Czerwony autobus [English translation]

We tear through Poland’s wilderness

Bumpy roads, scrub, mud

Look behind, nothing there

But sorrow and shame

Look ahead, again and again

The destination entices with blue mist

Each of us wants to be there

Those who don’t want to, must!

In the Red Bus

In the Red Bus

In the Red Bus time goes by!

Here stands a young Jew

The nose shows if Jew or non-Jew

And as if he is ashamed

He had survived despite everything

A peasant woman with a basket of eggs

Is already whispering to someone

“The whole country knows about it

Jews are the secret police!”

We think that it will wait!

We think that it will wait!

We think that it will wait, for us – Paradise!

An intelligent face

That listens rather than talks

A torso wrapped in a coat

Tailor-made to fit a gun

And a steering system

Guiding the red wagon

A headless dummy steers

Generalissimus [Stalin]!

The route is up to them!

The route is up to them!

The route is up to them! – Take it easy, it’s a must!

Behind a worker, a priest

Behind the priest, peasant recruits with scythes

And someone prays, cursing,

A blasphemer who believes

A proletarian boss

Gets what’s happening

So makes a simple gesture

“Up yours” with hand in elbow!

An avalanche won’t move him!

An avalanche won’t move him!

An avalanche won’t move him! He is strong!

And at the back an old creep

Clasps a virgin in his arms

A malicious devil lurks

In the hope of a soul

A row of little ghosts

Dangling from the handrail

Blood dribbles leprosy into veins

Poison them! And torture them!

Through the window, Poland in a rainbow!

Through the window, Poland in a rainbow!

Through the window, Poland in a rainbow! Let’s get out of here!

• Artist:Jacek Kaczmarski