Text & Translation
Kolybel’naya, 'Lullaby'
Russian source:
Anon.
Tvoj otets v tsepjakh v Sibiri,
Derzhit tsar' ego v tjur'me.
Spi, lju-lju-lju-lju.
Kolybel' tvoju kachaja, mama slezy l'et.
Sam pojmesh' ty, podrastaja, chto ej serdtse zhzhet.
Tvoj otets v Sibiri dal'nej,
Ja nuzhdu terplju.
Spi pokuda bespechal'no,
A lju-lju, lju-lju, lju-lju, lju-lju, lju-lju, lju-lju.
Skorb' moja chernee nochi,
Spi, a ja ne splju.
Spi, khoroshij, spi, synochek,
Spi, lju-lju, lju-lju, lju-lju, lju-lju, lju-lju, lju-lju.
Lullaby
English translation ©
Philip Ross Bullock
Your father is in chains in Siberia,
Kept in prison by the tsar.
Sleep, lullay, lullay.
As she rocks your cradle, your mother sheds her tears.
When you grow up, you will understand what sears her
Your father is in far-off Siberia,
Whilst I endure poverty here.
But you should sleep without a care,
Lullay, lullay.
My grief is blacker than the night itself,
Sleep, my dear, whilst no sleep comes to me.
Sleep, my fine one, sleep, my lovely little son,
Spi, lullay, lullay.
Kolybel’naya, 'Lullaby'
Russian source:
Anon.
Lullaby
English source:
Philip Ross Bullock
Moj synok vsekh krashe v mire – ogonek vo t'me.
Bonnier than any is my little boy – a light in the darkness.
Tvoj otets v tsepjakh v Sibiri,
Your father is in chains in Siberia,
Derzhit tsar' ego v tjur'me.
Kept in prison by the tsar.
Spi, lju-lju-lju-lju.
Sleep, lullay, lullay.
Kolybel' tvoju kachaja, mama slezy l'et.
As she rocks your cradle, your mother sheds her tears.
Sam pojmesh' ty, podrastaja, chto ej serdtse zhzhet.
When you grow up, you will understand what sears her
Tvoj otets v Sibiri dal'nej,
Your father is in far-off Siberia,
Ja nuzhdu terplju.
Whilst I endure poverty here.
Spi pokuda bespechal'no,
But you should sleep without a care,
A lju-lju, lju-lju, lju-lju, lju-lju, lju-lju, lju-lju.
Lullay, lullay.
Skorb' moja chernee nochi,
My grief is blacker than the night itself,
Spi, a ja ne splju.
Sleep, my dear, whilst no sleep comes to me.
Spi, khoroshij, spi, synochek,
Sleep, my fine one, sleep, my lovely little son,
Spi, lju-lju, lju-lju, lju-lju, lju-lju, lju-lju, lju-lju.
Spi, lullay, lullay.
Composer
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich was a Russian composer and pianist. He achieved fame in the Soviet Union, although later developed a more complex and difficult relationship with the government. As a composer, he combined a variety of different musical…
