I was told by my buddies of one wonderful bargain - There are not any streetlights where the city lines end. If it works, I’ll be rolling in the money, for certain; I’ll provide for yours truly, and of course, for my friends. But at twelve in the night folks are willing to sleep, For they all have to work in the morning, - I’ll back out of the deal, I don’t want to be cheap, I won’t venture to steal when they’re yawning! I was told by my buddies it’s the home of a singer; She’s got many a diamond, silver, gold and some cash. The whole job will be quiet, and the risk can’t be meager, And, of course, when it’s over, to the racetrack we’ll dash. But at twelve in the night folks are willing to sleep, Singers too will get up in the morning, I don’t like this ordeal, I don’t want to be cheap, I won’t venture to steal when she’s yawning! But my friend was still raving: "There’s a nest egg, her savings." "That is highly unlikely - for our singers aren’t rich!" "But she has a full colonel - it is true, he’s her only!" He convinced me, the bastard, with this final sale pitch. But at twelve in the night folks are willing to sleep, For they all have to work in the morning, - I’ll back out of the deal, I don’t want to be cheap, I won’t venture to steal when they’re yawning! I was telling my buddy: she is not in the money: All her diamonds are phony, and the colonel has left. And regarding this singer - a three-centuries senior - I cannot ask forgiveness for disturbing her rest! But at twelve in the night folks are willing to sleep, For they all have to work in the morning, - I’ll back out of the deal, I don’t want to be cheap, I won’t venture to steal when they’re yawning!
© Kirill Tolmachev. Translation, 2023