idę przed siebie | I’m going straight ahead |
| Nie patrz tak na mnie | Don’t look at me that way |
| Oczy zamknięte | Eyes closed |
| Tak już zostanie | It will stay that way |
“Czysty jak łza” by Happysad
Happysad is a popular rock band with strong melodies and sharp, often humorous lyrics about life in Poland.
Check out different ways to say you don’t care in Polish in the song “Czysty jak łza”.
Key phrases for beginners (click on the arrow to expand)
| Polish | English |
| Niech kończy się świat | Let the world end |
| Pojutrze czy dziś | The day after tomorrow or today |
| Obojętne | Indifferent/it doesn’t matter “Jest mi obojętne” = I don’t have a preference |
| Tak czy siak | This way or that way Often used in the sense “either way” or “anyway” |
| Nieważne | [It’s] not important. Often used in the sense “nevermind” |
| Jestem czysty jak łza | …I’m as clean as a tear (an English equivalent would be “as clean as a whistle”) |
| Nawet nie znasz mnie | You don’t even know me |
| Nie do końca | Not completely (can also mean “not until the end”) |
| Jestem Polakiem | I’m a Pole (if you’re a man – ladies say “Jestem Polką”) |
| Nie kradnę samochodów | I don’t steal cars |
| Nie jestem pijakiem | I’m not a drunk |
“Kocham cię, kochanie moję” by Maanam
Maanam was one of Poland’s greatest rock bands, led by the charismatic singer Kora. Her expressive voice and striking stage presence made her a legend.
This tune includes a few less simple phrases. But most of the song is like a lesson in how to make sure we never forget how to say “I love you, my darling” in Polish :)
Key phrases for beginners (click on the arrow to expand)
| Polish | English |
| Kocham Cię, kochanie moje | I love you, my darling |
| To polana | It’s a clearing |
| W leśnym schowana | Hidden in the forest |
| To sad wiosenny | It’s a spring orchard |
| Rozgrzany i senny | Warm and sleepy |
| To rozstania i powroty | There are breakups and returns |
| Nagle | Suddenly |
| Dzwony dzwonią | Bells ring |
| Ciało mi płonie | My body is burning |
| Oczy Twoje | Your eyes |
| We mnie wpatrzone | Staring at me |
| Tęsknota nieskończona | Endless longing |
| Przypominanie | Recollection |
| Pierwszej pieszczoty | [The] first caress |
| Noce z miłości bezsenne | Sleepless nights of love |
“Czwartek” by Świetliki
A Kraków-based band combining rock music with the gritty but whitty spoken-word poetry of frontman Marcin Świetlicki.
This one has a few words for intermediate or advanced students. But it’s also full of useful phrases for beginners, like how to say “we meet every Thursday”, “my husband”, “she said”, and “I knew”.
Key phrases for beginners (click on the arrow to expand)
| Polish | English |
| Spotykamy się w każdy czwartek | We meet every Thursday |
| Siedemnasta | 5pm / 17.00 |
| W najodleglejszej knajpie | In the most remote pub |
| W najciemniejszym punkcie miasta | In the darkest part of town |
| Owszem | Yes |
| Pijemy jakiś alkohol | We drink some alcohol |
| Ale tym razem | But this time |
| Wcale nie chodzi o to | It’s not about that at all |
| Czekamy na odpowiedni moment | We’re waiting for the right moment |
| żeby wyjść | to leave |
| Szukać przypadkowego łóżka | To look for a random bed |
| W któregoś czwartek | One Thursday |
| Ona powiedziała | She said |
| Mój mąż | My husband |
| Wyjeżdża z miasta | [He or she] left town |
| Chodźmy do nas | Let’s go to our place |
| Chodźmy do mnie | Let’s go to my place |
| Poprawiła się | She corrected herself |
| Ja nie mogłem | I couldn’t |
| Ja się stresowałem | I was stressed |
| Ja wiedziałem | I knew |
| Ich sąsiedzi mnie wypatrzą | Their neighbours would see me |
| Jego spodnie | His trousers |
| W szafie | In the closet |
| Jego kubeczek | His mug |
| Nie polubi mnie | [He/She/It] won’t like me |
| Ich pościel | Their bedding |
| Mnie opluje | [He/She/It] will spit on me |
Go to the playlists with simple songs
You’ll find all songs in Sing Polish’s playlists on Spotify and YouTube.
Download the vocabulary list to practise
Want to practise the words and phrases from these 10 songs? Download the vocabulary list and import it to a language app like Anki!
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