(a little song about) Mozart

Russian

Mozart (Моцарт)

Моцарт на старенькой скрипке играет
Моцарт играет, а скрипка поет.
Моцарт отечества не выбирает.
Просто играет всю жизнь напролет.

Ах, ничего, что всегда, как известно,
Наша судьба - то гульба, то пальба,
Не оставляйте стараний, маэстро,
Не убирайте ладони со лба.

Где-нибудь на остановке конечной
Скажем спасибо и этой судьбе.
Но из грехов нашей родины вечной
Не сотворить бы кумира себе.

Ах, ничего, что всегда, как известно,
Наша судьба - то гульба, то пальба,
Не расставайтесь с надеждой, маэстро.
Не убирайте ладони со лба.

Коротки наши лета молодые.
Миг, и развеятся, как на кострах
Красный камзол, башмаки золотые,
Белый парик, рукава в кружевах.

Ах, ничего, что всегда, как известно,
Наша судьба - то гульба, то пальба,
Не обращайте вниманья, маэстро.
Не убирайте ладони со лба.

See video
Try to align
English

(a little song about) Mozart

Mozart plays an old violin
Mozart plays, and the violin sings
Mozart is an universal genius (1)
simply playing his whole life without a break.

Well, no matter that always, it's a well known fact,
our destiny is half-binge, half-triumph(2)
don't stop trying, maestro,
keep on creating (3).

Somewhere at the last term
we'll thank even this destiny.
If only we could refrain from turning
the sins of our motherland into idols.

Well, no matter that always, it's a well known fact,
our destiny is half-binge, half-triumph,
don't break up with hope(4), maestro
keep on creating.

Our younger years are so short.
In an instant, the red shirt and golden pants
disappear as in a bonfire
as is lost the white scarf waved in the dances.

Well, no matter that always, it's a well known fact,
our destiny is half-binge, half-triumph,
don't pay attention, maestro
Keep on creating.

Author's comment:

Привет Софя. Я пытался перевести на англиском, но мне кажется не так хорошо получилось. Ну вот...
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(1) Litt. "Mozart does not pick a motherland" : Mozart's genius belongs to humanity as a whole.
(2) difficult to translate accurately. It is based on two words sounding very much alike. The idea is that life can be as gross and trivial as it can be noble and exhilarating.
(3) Litt. "don't take your palms off your forehead"
(4) "Nadezhda" is a feminine forename meaning "hope". Okudzhava (among many others) has used this image often in other songs.

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More translations of "Mozart (Моцарт)"

Comments

Sophia_Belik     August 12th, 2012

(2) difficult to translate accurately. It is based on two words sounding very much alike. The idea is that life can be as gross and trivial as it can be noble and exhilarating.

"Гульба" =пьянка, кутёж , you are right
"Пальба" =стрельба из огнестрельных орудий, необязательно по поводу торжества, также может подразумеваться и сражение.

kuroi_neko     August 12th, 2012

Yes indeed, "Пальба" is a salvo (of gunfire), not necessarily a mark of recognition for a triumph.
I chose this meaning because it seemed to convey the general idea best, but that's just an approximation.

Or did I miss the meaning of this sentence ?

Sophia_Belik     August 12th, 2012

kuroi_neko wrote:
Yes indeed, "Пальба" is a salvo (of gunfire), not necessarily a mark of recognition for a triumph.
I chose this meaning because it seemed to convey the general idea best, but that's just an approximation.

Or did I miss the meaning of this sentence ?

You interpretation is pretty good Wink

Sophia_Belik     August 12th, 2012

Мне просто вспомнилось по ассоциации следующее:

"Отдых сомнительный: вдруг оказаться на койке в районной больнице…
После сирен и пальбы, откровенно хотеть тишины..." (Вячеслав Ковалёв)

Sophia_Belik     August 12th, 2012

http://vk.com/audio?album_id=21519254

Вот здесь песни Вячеслава Ковалёва.