Как хорошо быть генералом [kak khorosho byt' generalom] [English translation]

Everyone dreams of their own,

But a "wakeup" is announced

When the barracks are still sleeping.

The corporal commands "Forward!",

But himself, of course, lags behind

Both in war and without it.

We know prayers by heart,

But we believe more in a cauldron

With gurgling cereal!

The girls keep their eyes on us,

Today on us, and tomorrow - on you,

Love is blind!

It's so good to be a general,

It's so good to be a general!

I won’t name you,

Signiors, a better work!

I'll definitely be a general,

I'll definitely become a general,

If only I'll outlive corporal!

On Saturday, in formation and with drumming,

We are taken to a bowling.

And the corporal goes ahead.

But anyway, but anyway,

The window has been opened wide for a reason

And a smile is waiting for us there.

We know for sure all the brides -

Both in the garrison and in the vicinity,

As well as young ladies and widows!

But personally, for rendezvous,

I’m looking for a merry widow

Of seventeen years old!

It's so good to be a general,

It's so good to be a general!

I won’t name you,

Signiors, a better work!

I'll definitely be a general,

I'll definitely become a general

If only I'll outlive corporal!

Infantry tramples the dust,

Corporal yells "Chop-pierce!"

But we want to chop the bacon.1

Corporal, darling, don't yell,

Better let me go to Mary,

While the girl is still waiting for me.

But, however, damn you,

Don’t let me go to Mary

And after eighty years,

Corporal, for a long service,

Pants with stripes will be sewn for you -

Or maybe not!

It's so good to be a general,

It's so good to be a general!

I won’t name you,

Signiors, a better work!

I'll definitely be a general,

I'll definitely become a general

If only I'll outlive corporal!

I'll definitely be a general,

I'll definitely become a general

If only I'll outlive corporal!

1. the original says "chop the compote", which in Russian means "drink compote (fruit drink)", so I replaced the compote with bacon, to save the pun in English.