From beyond a sandy island
With his spunky men at hand
Sail the dashing Cossack chieftain
Stenka Razin and his band.
Next to Stenka, in the front boat
Is a wonderful princEss.
And the happy chieftain's sitting
With his arm around her waist.
The princEss was once in Persia,
But was conquered just before,
And the wedding celebration
Is what she was conquered for.
Stenka's laughing, he is happy,
The princEss is scared and still,
Bends her head and hears him speaking
All about the love he feels.
From behind there comes a grumble:
“He forgot about his band.
Just one night - and Stenka Razin
Is a woman, not a man!”
Stenka hears this hurtful grumble,
Men, beware: there comes a storm!
Stenka hugs the girl with passion,
And his hug is really firm.
“I shall never be a traitor!
I shall never trade my sword!
I'll be free and brave and... brideless.
Yes, I shall, You have my word!
Volga, Volga, greatest river,
Mother-Volga, listen, please!
Never shall you see a present
So magnificent as this!
I shall prove that I am loyal!
This girl sows the seeds of strife.
May the band remain together,
Mother-Volga, take her life!”
Fast and sweeping as an eagle,
Stenka takes the poor princEss,
Throws the belle into the waters
For a long, eternal rest.
“Why are you, my band, so gloomy?
Drink and dance, your chieftain’s back!
Let us sing out loud a chantey,
No more women on the deck!..”
November 24, 2008