Farewell of Slavianka
Encyclopedia
Farewell of Slavianka is a Russia
n patriotic march, written by the composer Vasily Agapkin
in honour of the Bulgaria
n women bidding farewell to their husbands who left for the First Balkan War
. The march premiered in Tambov
in 1912 and was subsequently released as a single. Slavyanka means "Slavic
woman".
A theory of some musicians is that the main tune of this march had originated as an anti-war protest song
during the Russo-Japanese War
1904-1905. In spite of being banned, it became very popular in Russia during that time, especially among the Russian soldiers.
The melody gained popularity in Russia
and adjoining countries during World War I
, when the Russian soldiers left their homes accompanied by this music. It was also used as an unofficial anthem of Admiral Kolchak's White Army.
It was commonly believed, erroneously, that prior to its use in the award-winning 1957 film The Cranes Are Flying
, the song was banned in the Soviet Union
due to associations with the tsarist regime and the counter-revolutionary movements. This was not the case. This march was published in an official collection of music for Red Army orchestras, and it was recorded in the early 1940s by a military orchestra under Ivan Petrov (1906–1975), though different lyrics were used during that time. There are lyrics which are usually sung by the Red Army choir today.
Subsequently, several Russian and Polish composers attempted to write lyrics for this music. During World War II in German occupied Poland an adapted "underground" version of the song, Rozszumiały się wierzby płaczące ("Weeping willows began to hum") became popular, among anti Nazi partisans
, based on lyrics by Roman Ślęzak.
During the 1990s, the Yabloko
party lobbied for the march to be adopted as the National Anthem of Russia
, but without success. Currently, the march is recognized as the anthem of the Tambov Oblast
. Ships cruising along the Volga and the Rossiya train
which runs from Moscow
to Vladivostok
make use of the tune before departing. Train #2 (named "Ukraine" at the time) used to depart from Kiev to Moscow to the sound of this tune.
"Farewell of Slavyanka" was first used in movies in the 1957 film, The Cranes Are Flying
. It has also featured in the film Charlie Wilson's War
which is set around the Soviet war in Afghanistan
.
Saint George's was a major decoration in the Imperial Russian Army of the time, awarded to soldiers, sailors, non-commissioned officers, warrant officers and junior officers for acts of courage, self sacrifice and distinction in battle to protect the Fatherland from attack. Now restored in Russia, see State Decorations of the Russian Federation.
Ty gljadish' mne trevozhno v glaza,
I lovlju ya rodnoe dykhanie,
A vdali uzhe dyshit groza.
2.
Drognul vozdukh tumannyjj i sinijj,
I trevoga kosnulas' viskov,
I zavyot nas na podvig Rossiya,
Veet vetrom ot shaga polkov.
Proshay, otchiy kray,
Tyi nas vspominaya,
Proshay, miliy vzgljad,
Prosti-proshay, prosti-proshay...
3.
Letyat, letyat goda,
Ukhodyat vo mglu poezda,
A v nikh - soldatyi.
I v nebe temnom
Gorit soldatskaya zvezda.
A v nikh - soldatyi.
I v nebe temnom
Gorit soldatskaya zvezda.
4.
Les da step', da v stepi polustanki.
Svet vecherneyi i novoyi zari?
Ne zabud' zhe proshan'e Slavianka,
Sokrovenno v dushe novtori!
5.
Nyet, ne budet dusha bezuchastna?
Spraveddivosti svetyat ogni...
Za lubov', za vezikoe bratstvo
Otdavali myi zhzni svom.
6.
Letyat, letyat goda,
A pesnya - tyi s nami vsegda:
Tebya myi pominim,
I v nebe temnom
Gorit soldatskaya zvezda.
The moment of parting is nigh
You look into my eyes with alarm.
I sense you dear breath,
And far away the storm is already gathering.
A tremor ran through the blue, misty air,
Alarm touched my temples,
And Russia calls us to a feat,
A breathe is wafting from the marching regiments.
Farewell, the land of the fathers,
Remember us.
Farewell, dear glance,
Forgive-farewell, Forgive-
farewell...
Years fly by
Trains disappear in the dark.
