Józef Wybicki, the author of the Polish anthem „Mazurek Dąbrowskiego”, was a politician and writer. He took part in the Bar Confederation and the Kościuszko Uprising, helped organise the Polish Legions in Italy, and later fought in the Napoleonic Wars. The anthem was composed as a song for the Polish Legions in Italy under the command of General Jan Henryk Dąbrowski.

The Mazurek was written in Reggio Emilia, in northern Italy, between 16 and 19 July 1797. Its first public performance most likely took place on 20 July 1797 in Reggio. The composer is unknown. It was officially adopted as the Polish national anthem on 26 February 1927.

IN ENGLISH (Polish lyrics below)

Verse 1
Poland has not yet perished,
So long as we still live.
What the foreign force has taken from us,
We shall with sabre retrieve.

Chorus
March, march, Dąbrowski,
From Italy to Poland.
Under your command
We shall rejoin the nation.

Verse 2
We’ll cross the Vistula, we’ll cross the Warta,
We shall be Polish.
Bonaparte has given us the example
Of how we should prevail.

Chorus
March, march, Dąbrowski…

Verse 3
Like Czarniecki to Poznań
After the Swedish annexation,
To save our homeland,
We shall return across the sea.

Chorus
March, march, Dąbrowski…

Verse 4
A father, in tears,
Says to his Basia
Listen, our boys are said
To be beating the tarabans.

Chorus
March, march, Dąbrowski…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MAwpG6E4FQ

PO POLSKU

1 zwrotka
Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła,
Kiedy my żyjemy.
Co nam obca przemoc wzięła,
Szablą odbierzemy.

Refren
Marsz, marsz, Dąbrowski,
Z ziemi włoskiej do Polski.
Za twoim przewodem
Złączym się z narodem.

2 zwrotka
Przejdziem Wisłę, przejdziem Wartę,
Będziem Polakami.
Dał nam przykład Bonaparte,
Jak zwyciężać mamy.

Refren

Marsz, marsz, Dąbrowski…

3 zwrotka
Jak Czarniecki do Poznania
Po szwedzkim zaborze,
Dla ojczyzny ratowania
Wrócim się przez morze.