Я тебя отвоюю [Ya tebya otvoyuyu] [English translation]

I will win you back from every land, from all the skies,

Because the forest is my cradle, and my grave is the forest,

Because I am standing on this earth only with one foot1

Because I will sing to you like nobody else.

I will win you back from all others, from her, that one.2

I will not be anyone’s groom, you will not be anyone’s wife,

And in the last debate I will take you, don’t you talk!

From the one with whom Jacob was fighting at night3

I will win you back from all times, from all the nights,

From every golden banner, from every sword.

I will throw out the keys and chase the dogs away from the porch,

Because at earthly night I am more devoted than a dog.

I will win you back from all others, from her, that one.

I will not be anyone’s groom, you will not be anyone’s wife,

And in the last debate I will take you, don’t you talk!

From the one with whom Jacob was fighting at night

But until I cross your fingers on your chest4

Oh, what a curse!

You will remain your own ...

But until I cross your fingers on your chest

Oh, what a curse!

You will remain your own ...

1. allusion to the idiom meaning a person is close to death. The idiom is “one foot in the grave”2. allusion to death3. from The Old Testament. It says Jacob was fighting with mysterious being all night. Some say it was G.d himself, some say it was false prophet4. as in crossing one’s hands on one’s chest in funeral ritual