Белый Лебедь [Belyj lebed'] [English translation]

Swans are flying over the forest,

But the men with the guns are not hunters.

A lump in my throat, my blood runs cold,

And there's a whisper in my ear: "Look, look!"

Swans are flying over the forest,

I feel thrice as guilty when you are flying.

Why couldn't you bypass this place?

Ah, if only you could take me with you.

White swan, you're in the sky, and I'm on the ground.

These are the letters that flew to me from a faraway place. [x2]

It's the snow falling from the shaggy darkness.

I didn't know spring was so far away.

Listen, it happened when I was young,

A young cygnet got into a fight in the sky.

The hawk was strong, and you were a silly little thing.

You took shelter on my chest under the jacket.

My little cygnet, forgive me

For not setting you free.

So people are right when they say that

One who caresses you is the one who will kill you.

White swan, you're in the sky, and I'm on the ground.

These are the letters that flew to me from a faraway place. [x2]

It's the snow falling from the shaggy darkness.

I didn't know spring was so far away.

The warmth of life under your wing

Is a painful reminder of my home

And of the sad gray eyes.

But that's [on the other side of] the dead line; I can't go there!

A lump in my throat, my blood runs cold,

And there's a whisper in my ear: "Look, look!"

Why couldn't you bypass this place?

Never fly over me, you wretched things!

White swan, you're in the sky, and I'm on the ground.

These are the letters that flew to me from a faraway place. [x4]

It's the snow falling from the shaggy darkness.

I didn't know spring was so far away.