Songs

Kabï znala ya, kabï vedala,
If only I’d known better, if I’d been sure,
Ne smotrela bï iz okoshechka
I wouldn’t have looked out my little window
Ya na molodtsa razudalovo,
At the brazen young man,
Kak on ekhal po nashey ulitse.
As he rode along our street.
Nabekren zalomivshi murmolku,
His murmolka tilted to the side
Kak likhovo konya bulanovo,
On his dashing dun steed,
Zvonko nogovo, dolgo grivovo
Hooves ringing, long mane [waving],
Suprotiv okon na dïbï vzdïmal!
And right in front of my windows, his horse reared up!

Kabï znala ya, kabï vedala,
If only I’d known better, if I’d been sure,
Dlya nevo bï ya ne ryadilasa,
For him, I wouldn’t have dressed up,
S zolotoy kaymoy lentu aluyu
Wouldn’t have woven a gold-bordered scarlet ribbon
V kosu dlinnuyu ne v pletala bï,
Into my long braid,
Rano do svetu ne vstavala bï,
Wouldn’t have risen so early, before first light,
Za okolitsu ne speshila bï,
Wouldn’t have rushed to the edge of town,
V rose nozhenki ne mochila bï,
Wouldn’t have gotten my feet soaked with dew,
Na prosyolok tot ne glyadela bï,
Wouldn’t have watched the road, to see
Ne proyedet li tem prosyolkom on,
Whether he would ride back this way
Na ruke derzha pyostra sokola?
With a speckled falcon on his arm?
Kabï znala ya, kabï vedala!

Kabï znala ya, kabï vedala,
If only I’d known better, if I’d been sure,
Ne sidela bï pozdnim vecherom,
I wouldn’t have sat up all evening,
Prigoryu nivshis na zavaline,
Sitting sadly on the little knoll nearby,
Na zavaline, bliz kolodezya,
On the knoll, near the well,
Podzhidayuchi, da gadayuchi,
Watching, wondering:
Ne pridyot li on, nenaglyadnïy moy!
Won’t he come by, my beloved,
Napoit konya studenoy vodoy!
To water his steed at the well?!
Kabï znala ya, kabï vedala!