Thursday, December 13, 2012

Katyusha

Катюша is a folk song written in World War II, describing a woman longing for her husband who is fighting in the military. 




The lyrics were written by 
Mikhail Vasil'evich Isakovsky and it was composed by Matvei Isaakovich Blanter. The song is apolitical, and is the result of a long-time collaboration between the two authors. Katyusha is by far their most popular song, and it is still performed internationally to this day in a variety of different languages. 



Most other compositions were in the days of World War II, although the lyrics were at times radically different. For example, the Italian version of the song is "Fischia il vento" (As the Wind Blows), and has nothing to do with the original lyrics. 




The song is still wildly popular, and has undergone even modern remixes -- absent its original folkish tune.







Russian Lyrics:

Расцветали яблони и груши,
Поплыли туманы над рекой.
Выходила на берег Катюша,
На высокий берег на крутой.
Выходила, песню заводила
Про степного, сизого орла,
Про того, которого любила,
Про того, чьи письма берегла.
Ой ты, песня, песенка девичья,
Ты лети за ясным солнцем вслед.
И бойцу на дальнем пограничье
От Катюши передай привет.
Пусть он вспомнит девушку простую,
Пусть услышит, как она поёт,
Пусть он землю бережёт родную,
А любовь Катюша сбережёт.

English Lyrics:
Apple and pear trees were blooming.
O'er the river the fog merrily rolled.
On the steep banks walked Katyusha,
On the high bank she slowly strode.
As she walked, she sang a sweet song
Of her silver eagle of the steppe,
Of the one she loved she loved so dearly,
And the one whose letters she had kept
O you song! Little song of a young girl,
Fly over the river and in the sunlight go.
And fly to my hero far from me,
From his Katyusha bring him a sweet hello.
Let him remember this plain young girl,
And her sweet song like a dove,
As he stands guarding his proud nation,
So Katyusha will guard their love.


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