Ëþáî, áðàòöû, ëþáî - english

Åâãåíèé Ðàòêîâ
LIFE IS A VERY GOOD THING

(Ïåðåñêàç êàçà÷üåé ïåñíè)




There was a battle,  river’s name was Terek,
Many horses, many Kazaks were lying on the grass,
Many of them - many - were then killed there,
For  to be alive they had à little chance.

Life is a very good thing, living is so nice –
It’s because our chieftain is good caring for us.

The first  bullet wounded, the first  bullet wounded,
The first  bullet wounded my strong faithful horse,
The second   bullet wounded, the second   bullet wounded,
The second   bullet wounded  my plucky heart – life's lost...

Life is a very good thing, living is so nice –
It’s because our chieftain is good caring for us.

My wife will be missing, my wife will be missing
But it won’t be long, yeah, she will find another man.
And she will be lying, holding him and  kissing,
When my soul  will be flying off to another land.

Life is a very good thing, living is so nice –
It’s because our chieftain is good caring for us.

Must I miss her? Oh, no… Must I miss her? Oh, no.
But I will be long missing for my  mother, yes I will.
And I will be missing for freedom,  that I loved so,
And for faithful horse that’s lonely standing on the hill.

Life is a very good thing, living is so nice –
It’s because our chieftain is good caring for us.

The chieftain will say: - Brothers, my sorrow: we should  leave him,
He is very bad,  the way will be very hard…
They will be having fun, but the worms  will be in me   
And  the wet-blood  ground will be over my heart.

Life is a very good thing, living is so nice –
It’s because our chieftain is good caring for us.