In them—the soldiers.
And in the dark sky
The soldier's star is shining.
In them—the soldiers.
And in the dark sky
The soldier's star is shining.
Farewell, the land of the fathers,
Remember us.
Farewell, dear glance,
Forgive-farewell, Forgive-
farewell...
Forests, the steppe, junctions stand in the steppe
The light of the twilight, evening, morning—So, don't forget the Slavic woman's farewell,
Repeat it to yourself in your soul!
No, the soul will not be indifferent—The lights of justice shine...
For love, for the great fraternity
We have sacrificed our lives.
Farewell, the land of the fathers,
Remember us.
Farewell, dear glance,
Not all of us shall return.
Years fly by,
A the song—your are always with us.
We remember you,
And in the dark sky
The soldier's star is shining.
Farewell, the land of the fathers,
Remember us.
Farewell, dear glance,
Forgive-farewell, Forgive-
farewell...
когда враг заслонял горизонт.
С ним отцов наших в дымных вагонах
Поезда увозили на фронт.
Он Москву отстоял в сорок первом,
В сорок пятом шагал на Берлин,
Он солдатом прошел до Победы
По дорогам нелегких годин.
Припев:
И если в поход
Страна позовет
За край наш родной
Мы все пойдем в священный бой! (2 раза)
Шумят в полях хлеба.
Шагает Отчизна моя
К высотам счастья,
Сквозь все ненастья —
Дорогой мира и труда.
Припев:
И если в поход
Страна позовет
За край наш родной
Мы все пойдем в священный бой!
Kogda vrag zaslonyal gorizont.
S nim otsov nashikh v dymnykh vagonakh
poezda uvozili na front.
On Moskvu otstoyal vsorok pervom
vsorok pyatom shagal na Berlin
On s soldaton proshol do pobedy
po dorogam nelegkim godni.
I yesliv pokhod
strana pozoviot
za kray nash rodnoy
My vse poydom svyaschenny boy (2 times)
Shumyat v polyakh khleba
Shagaet otchizna moya
K vysotam schast'ya skvoz' vse nenast'ya, dorogoy mira i truda
I yesliv pokhod
strana pozoviot
za kray nash rodnoy
My vse poydom v svyshchenny boy!
Recalling the aggressor pressing the border
Soldiers leave their homes to the train
Setting off with this song to the front.
Singing it to defend Moscow in 1941
Singing it to take Berlin in 1945
Russia firmly erect and unite as one
Even with decades of difficulties and hardship
(Chorus)
If one day
Enemy dare
For our motherland
Rise up and commit into this holy war! (2 times)
The wheat fields rolling
Motherland is big step moving forward
Overcoming the hardship
Praising the hardworking
Defending the happiness and peace<
Overcoming the hardship
Praising the working party
Defending the happiness and peace
If one day
Enemy dare
For our motherland
Rise up and commit into this holy war!
for the Palmach
. In his version of the song, Hefer coined the phrase (We are a defensive shield) used by Israel Defence Forces when naming Operation Defensive Shield
in 2002.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n patriotic march, written by the composer Vasily Agapkin
Vasily Agapkin
Vasily Ivanovich Agapkin was a Soviet Russian military orchestra conductor, composer, and author of the well-known march "Farewell of Slavianka" ....
in honour of the Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n women bidding farewell to their husbands who left for the First Balkan War
First Balkan War
The First Balkan War, which lasted from October 1912 to May 1913, pitted the Balkan League against the Ottoman Empire. The combined armies of the Balkan states overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies and achieved rapid success...
. The march premiered in Tambov
Tambov
Tambov is a city and the administrative center of Tambov Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Tsna and Studenets Rivers southeast of Moscow...
in 1912 and was subsequently released as a single. Slavyanka means "Slavic
Slavic peoples
The Slavic people are an Indo-European panethnicity living in Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe, North Asia and Central Asia. The term Slavic represents a broad ethno-linguistic group of people, who speak languages belonging to the Slavic language family and share, to varying degrees, certain...
woman".
