Russian songs in the program «Soul of Russia»

«I think that you are doing a very good thing by trying to preserve the people’s old, charming songs.» 
(From a letter from Leo Tolstoy to Vasily Andreev)

The program of the Andreevsky Orchestra «Soul of Russia» will feature arrangements of Russian songs performed by the balalaika soloists of our group. The Andreev balalaika and the works written for it have preserved the melodies of Russian songs, and numerous song collections have preserved their poetic wealth.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the words of the songs performed.

Play, my bagpipes

Play, my bagpipes, 
Get lost, my club!
Pleasure, pleasure to my daughter, 
Play, my bagpipes.

Get lost, my club, 
Play, my bagpipes!
Pleasure, pleasure to my daughter, 
Get lost, my club.

The father-in-law poked his head in from the stove, 
He fell behind the deck.
Pleasure, pleasure to my daughter, 
He fell behind the deck.

He fell behind the deck, 
Choked on ham.
Pleasure, pleasure to my daughter, 
Choked on ham.

If I had known, I would have announced it, 
I would have raised the scaffold higher.
Pleasure, pleasure to my daughter, 
I would have raised the scaffold higher.

I would have built a higher scaffold, 
I’d broke my father-in-law's head.
Pleasure, pleasure to my daughter, 
I’d broke my father-in-law's head.

There was a carriage parked near the church.

There was a carriage standing near the church, 
There was a lavish wedding there, 
All the guests are dressed up, 
The bride was the most beautiful of all.

She was wearing a white dress, 
The wreath with roses was pinned,
She was looking at the holy crucifix Through a rainbow of tears.

The wedding candles were burning, 
The bride stood pale, 
She didn't want to say 
The oath speech to the priest.

When the priest put a gold ring on her finger, 
The bitter tears flew from her eyes. 
They flowed like a stream onto her face.

I heard people in the crowd say: 
- The groom is so unsightly.
They ruined the girl in vain! 
– And I followed the crowd.

It was in the village Olkhovka

It was in the village, in Olkhovka,
It was in the village, in Olkhovka.

Chorus:
Oh, bast shoes, you, bast shoes, you, my bast shoes, 
Bast shoes, bast shoes, my bast shoes, Bast shoes, you walk, you walk.

Father will tear the bast, 
He will weave new bast shoes.
There lived a guy named Andriashka, Andriashka fell in love with Parashka.

Chorus.

He brought her expensive gifts, 
He brought her gingerbread and bagels.

Chorus.

His dad told him not to get married, 
told him not to do it, 
told him not to do it, told him not not to do it.
How our Andriashka cried here, 
And Parashka started crying after him,

Chorus:

Oh, bast shoes, you, bast shoes, you, my bast shoes, 
Bast shoes, bast shoes, my bast shoes, 
Bast shoes, you walk, you walk.

Father will tear the bast, 
He will weave new bast shoes.

They blame me for the people

Since the 18th century, many versions of words, original texts, as well as instrumental variations and arrangements have been recorded to the melody of this song.

There is no single, more beloved version of the text.
Here are words from a 19th century handwritten collection.
They blame me for the people, 
I am told not to love, 
Nature was free to bring me into this world!

You can't be angry about that, 
That I feel love, 
I wish I had never been born 
And not to cause bloodshed.

But, already being in the world, 
you can't not be, 
If you see that something worthy of love
is in the object.

I became passionate about Juno, 
But how can I help it? 
And what to take for defense, 
Can this flame be overcome?

I see inequality myself 
Burn with this flame, 
But I feel bliss, 
I will die like this.

At least reason says: 
«Don't ruin yourself!»
And the heart confirms: 
«Please - love!»

Dark Cherry Shawl

I don't dream about the past anymore,
And I'm not sorry for the past anymore.
Just lots and lots of recall
That dark cherry shawl.

In this shawl I met him,
And he called me his favorite.
I covered my face ...
And he kissed me tenderly.

Said to me, "goodbye, dear,
I am sorry to part with you.
As to face you, hear, native,
That dark cherry shawl!"

I don't dream about the past anymore,
Only the heart has overshadowed the sadness.
And I silently pressed to his chest
That dark cherry shawl.

(words and music by Vladimir Bakaleinikov)

Soul Maiden Ring

Soul Maiden Ring 
I dropped it into the sea; 
With my ring I have ruined 
my earthly happiness.

She gave it to me and said: 
«Wear it! 
Don't forget!
While the ring is yours, I am yours!

At and unfortunate time 
I started rinsing my net in the sea. 
The ring dived into the water; 
I was looking... but where to find it!..

Since then we have been like strangers 
I come to her - she doesn’t look!
Since then my joy lies at the bottom of the sea!

O midnight wind, 
Wake up! Be my friend!
Grab the ring from the bottom 
And roll it out into the meadow.

Yesterday she felt sorry: 
She found me in tears!
And something, as it happened before, 
There was a sparkle in her eyes!

She sat down next to me with affection, 
She gave me her hand, 
And she wanted to say something, 
but she couldn’t!

Then why is your affection to me!
Then why is your greeting!
Love, love I want... I don't have any love!

If you want - look for 
Rich ambers in the sea... 
And I want my ring 
With my hope.

(words by Vasily Zhukovsky)

There are a lot of mosquitoes in the forest

There were a lot of mosquitoes in the forest; 
I, fair maiden, was very surprised by this, 
was surprised that so many mosquitoes were born.

I, a fair maiden, cannot walk in the forest, 
In the forest, take a walk in the forest, pick flowers.

You still need to go to the green meadow, 
And there you need to see your dear friend.

From the evening, from midnight, a young man came, 
A young man of small stature came to me.

I had just fallen asleep around midnight, 
and he was calling me: 
«Get up, maiden, get up, fair one, you get up, wake up,
Have fun with me on my first visit!

I have come to you for the first time, open the doors for me; 
If you don’t open the door, my joy, at least open the window!»

I, a maiden, rejoiced and rushed to the window, 
opened the window and let the young man in, 
celebrated and entertained with various drinks, 
I ordered him not to brag to his friends.