Morituri te salutant [English translation]

The road is made of dust,

and gravel,

and packed ground,

it paints grey smears

on the hair.

And from the paths in heaven

it carries a jewel,

bound by rock.

And the feathers of desire

from the wings of Pegasi [1]

The road is like a whip.

It is bad,

as a street woman.

She has tags in her hand, [2]

and tinfoil over her waist.

And her eyes flare with lust,

when she throws to the unknown,

two fragile petals

of red gladioli. [3]

[Ref:]

Sergeant! The sand is white,

as the arms of Danielle [4]

Wait some more!

My eyes have seen,

that terrible old

moment of abandon.

Sergeant! They will salute us,

and we will be initiated.

Morituri te Salutant!

Morituri te Salutant! [5]

I carried on,

walking that road,

where whirls,

by the ripples of wind:

a single wing of a dove [6]

And marching song of

cannons sounded,

bringing the fluff

that kills.

The road is made of tar and dust

and packed ground.

The brass bee

from the werewolf. [7]

Rusty rifle -

my old brother,

and hundred year old dirt,

and abysmal, gigantic, white clouds.

[Ref:]

Sergeant! The sand is white,

as the arms of Danielle

Wait some more!

My eyes have seen,

that terrible old

moment of abandon.

Sergeant! They will salute us,

and we will be initiated.

Morituri te Salutant!

Morituri te Salutant!

• Artist:Karel Kryl
• Album:Bratříčku, zavírej vrátka (1969)