A theory of some musicians is that the main tune of this march had originated as an anti-war protest song
Protest song
A protest song is a song which is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of topical songs . It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre...
during the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
1904-1905. In spite of being banned, it became very popular in Russia during that time, especially among the Russian soldiers.
The melody gained popularity in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and adjoining countries during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, when the Russian soldiers left their homes accompanied by this music. It was also used as an unofficial anthem of Admiral Kolchak's White Army.
It was commonly believed, erroneously, that prior to its use in the award-winning 1957 film The Cranes Are Flying
The Cranes are Flying
The Cranes Are Flying is a Soviet film about World War II. It depicts the cruelty of war and the damage suffered to the Soviet psyche as a result of World War II . It was directed at Mosfilm by the Georgian-born Soviet director Mikhail Kalatozov in 1957 and stars Aleksey Batalov and Tatiana...
, the song was banned in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
due to associations with the tsarist regime and the counter-revolutionary movements. This was not the case. This march was published in an official collection of music for Red Army orchestras, and it was recorded in the early 1940s by a military orchestra under Ivan Petrov (1906–1975), though different lyrics were used during that time. There are lyrics which are usually sung by the Red Army choir today.
Subsequently, several Russian and Polish composers attempted to write lyrics for this music. During World War II in German occupied Poland an adapted "underground" version of the song, Rozszumiały się wierzby płaczące ("Weeping willows began to hum") became popular, among anti Nazi partisans
Polish resistance movement in World War II
The Polish resistance movement in World War II, with the Home Army at its forefront, was the largest underground resistance in all of Nazi-occupied Europe, covering both German and Soviet zones of occupation. The Polish defence against the Nazi occupation was an important part of the European...
, based on lyrics by Roman Ślęzak.
During the 1990s, the Yabloko
Yabloko
The Russian United Democratic Party "Yabloko" The Russian United Democratic Party "Yabloko" The Russian United Democratic Party "Yabloko" (Russian: Росси́йская объединённая демократи́ческая па́ртия «Я́блоко» Rossiyskaya obyedinyonnaya demokraticheskaya partiya "Yabloko"; is a Russian social...
party lobbied for the march to be adopted as the National Anthem of Russia
National Anthem of Russia
The National Anthem of the Russian Federation is the name of the official national anthem of Russia. Its musical composition and lyrics were adopted from the anthem of the Soviet Union, composed by Alexander Alexandrov, and lyricists Sergey Mikhalkov and Gabriel El-Registan. The Soviet anthem was...
, but without success. Currently, the march is recognized as the anthem of the Tambov Oblast
Tambov Oblast
Tambov Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Tambov. Population: down from 1,178,443 recorded by the 2002 Census.Tambov Oblast is situated in forest steppe.-Birth rate:...
. Ships cruising along the Volga and the Rossiya train
Trans-Siberian Railway
The Trans-Siberian Railway is a network of railways connecting Moscow with the Russian Far East and the Sea of Japan. It is the longest railway in the world...
which runs from Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
to Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
make use of the tune before departing. Train #2 (named "Ukraine" at the time) used to depart from Kiev to Moscow to the sound of this tune.
"Farewell of Slavyanka" was first used in movies in the 1957 film, The Cranes Are Flying
The Cranes are Flying
The Cranes Are Flying is a Soviet film about World War II. It depicts the cruelty of war and the damage suffered to the Soviet psyche as a result of World War II . It was directed at Mosfilm by the Georgian-born Soviet director Mikhail Kalatozov in 1957 and stars Aleksey Batalov and Tatiana...
. It has also featured in the film Charlie Wilson's War
Charlie Wilson's War
Charlie Wilson's War is a 2007 American biographical comedy drama film recounting the true story of U.S. Congressman Charlie Wilson who partnered with "bare knuckle attitude" CIA operative Gust Avrakotos to launch Operation Cyclone, a program to organize and support the Afghan mujahideen in their...
which is set around the Soviet war in Afghanistan
Soviet war in Afghanistan
The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers...
.
Lyrics
Saint George's was a major decoration in the Imperial Russian Army of the time, awarded to soldiers, sailors, non-commissioned officers, warrant officers and junior officers for acts of courage, self sacrifice and distinction in battle to protect the Fatherland from attack. Now restored in Russia, see State Decorations of the Russian Federation.
