Songs

Ja pokinul rodimyj dom,
I have bid farewell to my native home,
Golubuju ostavil Rus'.
I have left the blue skies of Russia far behind.
V tri zvezdy bereznjak nad prudom
The three stars of the birch grove by the pond
Teplit materi staroj grust'.
Warm my old mother’s grief.

Zolotoju ljagushkoj luna
Like a golden frog, the moon
Rasplastalas' na tikhoj vode.
Spreads itself out on the silent water.
Slovno jablonnyj cvet, sedina
Like apple blossom, flecks of grey
U ottsa prolilas' v borode.
Spill into my father’s beard.

Ja ne skoro, ne skoro vernus'!
I will not return soon!
Dolgo pet' i zvenet' purge.
Long will the storm sing and ring.
Sterezhjot golubuju Rus'
The old maple will watch over pale blue Russia,
Staryj kljon na odnoj noge.
The maple with its one leg.

I ja znaju, yest' radost' v njom
And I know that the maple brings joy
Tem, kto list'ev tseluet dozhd',
To those who kiss the rain of its leaves,
Ottogo, chto tot staryj kljon
Because the head of that old maple
Golovoj na menja pokhozh.
Resembles my own.