Russian Empire, after 1837

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One of the most famous folk songs of the Russian Cossacks, telling about the death of the lyrical hero of the song in the battle on the bank of the Black channel (in the Terek Cossack Host it happened on the bank of "formidable Terek"). This song in an amazing way combines major and minor motives, tragedy and a daring bravery, at its best conveying the special image of the Cossack soul. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of different versions of the text telling about different wars and eras - from battles with Nogais in the XVIII century to the times of the Civil War. However, the most reliable version suggests that the song was composed in memory of the battle of 1774 between the Cossacks and Crimean Tatars, where the best friend of the legendary ataman Platov, the hero of the Patriotic war of 1812, Cossack officer Pavel Kirsanov tragically died. The widow of Kirsanov, Marfa Dmitrijevna Martynova, subsequently married Platov, which completely echoes the lyrics. The very phrase “Lovely, brothers, lovely!” was first sounded in the published collection for soldier’s reading in 1837, which allows us to determine the approximate time of creation. In this video, this song is performed by singer Pelageja and the Kuban Cossack Choir. It is performed in the Russian literary language, but the author is aware of the availability of versions with text in Cossack dialect, they may be added later.

Portrayed by the image of a wounded 1812-era Cossack from Aleksandr Aver'janov's picture "The Friend".

LYRICS:

Тамъ, гдѣ Чёрный ​ерикъ​,
На широкій берегъ
Выгнали казаки
Сорокъ тысячъ лошадей,

Замутился ​ерикъ​,
И покрылся берегъ
Сотнями ​порубанныхъ​,
​Пострѣлянныхъ​ людей...

Любо, братцы, любо!
Любо, братцы, жить;
Съ нашимъ атаманомъ
Не приходится тужить...

Любо, братцы, любо!
Любо, братцы, жить;
Съ нашимъ атаманомъ
Не приходится тужить...

А первая пуля,
А первая пуля,
А первая пуля
Въ ногу ранила коня;

А вторая пуля,
А вторая пуля,
А вторая пуля
Въ ​сердце​ ранила меня!

Любо, братцы, любо!
Любо, братцы, жить;
Съ нашимъ атаманомъ
Не приходится тужить...

Любо, братцы, любо!
Любо, братцы, жить;
Съ нашимъ атаманомъ
Не приходится тужить...

А жена поплачетъ,
Выйдетъ за другого -
Моего товарища,
Забудетъ про меня.

Жалко только ​волюшку​,
Да широко полюшко.
Жалко мать-старушку
Да буланаго коня...

Любо, братцы, любо!
Любо, братцы, жить;
Съ нашимъ атаманомъ
Не приходится тужить...

Любо, братцы, любо!
Любо, братцы, жить;
Съ нашимъ атаманомъ
Не приходится тужить...

Кудри мои ​русыя​,
Очи мои ​свѣтлыя​
Травами, бурьяномъ
Да полынью зарастутъ.

Кости мои ​бѣлыя​,
​Сердце​ моё смѣлое
Коршуны да вороны
По степи разнесутъ.

Любо, братцы, любо!
Любо, братцы, жить;
Съ нашимъ атаманомъ
Любо голову сложить!

Любо, братцы, любо!
Любо, братцы, жить;
Съ нашимъ атаманомъ
Любо голову сложить!

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