Original 1912 Version
|
English translationn
|
By Vladimir Lazarev (1984)
- Наступает минута прощания,
- Ты глядишь мне тревожно в глаза,
- И ловлю я родное дыхание,
- А вдали уже дышит гроза.
- Дрогнул воздух туманный и синий,
- И тревога коснулась висков,
- И зовёт нас на подвиг Россия,
- Веет ветром от шага полков.
- Прощай, отчий край,
- Ты нас вспоминай,
- Прощай, милый взгляд,
- Прости-прощай, прости-прощай…
- Летят-летят года,
- Уходят во мглу поезда,
- А в них — солдаты.
- И в небе тёмном
- Горит солдатская звезда.
- А в них — солдаты.
- И в небе тёмном
- Горит солдатская звезда.
- Лес да степь, да в степи полустанки.
- Свет вечерней и новой зари —
- Не забудь же прощанье Славянки,
- Сокровенно в душе повтори!
- Нет, не будет душа безучастна —
- Справедливости светят огни…
- За любовь, за великое братство
- Отдавали мы жизни свои.
- Летят-летят года,
- А песня — ты с нами всегда:
- Тебя мы помним,
- И в небе тёмном
- Горит солдатская звезда.
Transliteration
Nastupayt minuta proshaniya,Ty gljadish' mne trevozhno v glaza,
I lovlju ya rodnoe dykhanie,
A vdali uzhe dyshit groza.
2.
Drognul vozdukh tumannyjj i sinijj,
I trevoga kosnulas' viskov,
I zavyot nas na podvig Rossiya,
Veet vetrom ot shaga polkov.
Proshay, otchiy kray,
Tyi nas vspominaya,
Proshay, miliy vzgljad,
Prosti-proshay, prosti-proshay...
3.
Letyat, letyat goda,
Ukhodyat vo mglu poezda,
A v nikh - soldatyi.
I v nebe temnom
Gorit soldatskaya zvezda.
A v nikh - soldatyi.
I v nebe temnom
Gorit soldatskaya zvezda.
4.
Les da step', da v stepi polustanki.
Svet vecherneyi i novoyi zari?
Ne zabud' zhe proshan'e Slavianka,
Sokrovenno v dushe novtori!
5.
Nyet, ne budet dusha bezuchastna?
Spraveddivosti svetyat ogni...
Za lubov', za vezikoe bratstvo
Otdavali myi zhzni svom.
6.
Letyat, letyat goda,
A pesnya - tyi s nami vsegda:
Tebya myi pominim,
I v nebe temnom
Gorit soldatskaya zvezda.
English version
The moment of parting is nigh
You look into my eyes with alarm.
I sense you dear breath,
And far away the storm is already gathering.
A tremor ran through the blue, misty air,
Alarm touched my temples,
And Russia calls us to a feat,
A breathe is wafting from the marching regiments.
Farewell, the land of the fathers,
Remember us.
Farewell, dear glance,
Forgive-farewell, Forgive-
farewell...
Years fly by
Trains disappear in the dark.
In them—the soldiers.
And in the dark sky
The soldier's star is shining.
In them—the soldiers.
And in the dark sky
The soldier's star is shining.
Farewell, the land of the fathers,
Remember us.
Farewell, dear glance,
Forgive-farewell, Forgive-
farewell...
Forests, the steppe, junctions stand in the steppe
The light of the twilight, evening, morning—So, don't forget the Slavic woman's farewell,
Repeat it to yourself in your soul!
No, the soul will not be indifferent—The lights of justice shine...
For love, for the great fraternity
We have sacrificed our lives.
Farewell, the land of the fathers,
Remember us.
Farewell, dear glance,
Not all of us shall return.
Years fly by,
A the song—your are always with us.
We remember you,
And in the dark sky
The soldier's star is shining.
Farewell, the land of the fathers,
Remember us.
Farewell, dear glance,
Forgive-farewell, Forgive-
farewell...
Words by Andrej Mingalyov (1990s)
- Много песен мы в сердце сложили,
- Воспевая родные поля.
