That eve I touched no food nor booze, I followed her with eyes amused, With eyes like children’s, with eyes like children’s. But he, who was with her before, Have told me I should go back home, Have told me I should go back home, And should stop dreaming. And he, who was with her before, Was rude and hostile all along; I do remember, I was still sober. And when I thought it’s time to leave, She said to me: "Don’t be so swift," She said to me: "Don’t be so swift, It’s still too early." But he, who was with her before, Apparently forgot me not, And once in autumn, and once in autumn, I walked alone and here they stood. Their line was standing tall and mute, Their line was standing tall and mute, And eight they totaled. I had a knife and loved my life, Of which they tried me to deprive. "Get ready, bastards! Let’s start the fighting!" Why should I give them a free ride? And so I was the first to strike, And so I was the first to strike, That was the right thing. Bu he, who was with her before, Was serious about his chores, And they move closer, and they move closer. Then on my back I felt their grips, And someone shouted: "Watch your six!" And someone shouted: "Watch your six!" But it was over. The whole nine yards I had to sail, There is a sick bay in a jail, I was there resting, I was there resting. The surgeon cut me back and forth, Kept telling me: "Hang in there, bro!" Kept telling me: "Hang in there, bro!" And I was hanging. Our parting ended in two shakes. She did not wait for me from camps, But it’s not biggie, but it’s not biggie. I will condone her all of course, But he, who was with her before, But he, who was with her before, Is not forgiven. I will condone her all of course, The one who was with her before, The one who was with her before I will be seeing!
© Kirill Tolmachev. Translation, 2022