That’s how it is,
as though in bygone days, bygone days -
If you walked
without the consent, the consent,

If you stole -
that meant jail, that meant jail,
And if you knew too much -
firing squad, firing squad.

And I thought that I would never see
labor camps, labor camps
But I found myself in a dusty, desolate town
without people, without people.

Here walk crowds of people, wander around -
indifferent and blind
I glanced at people’s dark, gloomy faces -
all not known to me.

But that’s how it is,
as though in bygone days, bygone days -
If you walked
without the consent, the consent,

If you stole -
that meant jail, that meant jail,
And if you knew too much -
firing squad, firing squad.

Then why did I curse my bitter destiny?
Looks like in vain, in vain.
Why did I strive to break free
in labor camps, labor camps?

Here walk crowds of people, wander around -
indifferent and blind.
I glanced at people’s dark, gloomy faces -
all not known to me.