Незнайомий мій брат [Neznayomyy miy brat] [English translation]

The moon is wandering on the starry sky again,

And again I hear your quiet footsteps, half-asleep.

I don’t know you, I don’t know of you,

Or why you come from those far-away days?

I wanted to ask you so many things,

But maybe I won’t have enough words, as usual,

How long should we creep instead of flying?

And why do you come from those far-away days?

Refrain:

Forgive me — I was once born in my own country

Forgive me — I seemingly live at home, but like an emigrant.

Forgive me — for the forgotten songs and tear on the viburnum tree¹

Forgive me — my unknown brother.

We seemingly have everything, we don’t even need more,

We have the blue sky and the yellow rye-ears of the fields²,

But in reality we are just escaping ourselves,

You have reminded us about this from those far-away days.

Refrain.

And forever and ever...

For all the time and now...

Your blue eyes will watch us...

The crosses of birch and the ruined lang...

And the last words:

‘Glory to Ukraine!’

Refrain (2).