Hektolitry literally means "hectoliters," a unit of volume equal to 100 liters. It's a surprisingly specific and unique word to find in a song's lyrics, making it instantly memorable and intriguing.
In this song, it's used metaphorically in the line "Wylał hektolitry łez" (poured hectoliters of tears). This vivid imagery exaggerates the amount of tears shed, powerfully conveying deep sorrow and heartbreak. It's a fantastic way to learn a new word and its poetic application.
This song feels like a conversation happening right after a huge fight, or maybe months after a breakup. Dawid and Margaret go back and forth, trying to figure out where it all went wrong. The whole song hangs on one brilliant question: "Kto powiedział pierwszy / Kocham w czasie przeszłym" [Who first said / I love you in the past tense]. It's such a specific and painful way to ask who gave up first.
They describe their relationship as a "nieudany spektakl" [failed spectacle] and wonder who is to blame for the curtain coming down. But even with all the hurt, the chorus is a plea to try again. They sing, "Weź dłoń, a później Ci opowiem" [Take my hand, and later I'll tell you], promising to explain everything if they can just reconnect. It's a song full of regret, but also a tiny bit of hope that they can find their way back to each other, because as they say, "To w Twoją stronę chcę dalej iść" [It's in your direction I want to keep going].
Dawid Kwiatkowski is one of Poland's most popular pop singers. Born in 1996 in Gorzów Wielkopolski, he rose to fame in 2013 as a finalist on the third season of X Factor Poland, and his debut album 9893 went straight to number one at home that same year. Since then he has released a string of albums and picked up an MTV Europe Music Award for Best European Act, becoming a household name for a whole generation of young Polish fans.
Here he is joined by Margaret, one of Poland's leading female pop artists. Born Małgorzata Jamroży in 1991 in Stargard, she broke through in 2013 with the international hit "Thank You Very Much" and has since built a career blending pop, hip-hop and electronica. "Później Ci opowiem" marks the first time these two Polish stars have recorded together.