I have a guitar now - spread apart the walls!
My ill luck that prison is ever round me ringed.
Cut my throat for me, my veins, cut them all -
Only don’t, I beg you, break the silver strings!

I will sink into the earth, I will stop my heart...
Who’ll have mercy on my youth, and compassion bring?
They crawl into my soul, tearing it apart -
Only do not also break the silver strings!

They took my guitar away, and my liberty
Though I fought and raged at them, at the bastard things.
Trample me into the dust, throw me in the sea,
Only don’t, I beg you, break the silver strings.

How can this be true? Shall I never see
Sunlit days to work in, moonless nights to sing?
They have killed my soul, they won’t set me free -
And now they went and broke the silver strings.