Солдатами не рождаются [Soldatami ne rozhdayutsa] [English translation]

There can’t be a holy place in emptiness1

They laid the excess corpse in a ditch

Wrapped the coffin stand with a red cloth

Muffled angry grief with a patriotic song

After all, you’re not born a soldier;

You die a soldier

There can’t be a holy place without enemies

Swinging the polished butt of the rifle desperately

Advancing straight ahead in an overcoat without bullet holes

Having muffled the grinding of teeth with a patriotic march

After all, you’re not born a soldier;

You die a soldier

There can’t be a holy place in cleanness

They flooded the coast with a stern wind

Nourished the black earth with remains [of soldiers]

Having short circuited drunken nostrils with tobacco

After all, you’re not born a soldier;

You die a soldier

There can’t be a holy place without sin

Snack on girls’ horrified screams — what a blessing!

Take a sip of beer with honey and vomit for a while

Having wiped the flooding tears with a red flag

After all, you’re not born a soldier;

You die a soldier.

1. This is a Russian proverb. It means that whenever there is a desirable position everyone wants to have, someone will always have that position.