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Mar. 5, 2005 Another song that once enjoyed great popularity in the US is “Those Were the Days”, first sung in 1968 by Mary Hopkin. This song is actually an adaptation of a Russian song called “Darogoi Daljnoyu” (The Long Road), composed by Boris Fomin to words of the poet Konstantin Podrevskii. The Russian version was sung by Theodore Bikel at about the same time or earlier. The English lyrics don’t have anything to do with the Russian lyrics. I used to sing this song in both English and Russian, but when I gave up drinking in 1982, I also gave up the two or three songs that I knew that had to do with drinking, including “Those Were the Days”, but that’s no reflection on the quality of the lyrics, which are very nostalgic. Since the Russian version doesn’t say anything about drinking, I still sing it to this day. In fact, it is the first song I learned in Russian, back around 1970, before I had even begun to study Russian. Learning Russian songs was what led me to studying Russian language and literature, and also to my eventual trip to the former USSR. Anyway, I have written below the English lyrics of “Those Were the Days” as well as the Russian lyrics of “Darogoi Daljnoyu”. Below that; I have added my own translation. THOSE WERE THE DAYS (English lyrics) Once upon a time there was a tavern, Where we used to raise a glass or two. Remember how we laughed away the hours And dreamed of all the great things we would do. Refrain Those were the days, my friend! We thought they’d never end. We’d sing and dance forever and a day. We’d live the life we choose. We´d fight and never lose. Those were the days! Oh yes, those were the days! Then the busy years went rushing by us. We lost our starry notions on the way. If by chance I’d see you in the tavern, We’d smile at one another and we´d say: Refrain Just tonight I stood before the tavern. Nothing seemed the way it used to be. In the glass I saw a strange reflection. Was that lonely woman really me? Refrain Through the door there came familiar laughter. I saw your face and heard you call my name. Oh, my friend, we’re older but no wiser, For in our hearts the dreams are still the same. Refrain DAROGOI DALJNOYU (Russian lyrics) Jékhali na tróike sbubentsámy, A vdalí melkáli aganjkí. Mnje seichás sakóliki za vámi, Dúshu mnje razvjéjet at taskí. Refrain Darógoi dáljnoyu, Da nóchu lúnnuyu, Da pjèsny toi shto vdáljeke zvjinát, Taskói starínnoju da semistrúnnoju Shto pa nachám tak múchila minjá. Tak zhe ja bjez rádosti, bjez múki, Pómnju ya ushédshije gadá I tvoí serjébrjanniye rúki Tróike uletéfshe nafsjigdá Refrain Dni bigút pjecháli umnozhája. Mnje tak trúdno próshloje zabýtj. Káknibutj adnázhdy daragája Vy minjá svizhótje kharanítj. Refrain Here I have used ‘j’ as the equivalent of English ‘y’, and ‘y’ as the transliteration of a special vowel in Russian midway between the vowels of ‘bit’ and ‘boot’. ‘Kh’ is like German ‘ch’, and ‘ch’ is as in English. TRANSLATION We rode out on a sleigh with little bells, And in the distance, bonfires shone. I’ll always feel a great longing for you, Breaking my heart with grief. Refrain Oh, the long road, The moon lit night, Your singing that sounded far and wide! The olden grief, and the seven-string guitar That so torments me in the night. Refrain So equally without joy, without sorrow, I’ll remember bygone years, And your silvery hands, And the sleigh flying along, forevermore. Refrain The days go by, multiplying my sorrows. It’s so difficult for me to remember the past. Somehow one day, my dear, You will carry me out to bury me. Refrain The Cyrillic text can be seen online at the URL listed below, second song from the top. Note that the Russian wording at that URL varies a little from the wording as I have transcribed it above, because I got my words from a different source, to wit, Theodore Bikel, but such variations are always present with folksongs. The comment at the URL, “Translation by Gene Raskin”, is not quite correct. It is not a translation; it is a rewrite. http://www.barynya.com/russian_lyrics.stm ------------ About the author Thomas Keyes: I have written two books: A SOJOURN IN ASIA (non-fiction) and A TALE OF UNG (fiction), neither published so far. I have studied languages for years and traveled extensively on five continents. Email: udikeyes@yahoo.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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