Text & Translation
Skazhi, zachem ('Tell me, why?')
Russian source:
Sergei Golitsyn
ocham moim, mladaja Lila,
i vnov' znakomye mechty
dusha zasnuvshej probudila,
skazhi, zachem? Skazhi, zachem?
Nad strastiju mojej shutja,
zachem s uma menja ty svodish',
kogda zh ljubujus' na tebja,
ty vzor s kholodnost'ju otvodish',
skazhi, zachem? Skazhi, zachem?
Skazhi, zachem? Net, pogodi!
Khochu prodlit' ja zabluzhden'e;
udar zhestokij otvrati:
udvoish' ty mojo muchen'e,
skazav, zachem, skazav, zachem.
Tell me, why?
English translation ©
Philip Ross Bullock
Before my eyes, young Lila,
And once again awaken the familiar dreams
That slumbered in my soul,
Tell me, why? Tell me, why?
Mocking me for my passion,
Why do you disturb my reason?
Why, when I admire you,
Do you coldly turn your gaze away?
Tell me, why? Tell me, why?
Tell me, why? No, wait!
I want to prolong the delusion,
Stave off the cruel blow:
You will only double my torment,
If you tell me why, oh why.
Skazhi, zachem ('Tell me, why?')
Russian source:
Sergei Golitsyn
Tell me, why?
English source:
Philip Ross Bullock
Skazhi, zachem javilas' ty
Tell me, why did you appear
ocham moim, mladaja Lila,
Before my eyes, young Lila,
i vnov' znakomye mechty
And once again awaken the familiar dreams
dusha zasnuvshej probudila,
That slumbered in my soul,
skazhi, zachem? Skazhi, zachem?
Tell me, why? Tell me, why?
Nad strastiju mojej shutja,
Mocking me for my passion,
zachem s uma menja ty svodish',
Why do you disturb my reason?
kogda zh ljubujus' na tebja,
Why, when I admire you,
ty vzor s kholodnost'ju otvodish',
Do you coldly turn your gaze away?
skazhi, zachem? Skazhi, zachem?
Tell me, why? Tell me, why?
Skazhi, zachem? Net, pogodi!
Tell me, why? No, wait!
Khochu prodlit' ja zabluzhden'e;
I want to prolong the delusion,
udar zhestokij otvrati:
Stave off the cruel blow:
udvoish' ty mojo muchen'e,
You will only double my torment,
skazav, zachem, skazav, zachem.
If you tell me why, oh why.
Composer
Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka
Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka was the first Russian composer to gain wide recognition within his own country, and is often regarded as the fountainhead of Russian classical music.
