Papusza and the Crows Official Video from Wendy McNeill's One Colour More album

Описание: Bronislawa Wajs was the Polish Romani artist known as Papusza (The Doll)

She was a poet and singer who, at a very young age, chose to break out of her family's tradition of illiteracy by teaching herself to read and write. This caused friction between her and her people, as they believed that an oral tradition distanced them from the general population thus protecting their nomadic way of life. This friction came to a head when Papusza's words were published. Her intention had been to improve her people's situation by helping others to understand the nuances of their Roma experience. But this plan backfired when her words were taken out of context and used in a campaign called the Great Halt that imposed harsh changes to their way of life. She was subsequently banished from the Roma community. It is said that she spent the next 34 years until her death alone.

Because of her literacy, her words did not die with her. They now give new generations understanding,inspiration and pride.

This story is told from a bird's-eye view, through the voice of a crow. It is widely believed that the Romani originally came from India, so I borrowed from a Hindu myth that crows are messengers from our ancestors.

and here are the lyrics:

Papusza and the Crows

I fell in love with her among harps and violins
attracted by her songs and the books she'd hidden
her family brought the woods alive with thirst for living
but feared written words and cursed her for her reading

this passion - self taught
along with local lessons - she bought
stolen chickens is how she managed to pay
and as she snapped their necks - she prayed

one crow sorrow
two crows trust
whomever is my maker tell me this much
how can what I love so much be wrong?
are not words on paper as pure as words in song?

one crow worry
two crows war
three crows: run child, before they reach your door
this crow's seen it all before
so I warned them two times more

all the birds were praying for the Gypsy children
to blend into the forest so the pale men can't reach them
"snow fell thick as leaves" as we watched their shadows
looking past us in the trees as if the stars might guide them

Porraimos - the Devouring - 500,000 gone - more running
we're alone on this longest road
Papusza, don't you see - beware of the gadjo!

one crow danger
two crows truth
three crows - enough luck to pull the family through
she wrote all of their suffering down
and hoped a sympathetic ear may be found

my darling was delighted to meet Ficowski
felt he understood her nature and poetry
but two hearts in the right place don't guarantee
a happy ending - can't control what is to be

one crow sorrow
two crows joy
three crows a promise
four crows a ploy
this crow has seen it all before
I had to let her take her fall

they called her mahrime - traitor
no longer one of their daughters
no longer - a part of
the water that wanders

my words were used against my wishes
the Great Halt left my people stranded
if this is how it's going to be-
then bury me standing