JUSTYNA’S ROCK

English adaptation of my Czech song „Justýnčina skála“. The song is inspired by a local legend from my home region, set during the Thirty Years’ War. As enemy soldiers approach her village, a young woman named Justýna flees into the forest. Hearing a horseman pursuing her, fear drives her deeper into the woods and toward a ravine. What follows is a tragic story of war, desperation and a place that would carry her name for generations. This English version is not intended as a literal word-for-word translation. The lyrics were adapted to preserve the story, atmosphere and emotion of the Czech original while sounding natural and singable in English. A dark historical story told through male and female vocals, flute, violin, atmospheric rock and cinematic metal elements. Lyrics: “Every place has its story. Some are written by mankind. Others are written by war.” Seven ravens circle in the sky, storm-black clouds are gathering high. Their mournful cries roll over the land, and sorrow reaches out its hand. Every soul knows what their warning will bring: death walks the shade of a raven’s black wing. Beneath them, a chasm, a river runs cold— a girl and a soldier, their last tale untold. The stories of war are all written in pain, no heroes are found where such sorrows remain. And this is a tale from the place I call home, from the Thirty Years’ War, when dark armies roamed. At the edge of the woodland, my village once lay. I was Justyna, till war came my way. The word spread like fire: “The Swedes are drawing near! Run while you still can, before they find you here!” I gathered the little I ever had owned, two sharpened knives in my waistband I stowed. Should fate turn against me and leave me alone, no soldier would take me or call me his own. Along the forest path I ran, stumbled and bled, the thorns clawed my skin till the leaves had turned red. Then hoofbeats behind me, a stallion’s wild cry— I dropped my small bundle, bowed low and then— Blindly I fled, with a knife in each hand. The hoofbeats drew closer. “Oh my God!” Dark visions came clawing their way through my mind: of hands that would seize me, of mercy denied. Of clothing torn open, of bruises and pain— I shook off the terror and ran on again. I fled without seeing, the world spun around. Then suddenly no forest, and no solid ground. The ravine caught her cry as she fell out of sight, and there poor Justyna was lost to the night. A heartbeat behind her, the horseman broke through, the cliffside gave way as his terrified horse flew. The soldier who chased her fell into the deep— and river-black waters claimed both for their keep. “From that day onward, the place where the tragedy came to pass has carried a single name.” “Justyna’s Rock.” “Justyna’s Rock.” If you enjoyed the song, I’ll be grateful for a like, comment or subscription. #JustynasRock #PotulnyBard #HistoricalMetal #CinematicMetal #ThirtyYearsWar #DarkFolk #StorytellingMusic