Uploaded January 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Often considered the greatest of the Soviet and Russian bards, Vladimir Vysotsky (Владимир Высоцкий, 1938 – 1980) was an actor, poet, and singer-songwriter whose work was distributed via bootlegs in the USSR. Often brushing against the law, Vladimir Vysotsky’s bard songs (бардовская песня) ranged from war tales, extended dialogues, fables, outlaw songs (блатная песня), literary experiments, rap-like song structures, and more.
Watch our translated playlist of the best Soviet bard music: youtube.com/watch?v=YqmUe_MeXGU
Read Alex Sheremet's in-depth examination of Soviet bard music: automachination.com/russian-bard-soviet-poet-century-tradition
If you found this video useful, support us on our Patreon page and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachination
Subscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: spoti.fi/3xw2M4D
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEV
Google Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJ
Amazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxB
Podbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUo
iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942L
Read more from the automachination universe: automachination.com
Read Alex Sheremet's (archived) essays: alexsheremet.com
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Tags: #russianmusic, #songlyrics, #russian
Russian & English lyrics:
Корабли постоят и ложатся на курс,
Но они возвращаются сквозь непогоду…
Не пройдёт и полгода — и я появлюсь,
Чтобы снова уйти,
чтобы снова уйти на полгода.
Возвращаются все, кроме лучших друзей,
Кроме самых любимых и преданных женщин.
Возвращаются все, — кроме тех, кто нужней.
Я не верю судьбе,
я не верю судьбе, а себе — ещё меньше.
И мне хочется верить, что это не так,
Что сжигать корабли скоро выйдет из моды.
Я, конечно, вернусь — весь в друзьях и в мечтах,
Я, конечно, спою — не пройдёт и полгода.
Ships will wait then begin their course,
But they return through bad weather.
Not even a half-year will pass and I will appear,
To leave once again,
To leave once again for a half-year.
Everyone returns, except for best friends,
Except your favorite and most loyal women.
Everyone returns, except those who are needed,
I don't believe in fate, I don't believe in fate,
And in myself, even less so.
But I want to believe that it's not like this,
That to burn ships will soon go out of fashion,
I of course will return,
Covered in friends and in affairs,
I of course will sing, I of course will sing,
Not even a half-year shall pass.
Often considered the greatest of the Soviet and Russian bards, Vladimir Vysotsky (Владимир Высоцкий, 1938 – 1980) was an actor, poet, and singer-songwriter whose work was distributed via bootlegs in the USSR. Often brushing against the law, Vladimir Vysotsky’s bard songs (бардовская песня) ranged from war tales, extended dialogues, fables, outlaw songs (блатная песня), literary experiments, rap-like song structures, and more.
Watch our translated playlist of the best Soviet bard music: youtube.com/watch?v=YqmUe_MeXGU
Read Alex Sheremet's in-depth examination of Soviet bard music: automachination.com/russian-bard-soviet-poet-century-tradition
If you found this video useful, support us on our Patreon page and get patron-only content: patreon.com/automachination
Subscribe to the ArtiFact podcast on Spotify: spoti.fi/3xw2M4D
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3wLpqEV
Google Podcasts: bit.ly/3dSQXxJ
Amazon Music: amzn.to/2SVJIxB
Podbean: bit.ly/3yzLuUo
iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3AK942L
Read more from the automachination universe: automachination.com
Read Alex Sheremet's (archived) essays: alexsheremet.com
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/automachination
Tags: #russianmusic, #songlyrics, #russian
Russian & English lyrics:
Корабли постоят и ложатся на курс,
Но они возвращаются сквозь непогоду…
Не пройдёт и полгода — и я появлюсь,
Чтобы снова уйти,
чтобы снова уйти на полгода.
Возвращаются все, кроме лучших друзей,
Кроме самых любимых и преданных женщин.
Возвращаются все, — кроме тех, кто нужней.
Я не верю судьбе,
я не верю судьбе, а себе — ещё меньше.
И мне хочется верить, что это не так,
Что сжигать корабли скоро выйдет из моды.
Я, конечно, вернусь — весь в друзьях и в мечтах,
Я, конечно, спою — не пройдёт и полгода.
Ships will wait then begin their course,
But they return through bad weather.
Not even a half-year will pass and I will appear,
To leave once again,
To leave once again for a half-year.
Everyone returns, except for best friends,
Except your favorite and most loyal women.
Everyone returns, except those who are needed,
I don't believe in fate, I don't believe in fate,
And in myself, even less so.
But I want to believe that it's not like this,
That to burn ships will soon go out of fashion,
I of course will return,
Covered in friends and in affairs,
I of course will sing, I of course will sing,
Not even a half-year shall pass.
