A bullet whistled by me,
Struck me in the chest -
On a dashing steed I escaped to steppe.
But brutal Commissar reached me with his sword -
I lost my control and fell off the horse.
[Chorus:]
Hey, hoy! My dashing sable steed!
Hey, my shot-gun from steel!
Hey, my friend heavy mist!
Hey, hoy! And cossack squadron chief!
And cossack squadron chief!
On a single leg I came back from war,
Tied horse to a fence, sat with wife to score.
An hour hasn't passed -
Commissar came by,
He untied the horse, and he took my wife.
[Chorus] x2
Crucifix from wall I put under shirt,
Set the hut ablaze, dug shot-gun from dirt.
Living under brutes1
Means to sell your cross!
Many folks like me sought avenging loss.
[Chorus]
1. here: under Soviet regime.