And in the morning, you'll try to get up again

This collected volume of poems and lyrics by Jan Velíšek (* 1951) contains a selection of 75 of his works, most of which have been set to music by Czech songwriters and bands. In the book, the author reflects on his prolific career as a lyricist on the occasion of a significant life milestone. The book also contains interesting dedications from prominent Czech musicians, such as Jan Spálený, Václav Kopta, and Jiří Suchý, who also created an original drawing dedicated to the author for the book. The book is accompanied by illustrations from the Beroun-based artist Kameel Machart, who is also the author of a large-format illustrated poster included as a bonus. Jan Velíšek is the recent recipient of the City of Beroun Award for 2025 for his lifetime contribution to literature.

The author himself states in the book's preface: “In total, I've produced about 400–500 texts, which I stubbornly refuse to call poems. According to OSA (the copyright protection association), about 60–65 of these have been set to music and are performed, mainly by Pavel Machač's band Tři dny na břiše, Irena Zlámalová, Honza Spálený's ASPM, and thanks to the GaBaRet album, also by Gábina Vermelho and her band GaRe—and by the songwriter Vláďa Čáp. Well, considering I wrote the first texts in the early seventies, it's not such a staggering number. This partly answers the fans of media gossip: Yes, I am indeed quite lazy.” The author adds: “What can be discerned from the book by the untrained eye? Well, primarily the fact that the sour, reminiscent, and slightly melancholic texts have prevailed over the sweet ones, which can be attributed to the quite natural decline of testosterone in favour of elderly grumpiness. Furthermore, the fact that I tried to follow Jiří Suchý's repeated advice to mix more fun into the poetry. Apparently, you, the readers, like it that way, which, by the way, I do too.”

In the afterword, lyricist Václav Kopta evaluates Velíšek's work as follows: “I first encountered it many years ago when, by chance, miracle, or mistake, I found myself on the jury of the 'Czechia Seeks a Song' competition (my astonishment stems from my bewilderment at being on a jury that, among others, included Jiří Suchý, Milan Lasica, and Jiří Dědeček). Honza's lyrics scored highly back then, both with the audience and the jury. And rightly so! It was immediately clear to me that, after a long time, I was hearing songs whose lyrics didn't reek of paper, weren't just filler meant to ease a singer's path to high notes and fees. NO – these lyrics had a head and a tail, they sparkled with playful Czech, they didn't lack humour, and they weren't afraid of strong slogans. They had the ingredients that a quality song cannot do without, and which a significant portion of our songwriting lacked and, unfortunately, still lacks today. In the flood of stupid and meaningless words that assails us from all sides, Velíšek's verses are an oasis of calm and certainty!”