"Hej, górole" is a well-known folk song from the Silesian region, particularly the Olza River basin in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids, where the Goral (highlander) community resides. Sung in both Polish and Czech, the song's playful structure revolves around two highlanders engaged in a fist fight over a girl, with a refrain that jokingly suggests she can be shared between them because she has two of everything—braids, eyes, and hands....
By contemporary standards, the song reveals several problematic attitudes rooted in its historical context. Its portrayal of the woman as a prize to be divided between men exemplifies a deeply patriarchal mindset that reduces women to objects of male competition. The narrative also normalizes physical aggression and rivalry as acceptable ways for men to resolve disputes over romantic interests, reflecting a backward approach to conflict resolution. Additionally, the song's emphasis on Goral cultural superiority can foster exclusionary attitudes toward outsiders, reinforcing narrow ethnic nationalism that positions the highlander community as inherently superior to others.
you are right if you take it literally. But imho noone takes it literally today. It's just a relic from old times - and quite a good music. Maybe it's reinforcing ethnic nationalism - but in an era pop culture is mainly American and a bit British you can find this localism everywhere. To speak of Bavaria or even more narrow Oberpfalz, there are many groups singing in dialect - and transporting classic music elements into modern forms. That's art.
da hätte ich ja schon wieder ein Thema zum Nachdenken - aber das ist eigentlich überall zu beobachten (also im Zusammenhang mit Musik, um da nicht falsch verstanden zu werden).....
Egal was es bedeutet....die Stimmung ist herrlich..ausgelassen..sorglos....und das ist, was zählt.
Mag den Sound...hat bissl was mittelalterliches :)))
You're right, there's plenty of room to take it lightly and find time for some irony. What is actually funny that the Gorals—especially those in Poland—possess the country’s most distinctive folk culture, as they originate from the only true mountain regions in Poland. Even their traditional costumes and cultural symbols are much too often presented as the quintessential “Polish” folk dress, even though the Gorals are, in many ways, the most ethnically distinct group among all Polish regions...
It is also how we associate all Indian culture with Sikh turbans and Punjabi food. In Slovakia, most Gorals live in Spis and in Orava.... people associate the Goral folk costume with whole region, , and totally avoid the rest despite there are very distictive differences.
So yes, the song is actually famous in Czech lands thanks to band named Čechomor.
17 comments
Annemarie said:
Boarischa Krautmo replied to Annemarie:
vielen Dank!
m̌ ḫ said:
By contemporary standards, the song reveals several problematic attitudes rooted in its historical context. Its portrayal of the woman as a prize to be divided between men exemplifies a deeply patriarchal mindset that reduces women to objects of male competition. The narrative also normalizes physical aggression and rivalry as acceptable ways for men to resolve disputes over romantic interests, reflecting a backward approach to conflict resolution. Additionally, the song's emphasis on Goral cultural superiority can foster exclusionary attitudes toward outsiders, reinforcing narrow ethnic nationalism that positions the highlander community as inherently superior to others.
Boarischa Krautmo replied to m̌ ḫ:
you are right if you take it literally. But imho noone takes it literally today. It's just a relic from old times - and quite a good music. Maybe it's reinforcing ethnic nationalism - but in an era pop culture is mainly American and a bit British you can find this localism everywhere. To speak of Bavaria or even more narrow Oberpfalz, there are many groups singing in dialect - and transporting classic music elements into modern forms. That's art.
I wouldn't be that pesimistic....
Günter Klaus said:
Wünsche noch einen schönen Nachmittag,liebe Grüße Güni :))
Boarischa Krautmo replied to Günter Klaus:
vielen Dank!
Tanja - Loughcrew said:
Mag den Sound...hat bissl was mittelalterliches :)))
Boarischa Krautmo replied to Tanja - Loughcrew:
war saugut, das Konzert.
vielen Dank!
Fred Fouarge said:
Boarischa Krautmo replied to Fred Fouarge:
vielen Dank!
m̌ ḫ replied to Boarischa Krautmo:
Boarischa Krautmo replied to m̌ ḫ:
In Poland they are very present.
So I was very surprised to hear this sog from a Czech band. But I enjoyed the concert a lot.
m̌ ḫ replied to Boarischa Krautmo:
So yes, the song is actually famous in Czech lands thanks to band named Čechomor.
Brigitte ✨️ said:
Hab eine schöne Woche ☀️
Boarischa Krautmo replied to Brigitte ✨️: