To nie ja (translation: That's not me) was the debut entry for Poland at the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 in Dublin performed by Edyta Górniak. An English version was also released titled "Once In A Lifetime".
A dramatic ballad, the singer is describing herself as having an "easy world" - seemingly one of easy distinctions between good and bad. She sings that she is not Eve, referring to the Biblical character, and asking for her listener not to blame her for the sins of that figure.
At the contest, it was performed 24th on the night following Russia and preceding France. At the close of voting, it finished in 2nd with 166 points. It remains Poland's best finish to date and the second-best placing for a debut nation excluding 1956.
Lyrics[]
Świat mój tak zwyczajny
Pod niebem biało-czarnym
Ludzie są wycięci z szarych stron
Ze środka ksiąg
Piękni są z romansu tła
Zmęczeni tylko z gazet
A ja... jestem białą, czystą kartką
Pośród was
To nie ja byłam Ewą
To nie ja skradłam niebo
Chociaż dosyć mam łez
Moich łez, tylu łez
Jestem po to, by kochać mnie
To nie ja byłam Ewą
To nie ja skradłam niebo
Nie dodawaj mi win
To nie ja, to nie ja
Nie ja, jestem Ewą
Niebo wieje chłodem
Piekło kłania się ogniem do stóp
A ja... papierowa marionetka, muszę grać
To nie ja byłam Ewą
To nie ja skradłam niebo
Chociaż dosyć mam łez
Moich łez, tylu łez
Jestem po to by kochać
Wiem
Zanim w popiół się zmienię
Chcę być wielkim płomieniem
Chcę się wzbić ponad świat
Hen, ogrzać niebo marzeniem
No, no, no, no...
To nie ja pragnę zła
Nie ja!
My world is so common
Under a white-black sky
The people are cut out of grey pages
From the interior of books
They are beautiful from the background romance
You are tired of a newspaper that is cut out
And I... I'm white, a clean card
Amongst you
I was not Eve
I had not stolen heaven
Though I'm tired of tears
My tears, so many tears
I'm born to love me
I was not Eve
I had not stolen heaven
Don't blame it on me once more
That's not me, that's not me
Not me, I'm not Eve
The sky blows chilly
Hell bows deeply with its flames to its feet
And I... a marionette of paper, I have to play
I was not Eve
I had not stolen heaven
Though I'm tired of tears
My tears, so many tears
I was born to love
I know it
Before I turn to ashes
I want to be a big flame
I want to look down on earth
Want to warm up the sky with dream
(I was not Eve)
(I had not stolen heaven)
Yes, yes, yes, yes...
(I was not Eve)
(I had not stolen heaven)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yes...
Trivia[]
- This marks the 700th song to be performed at the competition.
- As mentioned in the Eurovision Legends podcast, Edyta deceived the Polish broadcaster by singing this song instead of one suggested by them.
- One of 54 songs to appear on every ESC Top 250 since the list's inception in 2008.
| Eurovision Song Contest 1994 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants | |||
 Marie Bergman & Roger Pontare •  CatCat •  Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan •  Evridiki •  Sigga •  Frances Ruffelle •  Tony Cetinski •  Sara Tavares •  Duilio •  Silvi Vrait •  Dan Bittman •  Chris & Moira •  Willeke Alberti •  Mekado •  Tublatanka •  Ovidijus Vyšniauskas •  Elisabeth Andreassen & Jan Werner Danielsen •  Alma Čardžić & Dejan Lazarević •  Kostas Bigalis & The Sea Lovers •  Petra Frey •  Alejandro Abad •  Friderika Bayer •  Youddiph •  Edyta Górniak •  Nina Morato
| |||
| Songs | |||
| Stjärnorna • Bye Bye Baby • Rock 'n' Roll Kids • Ime Anthropos Ki Ego • Nætur • Lonely Symphony (We Will Be Free) • Nek' ti bude ljubav sva • Chamar a música • Sto pregando • Nagu merelaine • Dincolo de nori • More than Love • Waar is de zon? • Wir geben 'ne Party • Nekonečná pieseň • Lopšinė mylimai • Duett • Ostani kraj mene • To trehandiri • Für den Frieden der Welt • Ella no es ella • Kinek mondjam el vétkeimet? • Vechnyy strannik • To nie ja • Je suis un vrai garçon
| |||
Video[]
Eurovision 1994 - Poland - Edyta Górniak - To nie ja -HQ STEREO SUBTITLED-