On the wild steppes of Transbaikalia,
where gold is dug in the mountains,
a tramp, cursing his fate,
trudges with a bag on his shoulders.
He escaped from prison one dark night,
for telling the truth, he suffered a long time.
He hasn't more strength to run away,
In front of him lies the Lake Baikal.
The tramp comes to the Baikal
and takes a fishing boat,
and there he sings a song,
a sad song about his homeland.
The tramp crosses Lake Baikal
to meet his darling mother.
- O dear mother, let me embrace you,
are they well my father and my brother?
- Your father has long been in the tomb;
he lies in the damp earth.
And your brother, far away in Siberia
is sentenced to jail, wearing chains.
On the wild steppes of Transbaikalia,
where gold is dug in the mountains,
a tramp, cursing his fate,
trudges with a bag on his shoulders.