Песня про первые ряды [Pesnya pro pervyye ryady] [English translation]

There was a time- I rushed in to the first row,

And this is all from misunderstanding,-

But for some time now I'm sitting at the back:

There, upfront, like a machine gun stuck in to your neck,-

Hard look, unkind breathing.

And maybe, at the back is not so nice,

But- much wider outlook,

Much bigger run up and perspective

And also- reliability and overview.

The eyes barrels- up to ten-

Like the muzzles on he target, but the one that's live,-

I can not save back of my head from gazes,

And from behind, it's so easy to inflict

Insult or wound with a knife.

And maybe, at the back is not so nice,

But- much wider outlook,

Much bigger run up and perspective

And also- reliability and overview.

The first row is harmful for me, and they say-

From those thoughts I'm setting myself for a bad fall.

It's better- where is darker- in the last row:

From here there is no other way,

And behind the back standing wall after wall.

And maybe, at the back is not so nice,

But- much wider outlook,

Much bigger run up and perspective

And also- reliability and overview.

And even though the rivers of water away will flow,

And though the down quilts will be completely filthy,-

Till boldness, till the grey hair, till the beard

Don't end up in the first row

And don't aspire to be the prima- ballerina.

And maybe, at the back is not so nice,

But- much wider outlook,

Much bigger run up and perspective

And also- reliability and overview.

It's save at the back, but there are days-

I'm telling myself, that I will enter with a suit of hearts:

It's not worse it to be always in the shadow-

Don't stay too long in the last row,

And gradually move into the first.

And maybe, at the back is not so nice,

But- much wider outlook,

Much bigger run up and perspective

And also- reliability and overview.

• Artist:Vladimir Vysotsky