Przybora Jeremi, *12 December 1915 Warsaw, †4 March 2004 Warsaw, Polish satirist, lyricist, author of songs and stage programmes, and cabaret performer. After winning a 1937 competition for a radio announcer position, he worked at Polish Radio in Warsaw until 1939, then in Bydgoszcz from 1945 to 1947, and again at the Warsaw station from 1948 to 1964. In 1948 he began his collaboration with J. Wasowski, which lasted until 1984 (until Wasowski’s death). Initially they co-created the radio programme Teatrzyk Eterek (1948–58) and a series of broadcasts entitled My z przyjacielem and Listy z podróży. From 1958 they began working for television, creating Kabaret Starszych Panów (1958–70), a series of programmes in the Divertimento cycle (1966–70), Dobranocki by J. Przybora with music by J. Wasowski (1974–76), and Kabaret Jeszcze Starszych Panów (1978–80). Many songs with music by Wasowski and lyrics by Przybora became widely popular, and some titles entered everyday language (e.g. Piosenka jest dobra na wszystko [Song is the best remedy], Wesołe jest życie staruszka [The joyful life of an old man], W czasie deszczu dzieci się nudzą [Children get bored when it rains]).
The distinctive discreet humour, elegance of language and behaviour, as well as the light mood and gentle irony of Przybora’s texts written for Kabaret Starszych Panów, especially his masterful use of poetic rhyme suited to stage situations, secured his songs a unique place in Polish popular music and cabaret tradition. In addition to his joint programmes with Wasowski, Przybora also presented his own television programmes (e.g. Opowieści Starszego Pana), wrote musical theatre librettos (Ścigana with music by A. Sławiński, 1970; Piotruś Pan with music by J. Stokłosa, 2000), and stage plays (Jedzcie stokrotki, 1966). He published collections of satirical writings and song lyrics, including Autoportret z piosenką (Warsaw 1992), Kabaret Starszych Panów I (Warsaw 1995), and Piosenki prawie wszystkie (Warsaw 2001). He also wrote song lyrics for many leading Polish performers (including I. Santor, H. Banaszak, E. Bem, B. Łazuka, B. Mec, W. Michnikowski). Among his best-known songs are Embarras (First Prize at the International Song Festival in Sopot 1961), Nie pamiętam (First Prize in Sopot 1963), Mambo Spinoza, Kaziu, zakochaj się, Mały biały pies, Na ryby, Piosenka jest dobra na wszystko, Wesołe jest życie staruszka, SOS, Ja dla pana czasu nie mam, and Addio pomidory. Przybora was the recipient of numerous stage and television awards (including the Grand Prix of the Opole Song Festival 1989 and the Super Victor 1993). He also published memoirs: Przymknięte oko opaczności. Memuarów część I (Warsaw 1994), Przymknięte oko opaczności. Memuarów część II (Warsaw 1998), Zdążyć z happy endem. Memuarów część III (Warsaw 1998), and Listy na wyczerpanym papierze (Warsaw 2022).
His collected works were published in volumes including Wdowa po kwartecie smyczkowym (Gdańsk 2000), Piosenki prawie wszystkie (Warsaw 2004), Dzieła (niemal) wszystkie (Kraków 2015–2016), Wraz, czyli bez. Opowiadania i listy z krainy nonsensu (Kraków 2022), and Disney małoletnim i stuletnim (Ożarów Mazowiecki 2022). In 2000, Polish Radio released a five-disc album Piosenki Kabaretu Starszych Panów.
