In case some of you do not understand Russian, here is the English version of "Stenka Razin", the song I put up earlier today. Here is the Russian version : [ Ссылка ]

Stepan (Sten'ka) Timofeyevich Razin was a Cossack leader who began as a bandit but later fought for the poor against the wealthy lords under the rule of the Tsar in South Russia. In 1670 he led a rebellion against the government, capturing Astrakhan and establishing a Cossack republic along the Volga River, before advancing towards Moscow. In 1671 he was captured and taken to Moscow, where he was tortured and quartered alive in the Red Square. Prince Ivan Miloslavsky restored full government control in November, 1671.

Dmitri Sadovnikov wrote the lyrics of this popular Russian song about Stenka Razin in 1883. It is also known as "Ponizovaya Volnitsa" and "Volga, Volga Mat' Rodnaya. He used a traditional Russian tune, which was later adapted by Tom Springfield for his song "The Carnival is Over", a big hit for The Seekers in 1965.

One of the very first Russian films was based on this song, Vladimir Romashkov's 1908 10 minute movie, "Stenka Razin."

Lyrics and chords:
............... G ............ C ....... D7
From beyond the wooded island,
........... Am .. D7 .......... G
To the river wide and free ,
.. G7 ...... C ............ D7 ....... G
Proudly sailed the arrow-breasted
................ Em ......... D ....... G
Ships of Cossack yeomanry.

On the first is Stenka Razin
With his princess by his side
Drunken holds in marriage revels
With his beauteous young bride.

From behind there comes a murmur
"He has left his sword to woo;
One short night and Stenka Razin
Has become a woman, too."

Stenka Razin hears the murmur
Of his discontented band
And his lovely Persian princess
He has circled with his hand.

His dark brows are drawn together
As the waves of anger rise;
And the blood comes rushing swiftly
To his piercing jet black eyes.

"I will give you all you ask for
Head and heart and life and hand."
And his voice rolls out like thunder
Out across the distant land.

Volga, Volga, Mother Volga
Wide and deep beneath the sun,
You have never such a present
From the Cossacks of the Don.

So that peace may reign forever
In this band so free and brave
Volga, Volga, Mother Volga
Make this lovely girl a grave.

Now, with one swift mighty motion
He has raised his bride on high
And has cast her where the waters
Of the Volga roll and sigh.

Now a silence like the grave
Sinks to all who stand and see
And the battle-hardened Cossacks
Sink to weep on bended knee.

"Dance, you fools, and let's be merry
What is this that's in your eyes?
Let us thunder out a chantey
To the place where beauty lies."

From beyond the wooded island
To the river wide and free
Proudly sailed the arrow-breasted
Ships of Cossack yeomanry.


You can see a playlist of my European songs here: [ Ссылка ]

Lyrics and chords of many of my songs are no longer available, as my website has expired. I am currently posting lyrics to the information panels on all my videos and those that are too long to post in full will be found on my new website: [ Ссылка ]

свернуть