- Беззаветно тебя мы любили,
- Святорусская наша земля.
- Высоко ты главу поднимала -
- Словно солнце твой лик воссиял.
- Но ты жертвою подлости стала -
- Тех, кто предал тебя и продал!
- ПРИПЕВ:
- И снова в поход!
- Труба нас зовет!
- Мы вновь встанем в строй
- И все пойдем в священный бой.
- Встань за Веру, Русская Земля!
- Ждет победы России святыня.
- Отзовись, православная рать!
- Где Илья твой и где твой Добрыня?
- Сыновей кличет Родина-мать.
- ПРИПЕВ.
- Все мы - дети великой Державы,
- Все мы помним заветы отцов
- Ради Знамени, Чести и Славы
- Не жалей ни себя, ни врагов.
- Встань, Россия, из рабского плена,
- Дух победы зовет: в бой, пора!
- Подними боевые знамена
- Ради Правды, Красы и Добра!
- ПРИПЕВ.
The post-WWII Version (Red Army Choir)
Этот марш не смолкал на перронахкогда враг заслонял горизонт.
С ним отцов наших в дымных вагонах
Поезда увозили на фронт.
Он Москву отстоял в сорок первом,
В сорок пятом шагал на Берлин,
Он солдатом прошел до Победы
По дорогам нелегких годин.
Припев:
И если в поход
Страна позовет
За край наш родной
Мы все пойдем в священный бой! (2 раза)
Шумят в полях хлеба.
Шагает Отчизна моя
К высотам счастья,
Сквозь все ненастья —
Дорогой мира и труда.
Припев:
И если в поход
Страна позовет
За край наш родной
Мы все пойдем в священный бой!
Transliteration (Red Army Choir)
Etot marsh nye smolkal na perronakhKogda vrag zaslonyal gorizont.
S nim otsov nashikh v dymnykh vagonakh
poezda uvozili na front.
On Moskvu otstoyal vsorok pervom
vsorok pyatom shagal na Berlin
On s soldaton proshol do pobedy
po dorogam nelegkim godni.
I yesliv pokhod
strana pozoviot
za kray nash rodnoy
My vse poydom svyaschenny boy (2 times)
Shumyat v polyakh khleba
Shagaet otchizna moya
K vysotam schast'ya skvoz' vse nenast'ya, dorogoy mira i truda
I yesliv pokhod
strana pozoviot
za kray nash rodnoy
My vse poydom v svyshchenny boy!
English Translation (Red Army Choir)
This is an inspiring songRecalling the aggressor pressing the border
Soldiers leave their homes to the train
Setting off with this song to the front.
Singing it to defend Moscow in 1941
Singing it to take Berlin in 1945
Russia firmly erect and unite as one
Even with decades of difficulties and hardship
(Chorus)
If one day
Enemy dare
For our motherland
Rise up and commit into this holy war! (2 times)
The wheat fields rolling
Motherland is big step moving forward
Overcoming the hardship
Praising the hardworking
Defending the happiness and peace<
Overcoming the hardship
Praising the working party
Defending the happiness and peace
If one day
Enemy dare
For our motherland
Rise up and commit into this holy war!
Hebrew version
A Hebrew version was written in 1945 by singer/songwriter Haim HeferHaim Hefer
-Biography:Hefer was born in Sosnowiec, Poland in 1925 to Issachar Feiner, a chocolate salesman, and Rivka Herzberg, a housewife. He had a private Hebrew tutor....
for the Palmach
Palmach
The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Palmach was established on May 15, 1941...
. In his version of the song, Hefer coined the phrase (We are a defensive shield) used by Israel Defence Forces when naming Operation Defensive Shield
Operation Defensive Shield
Operation Defensive Shield was a large-scale military operation conducted by the Israel Defense Forces in 2002, during the course of the Second Intifada. It was the largest military operation in the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War. The operation was an attempt by the Israeli army to stop the...
in 2002.
External links
- Russian/English lyrics and mp3 file
- The proposed anthem and its lyrics
- A Chinese rendition with translated (Red Army Choir) lyrics performed by the Male Choir of the People's Armed Police