Бурлак [Burlak] [English translation]

Well, the lonely burlak walks up the Volga river,

Walks the twine of celestial plains,

His master is shaking his fist over him in the sky,

But he founds it funny, since there's cocaine in his fist.

Well, the Golden Horde is down the Volga stream,

And the maidens look from the bank upstream.

Oh, you water of life, you treacherous concoction.

Release my blood, you snow of blue.

Well, the winter was making peace within us with iron and ice,

Made it and then turned into spring.

Imagine what will happen with us when the snow starts melting,

And imagine what'll be with me when the ice drifts.

Well, either flood on the Volga or the flood of the universe,

Or just the master himself covering the tracks,

I don't even care, I'm almost ready to sing,

To sing to you from under the dark water.

Well, the bells are ringing from under the dark water,

And a blinding siskin comes from under the ancient wall.

Let me loose of my sins with your first flap of the wing,

Let me loose of my sins, why aren't you saying a word?

Burn, you Seraphim, with your wings of gold,

Burn me a guiding star without any shame.

I couldn't care less, since I've lost the grip of the bit,

And I've got no other way aside from the one with you...

So there goes our life, Pal today, Secam tomorrow,

Fields go to hell the one day, Saviour's in our heads the next,

I exited to went to the beginning of time,

But drank a bit and fell, that's the whole story.

Well, the crows are silent, and the maidens are loud

Like a she-wolf from the town of Tambov** or like a bright sister.

A salvatory lent one day, a salvatory poison the other day,

But listen, it's me knocking, open up!

So you may count us both as angels or beasts,

But just don't keep silent, I can't live without fire,

And wherever I'll go, I still knock about the doors,

So, my Lord the Saviour, have mercy on me.