The Sandomierz Mazurka A Birthday Song for the Night of June 15th–16th, 1809 Verse 1 Today’s my birthday — raise a cheer! The dice are ready, bring the beer! Twelve by six, the table’s wide, Sandomierz waits — with walls inside! Black Powder rules, the troops deploy, A birthday battle, birthday joy! The Austrians came to storm the town, But someone forgot to tell them: “Don’t!” Chorus 🎵 Hey! Mazurka! March away! Poles will hold the town today! Guns go boom and dice go fly, Austrians charge — and wonder why! Hey! Mazurka! What a fight! Nobody can see at night! Sandomierz will proudly stand, Birthday Poland wins the land! 🎵 Verse 2 At ten o’clock Geringer said, “Give up the town and save your head! Leave your guns, and walk away — It’s such a friendly deal today!” Sokolnicki shook his head, “Thanks very much — but no,” he said. Then Austrian cannons started loud, And woke up every sleeping crowd! Chorus 🎵 Hey! Mazurka! Boom, boom, boom! Shells are flying through the gloom! One o’clock — the charge begins, Let’s see who laughs and who just grins! Hey! Mazurka! Hold the wall! Watch those Austrian columns fall! If they cannot find the gate, Maybe they should come back late! 🎵 Verse 3 Andy marched on St. Paul’s hill, But Tim was there — and standing still. Two battalions disappeared, And Andy’s brave advance was cleared! Jimmy came with courage grand, And stormed the trenches hand to hand. The first went down, the second won — Then church-fire said: “That’s enough fun!” Chorus 🎵 Hey! Mazurka! Left and right! Nobody knows who’s there tonight! Churches, trenches, walls and guns, This is how a birthday runs! Hey! Mazurka! Don’t retreat! Unless, of course, you’ve lost your feet! Charge again — or have some tea, The Austrians are stuck, you see! 🎵 Verse 4 Then Peter marched toward Krakow Gate, With horsemen thinking: “This looks great!” But Michael’s cannons answered fast, And Peter’s grand assault was past. The cavalry could charge no more, The Polish guns controlled the door. Alasdair fired from afar — And knocked one Polish cannon out of the war! Verse 5 Then Dave and David crossed the ground, Through ravines where traps were found. No neat formation — far too slow! In open order they would go. They reached the western wall at last, And Polish trenches shook them fast. One Polish battalion met its fate, But Sandomierz still held the gate! Chorus 🎵 Hey! Mazurka! Hold the line! Polish courage — doing fine! Four morale points left to spare, Austrians have but two to share! Hey! Mazurka! What a score! Three battalions — gone to war! One Polish gun and one battalion — That’s a birthday celebration! 🎵 Verse 6 The final roll, the final turn, The Austrians had no more to burn. Sandomierz stood, the Poles had won, The birthday battle’s finally done! The Austrian army turned away, They’d failed to take the town that day. So raise your glass and shout with pride: “The Duchy of Warsaw still survives!” Bridge But history had one more twist, Which our brave players somehow missed! Next day the terms were changed around, And Sokolnicki gave the town. Poniatowski wasn’t pleased, He wanted Sandomierz never seized. But that’s for history — not tonight, Tonight we celebrate our fight! Final Chorus 🎵 Hey! Mazurka! Dance and sing! Polish victory — what a thing! Guns are silent, dice are done, Birthday battle — Poland won! Hey! Mazurka! Raise your glass! To every player on the grass! To Sokolnicki, walls and guns, To Black Powder and birthday fun! 🎵 Hey! Mazurka! One more round! Austrian troops are not around! Sandomierz remains Polish tonight — And birthday battles must be right! HEY! MAZURKA! HEY! HO! ROLL THE DICE — AND OFF WE GO! HEY! MAZURKA! SHOUT “HURRAH!” BARTEK’S BIRTHDAY — HA! HA! HA! 🎵
