Today in our complex brigade
There was a word about the ball-masquarade.
We were given out the masks of rabbits,
elephants and alcoholics
And were told to come to a zoological garden.

"Why should I walk in front as though in a parade?
Tell me please, my darling wife, for God’s sake."
She tells me: "Put on your clothes,
I am ashamed to see you,
Otherwise you’ll walk last as usual."

"I got my dress," she says, "from Nadya,
Soon I will be just like Marina Vlady.
And I’ll have some
wonderful time at a party,
Though with your tipsy face, but in nice attire."

Then why the hell did I iron my shirt?
I was caught in the zoological garden -
Because my pal Kolka
gave me a mask of an alcoholic,
And some drunks asked me to share the bottle with them.

Again I found myself in the zoological garden.
I was amazed to see two of my wives, two Marina Valdys.
Dressed like animals,
accompanied by two hippos,
I also turned into a beast, and began fighting.

In the morning I was rewarded in the brigade,
They said that during the ball-masquarade,
I, not only played the role
of an alcoholic for them,
But I was in a cage with a hippopotamus.