Серебряные струны [Serebryanye struny] [English translation]

I have got an old guitar - walls, please, step aside now!

Freedom I will never see - thanks to evil fortune!

Cut my throat and cut my veins, I let you decide how,

Only beg, don't rip up my silver strings, I caution!

I will bury myself, I will perish quickly.

Is there anyone to stand up for my young age?

They crept into my soul, tearing it to pieces,

Only beg, don't rip up my silver strings with my cage!

My guitar was carried off, with it went my freedom.

I resisted and I screamed: Filthy bastards! Assholes!

You may stomp me into dirt, throw me into river,

Only beg, don't rip up my silver strings as my soles!

What has happened, brothers? Does that mean that I won't

Ever see the daylight and the moonless fling nights?

You have baned my soul to hell, stripped away my freedom,

And as final insult you've ripped my silver strings up!

• Artist:Vladimir Vysotsky