Katyusha (song)
Katyusha (Катюша) is a Russian Soviet wartime song about a girl longing for her beloved, who is away on military service. Although Katyusha is a famous Russian song, it is not considered a folk song like Kalinka or Sneg kruzhitsya (Snow is whirling)1. The music was composed in 1938 by Matvei Blanter and the lyrics were written by Mikhail Isakovsky. It was first performed by the celebrated folk singer, Lidiya Ruslanova. Some critics believe that Katyusha was not a Blanter composition, pointing out that a similar tune was used by Igor Stravinsky in his opera Mavra (1922) which he later adapted to Chanson Russe (1937).
Katyusha is a tender diminutive from the female name Ekaterina (Katherine). In Russian, many names have diminutives (besides nicknames). For example, the diminutive for Natalia is Natasha, and the tender diminutive for Natasha is Natashenka. In the case of Ekaterina, Katya is the nickname and Katyusha, a tender diminutive.
The song also gave name to the BM-13, BM-8, and BM-31 "Katyusha" rocket launchers that were built and fielded by the Soviet Union in World War II.
Hear The Song
The song can be found at the Russian wikipedia: Katyusha.ogg
Lyrics
| Russian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
|
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. Ой, 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 поёт, Пусть он землю бережёт родную, А любовь Катюша сбережёт. Расцветали яблони и груши, Поплыли туманы над рекой; Выходила на берег Катюша, На высокий берег, на крутой. |
Rastsvetali yabloni i grushi, Poplyli tumany nad rekoy; Vykhodila na bereg Katyusha, Na vysokiy bereg, na krutoy. Vykhodila, pesnyu zavodila Pro stepnogo sizogo orla, Pro togo kotorogo lyubila, Pro togo chyi pisma beregla. Oy, ty pesnya, pesenka devichya, Ty leti za yasnym solntsem vsled, I boytsu na dalnem pogranichye Ot Katyushi pereday privet. Pust on vspomnit devushku prostuyu, Pust uslyshit, kak ona poyot, Pust on zemlyu berezhyot rodnuyu, A lyubov Katyusha sberezhyot. Rastsvetali yabloni i grushi, Poplyli tumany nad rekoy; Vykhodila na bereg Katyusha, Na vysokiy bereg, na krutoy. |
Apple trees and pears were in blossom On the river hung the morning mist Young Katyusha stepped up on the high bank, Of the river steep bank in the mist. On the bank Katyusha started singing Of a proud grey eagle of the steppe, Of the one Katyusha loved so deeply, Of the one whose letters she has kept Oh, you song, you bright song of a maiden Fly you by the sun, fly like a bird To the soldier on faraway border From Katyusha bring a greeting word. Let him think of simple native maiden, Let him hear Katyusha's clear song He will guard the land of dear homeland And their love Katyusha will keep strong. Apple trees and pears were in blossom On the river hung the morning mist Young Katyusha stepped up on the high bank, Of the river steep bank in the mist2 |
1 Sneg kruzhitsya is not a folk song either. It was written by S. Berezin and L. Kozlova.
2 English translation by Anastasia I-Morn-Gwathren (2002).
External links
- http://www.russia-in-us.com/Music/Collections/Ofman/russianestrada/
- http://www.russmus.net/bands-traditional.htm [lyrics and translation taken from this site]