Karel Kryl (1944–1994) was a Czechoslovak poet and singer-songwriter renowned for his protest songs that powerfully denounced the hypocrisy and cruelty of both Communist and post-Communist governments in his homeland. His music is marked by poetic and intricately rhymed lyrics, rich in metaphors and historical references, accompanied simply by acoustic guitar, drawing frequent comparisons to early Bob Dylan. After two decades in exile, Kryl welcomed the end of communism but soon became a sharp critic of the new regime and the breakup of Czechoslovakia, remaining a fiercely independent voice until his death.