Subject:
Russian War Song
Informant:
Vadim Korolik was born in Los Angeles but grew up speaking Russian until he was five. His parents spent most of their lives in Russia, and much of Vadim’s family still lives there. Vadim is currently a student at the University of Southern California.
Original Script:
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.
Ах 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 поет,
Пусть он землю бережет родную,
А любовь Катюша сбережет.
Пусть он землю бережет родную,
А любовь Катюша сбережет.
Translation:
Apple and pear trees were a-blooming,
Mist (was) creeping on the river.
Katyusha set out on the banks,
On the steep and lofty bank.
She was walking, singing a song
About a grey steppe eagle,
About her true love,
Whose letters she was keeping.
Oh you song! Little song of a maiden,
Head for the bright sun.
And reach for the soldier on the far-away border
Along with greetings from Katyusha.
Let him remember an ordinary girl,
And hear how she sings,
Let him preserve the Motherland,
Same as Katyusha preserves their love.
Let him preserve the Motherland,
Same as Katyusha preserves their love.
Informant’s Background Knowledge and Relationship with this Piece:
Vadim first learned this song from his grandmother, but claims to have heard it subsequently in Russian war movies. He doesn’t know much about the origins of the song.
Thoughts About the Piece:
While a war song, the story focuses mainly on the girl that the soldier left behind. Perhaps it was made to boost the morale of soldiers, who wanted to think of their lives back home, and wanted to believe that while they preserved the motherland, things back home would stay the same, and they would be able to return to the ones they loved.