Владимирский централ [Vladimirskii Tsentral] [English translation]

Now spring has come again,

And through my window pane

Its warm and trustful rays caress my face.

And then my soul will ache,

And heart will bleed and break

When heartfelt memories take place.

My sinful memory

Comes flooding back to me,

And brings the girl I loved so long ago.

Her image will arrive,

And then will fade and die,

But never will escape my mind.

Vladmir Central Jail

northern winds are high

Transported under guard

lotsa vice goes by

The heart is heavy and deprived of grace

Vladmir Central Jail

northern winds are high

When I did stake my all

gambling with my life

It isn’t 21 that makes you lose

But 11 plus an ace.

My sinful memory

Comes flooding back to me,

And brings the girl I loved so long ago.

Her image will arrive,

And then will fade and die,

But never will escape my mind.

Refrain

There’s convicts all around.

A patch of thawing ground…

My spring, it is short-lived,

I know it’s true

But still I do rejoice

At this though small a choice

And that I need your love, I do.