Květy od My-lai

Annotation

Czech artist Marie Rottrová, born 13 November 1941 in Ostrava - Hrušov, then part of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (1939-1945), under Nazi German occupation. It subsequently became part of Czechoslovakia. Rottrová is currently based in Prague, Czech Republic. She released the song "Květy od My-lai" ("Flowers From My Lai") (Supraphon # 0 43 1445) about the My Lai Massacre - the mass murder of between 300-500 civilians in the South Vietnamese villages of My Lai and Song My by US forces on 16 March 1968, led by platoon leader, Second Lieutenant William Calley. This one used poetic language to describe hearing the news of the massacre: "tell me why the telegraph bring me sad news... where the sun went to sleep... it doesn't shine this morning". Transciption provided by Stanislava Sebkova1Sources1Antiwar Songs↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — My Lai & Lt. William Calley Songs

Czech artist Marie Rottrová, born 13 November 1941 in Ostrava - Hrušov, then part of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (1939-1945), under Nazi German occupation. It subsequently became part of Czechoslovakia. Rottrová is currently based in Prague, Czech Republic. She released the song "Květy od My-lai" ("Flowers From My Lai") (Supraphon # 0 43 1445) about the My Lai Massacre. This one used poetic language to describe hearing the news of the massacre: "tell me why the telegraph bring me sad news... where the sun went to sleep... it doesn't shine this morning". Transciption provided by Stanislava Sebkova1Sources1Antiwar Songs↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

Czech: Tell me where the sun went to sleep / That it doesn't shine this morning / And why the trees in the crowns / The shadow lies down / Tell me why he doesn't want to play me / The wind of the noon song / And why the pilgrim who comes to us / Has crying in his eyes / Tell me why his ashes fall from his hair / Grey ashes to the ground / From where he returns himself / That he must not stand / Tell me why the telegraph / Sad news brings me / About women who only have / Their empty lap / Listen to the grass went through the world region / Bring flowers from My Lai / Pilgrim who was looking for paradise / Comes to us from a distance / His face is out of stone / Smile doesn't shine on her / Now you know where the sun went to sleep / That it doesn't shine this morning / And why the trees in the crowns / The shadow lies down / Now you know why his ashes fall from his hair / Grey ashes to the ground / Where he returns from / That he must not stand / Now you know why the telegraph / Sad news brings me / About women who only have / Their empty wedge / Listen to the grass / The pilgrim told it / Who passed through the world region / Brought flowers from My Lai / The pilgrim who sought paradise / to us from a distance is coming / A pilgrim who was looking for paradise / Is coming to us from a distance Řekni, kam šlo slunce spát / že dnes ráno nesvítí / a proč stromům v korunách / uléhá stín / Řekni, proč mi nechce hrát / vítr písně polední / a proč poutník, co jde k nám / má v očích…

Notes

Supraphon 0 43 1445 h, 45 rpm, matrix D 04856, ℗ 1972, OSA; "Květy od My-lai" (R. Kovalčík/V. Čort), Marie Rottrová with Flamingo, "Produkce F. Řebíček"; label rim reads "Made in Czechoslovakia" with the Czech rights-reserved notice. The picture sleeve front, headed "marie rottrová" in green on purple, lists "Perpetuum mobile" and "Květy od My-lai" over a colour photograph of the singer, long dark hair and patterned scarf, standing between tree trunks; the back shows her leaning against a tree in a dark top and red brocade waistcoat, credited "cover © stanislav dvorský – photography © jaroslav kubec 1971". [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Born 13 November 1941, Ostrava, Moravskoslezský kraj, Czechia. Currently Praha, Hlavní město Praha, Czechia.

Themes

Anti-War · My Lai · Anti-Calley

In collections

European Songs · My Lai & Lt. William Calley Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]