Text & Translation
Karel do pekla zajel
Czech source:
Traditional
na bílém koni, cert ho tam honí.
Nevedel kudy, koupil si dudy.
Nevedel ješte, koupil si klešte.
Nevedel nic, koupil si klíc.
Charlie's Ride to Hell
English translation ©
Anon.
White horse he's riding, devil behind him.
Chased by the devil, I'll buy a whistle.
If that won't stop him, hacksaw might chop him.
Then I will flee with lock and key.
Karel do pekla zajel
Czech source:
Traditional
Charlie's Ride to Hell
English source:
Anon.
Karel do pekla zajel
Down to hell rides our Charlie.
na bílém koni, cert ho tam honí.
White horse he's riding, devil behind him.
Nevedel kudy, koupil si dudy.
Chased by the devil, I'll buy a whistle.
Nevedel ješte, koupil si klešte.
If that won't stop him, hacksaw might chop him.
Nevedel nic, koupil si klíc.
Then I will flee with lock and key.
Composer
Leoš Janáček
Leoš Janáček was a Czech composer, musical theorist, folklorist, publicist and teacher. He was inspired by Moravian and other Slavic folk music to create an original, modern musical style.
Poet
Traditional
Traditional