Janek Wisniewski is a fictional name, invented by the author of the ballad Krzysztof Dowgiallo to symbolize an 18-year shipyard worker Zbigniew Godlewski killed in the Polish city of Gdynia by the military or police on December 17, 1970, during the Polish 1970 protests.
Dowgiallo witnessed a moment, when people were carrying on doors an anonymous young man's body through the cordons of police and tanks. That image inspired him to write the poem. Not knowing his name at the time, the author decided to give him a name that is typically Polish. Later it was discovered the man was actually named Zbigniew Godlewski and lived in nearby Elbląg. In 1970 he was shot dead along with some 40 other people.
Lyrics:
Boys from Grabowek, boys from Chylonia
Today the militsiya opened fire
We stood bravely, we pitched accurately
Janek Wisniewski fell
On a door we carried him along Swietojanska
Against the cops, against the tanks
Boys, shipyard workers, avenge your comrade
Janek Wisniewski fell
The bangers sound, the gas spreads
Blows fall on the workers
Elderly, children, women are falling
Janek Wisniewski fell
One is wounded, another killed
Blood was spilled at dawn in December
It's the Party shooting at the workers
Janek Wisniewski fell
Bloody Kociolek is the Tricity's executioner
Because of him the children, women are dying
Wait bastard, we're gonna get ya
Janek Wisniewski fell
Shipyard workers of Gdynia, workers of Gdansk
Go home, the battle is over
The world heard about this, and said nothing
Janek Wisniewski fell
Don't cry mothers, that wasn't in vain
There's a banner with a black ribbon above the shipyard
For bread and freedom, and a for new Poland
Janek Wisniewski fell
Pictures of body of Janek Wisniewski (Zbyszek Godlewski) being carried by the demonstrators.
