Vladimir Vysotsky - Unfinished Flight: Selected Songs of Vladimir Vysotsky

Unfinished Flight: Selected Songs of Vladimir Vysotsky Translated by Andrey Kneller
Copyrigh t Kneller, Boston, 2010 All rights reserved

"... And what was there? There was a poet, there was a voice, there was a guitar, there was a sad time..." -Bulat Okudjava
Table of Contents *** , , , , , , ", - , - ". : " !" , , , - , , , . , , . . . ? : "?" - " ". ", , !" : " , , ". . ! , , . , , , , , , . , , . 1962 *** The spring is just beginning,
We havent started singing,
My souls already jumping from my chest,
And then they came to pester
With escorts, with escorts,
And told me, hurry up, get dressed!
Oh how I begged the sergeant to re-think:
Dont take me away from the spring!
Till May with no progression,
They asked for my confession,
But I was stubborn! Forty days theyve tried.
When I expected least,
My Katharine was seized
And the detective gained more rights than I.
I understood that I began to sink.
Just through the window, let me see the spring!
And once again its starting,
In train cars were departing
And rail junctions measure whats ahead.
And in the light of day,
Maples and birches sway,
And all of them are begging Dont forget!
The lads were waving, standing on the brink.
Why do they steal me away from the spring?
In asking Kathy I was very prudent:
Lets leave now? We shouldnt.
Ive had it up to here! this isnt right! And so replied my Kathy:
Youve had it, youve had it.
We ran away through tundra in the night.
How warm was her embrace, oh just to think!
So this is what youre like, my lovely spring!
And only two days passed,
Those bitches sensed our tracks,
Like dogs, they sensed the path weve trod,
Those bitches had no right,
Our legs and arms were tied,
Like carrion they dragged us through the mud.
No longer will I ever dream a thing,
Ive lost all ties to my beloved spring! 1962 *** , , - ,- , - ,- . : " , , !" , ,- . ,- . , ,- , . 1962 *** Im working, with my knife in hand -
Dont vex me now, you understand,
And later Ill be going to the bar, -
Let people think that Im insane,
But I obtain I drink my gain, -
And I will do it as Ive done so far.
A man walks up to me, enraged,
And he declares, In this tough age,
I want to execute all crooks like you!
And in response I caught this chap, -
I didnt reason, I just stabbed, -
And Ill continue to do just as I do.
You want to tell me what you think -
Come sit with me and we will drink, -
And every problem well discuss and fix.
But if you come with his intent, -
One rule applies to every man,
And it will always stay just as it is.
1962 , , , , , , , , , , , , . , , - , , - , . , : - ! : - , . , , , , , - , - , - . , , . , : - , . , ! , ! ? , . , , , . - , : - ! : - ! . - . , , . , : - , ! : - , ! . . , , . , , , , , , , . , , , , , , , ! 1962 He, whos been with her before That nig ht I didnt drink, I didnt sing,
I stared at her and didnt blink,
As though a child, as though a child,
But he, whos been with her before,
He told me, I should simply go,
He told me, I should simply go,
Id face denial.
And he, whos been with her before,
Was rude to me, he yelled and swore, -
Yes, I remember - I wasnt drunk then.
But as I tried to walk away,
She told me: - Whats the hurry, stay! -
She told me: - Whats the hurry, stay,
It isnt late yet.
But he, whos been with her before,
Remembered and did not let go,
Then in the fall, then in the fall -
Im with my friend, they blocked our lane.
They stood together in a chain,
They stood together in a chain,
Eight men in all.
Ive got my knife and I decide:
I wont go down without a fight.
Watch out, you fools! Watch out, you fools!
Why should I wait to be submersed?
And so I chose to strike them first,
And so I chose to strike them first,
Those were the rules. , , , , , , , ! 1962 He, whos been with her before That nig ht I didnt drink, I didnt sing,
I stared at her and didnt blink,
As though a child, as though a child,
But he, whos been with her before,
He told me, I should simply go,
He told me, I should simply go,
Id face denial.
And he, whos been with her before,
Was rude to me, he yelled and swore, -
Yes, I remember - I wasnt drunk then.
But as I tried to walk away,
She told me: - Whats the hurry, stay! -
She told me: - Whats the hurry, stay,
It isnt late yet.
But he, whos been with her before,
Remembered and did not let go,
Then in the fall, then in the fall -
Im with my friend, they blocked our lane.
They stood together in a chain,
They stood together in a chain,
Eight men in all.
Ive got my knife and I decide:
I wont go down without a fight.
Watch out, you fools! Watch out, you fools!
Why should I wait to be submersed?
And so I chose to strike them first,
And so I chose to strike them first,
Those were the rules.

But he, whos been with her before
Would not let up, he wanted more,
To set me straight, to set me straight.
And from behind someone attacked
Val tried to help me: - Watch your back! -
Val tried to help me: - Watch your back! -
But far too late.
For all eight sins - one resolution.
A prison clinic - my conclusion,
I lied there flat, I lied there flat.
The surgeon cut across and down
He told me: - Bro, just hang around! -
He told me: - Bro, just hang around! -
And I did that.
And all alone, I served my term,
She did not wait for my return,
But I forgive her, yes, I forgive her.
I dont hold grudges anymore,
But him, whos been with her before,
But him, whos been with her before,
I wont be leaving.
Though she dont owe me anymore,
With him, whos been with her before,
With him, whos been with her before,
I will get even! 1962 - ! - ! , - ! , - ! , - ! , - , - , : ", ! , - !" , ! , , , ?! , , - ... 1963 Silver strings As I carry my guitar walls before me separate!
I can see no freedom that evil fortune brings!
You can cut my throat, you can slash my veins, irate, -
But be careful not to rip my cherished silver strings!
I'll dig myself into the dirt and disappear, perhaps, -
Would you shield a tortured youth underneath your wings!
They have climbed into my soul and tore it into scraps,
I only hope they do not rip my cherished silver strings.
They took my freedom my guitar, my life is out of order, -
I had to watch these scumbags ravage through my things!
"Kick me straight into the mud, throw me in the water -
But, I beg you, do not rip my cherished silver strings!"
What has happened, brothers? Am I never destined
To observe the sun again or how the twilight sinks?!
They took away my freedom, left my soul in festers, -
And now they have completely ripped my cherished silver strings... 1963 *** ,
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? 1963 *** Now my bride will clearly weep for me sincerely And my friends will settle all my debts at last, Others men will gather to sing my songs completely, And, perhaps, my enemies may even raise a glass. Theyll no longer grant me here books that I desire, One of my guitar strings has become undone. Here I cant get lower and I cant get higher, I cant have the moon and I cant have the sun. I do not have freedom stripped of rights outright, To the door or to the wall - no matter how I rage, Here I cant turn left and I cant turn right, I can only have my dreams and the skyline's edge.

Dreams of how Ill leave from my prison hastily, With my old guitar in hand, Ill walk out free. Who will come to greet me, who will then embrace me, And what wondrous songs will they sing to me? 1963 , , - , . , - . - . , , , . , ?.. 1964 Brotherly graves No crosses are placed on the brotherly graves

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