Okydzhava: Song of the Arbat

Песенка об Арбате (Song about the Arbat) was written in 1959 by famous Soviet bard Булат Окуджава (Bulat Okudzhava). It is one of the most famous Russian song. Bulat Okudzhava was born and spent his whole life in this area.

Every time I go up or down the street, I always mark a pause in front of his statue, the time for me to remember the words of his song and to have a look around, in search of something that does not exist anymore.

Though Arbat hasn't lost its popularity, the atmosphere has changed drastically. It had became a trendy street, filled with caf?s, souvenir shops, and musicians. Both Muscovites and foreigners love to have a stroll in this street, sit at a terrace, look at the portraitists, but nostalgia is never far away.

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Ты течёшь, как река. Странное название!

You are flowing like a river. The strange name!

И прозрачен асфальт, как в реке вода.

Transparent asphalt, like the water in a river.

Ах, Арбат, мой Арбат, ты — моё призвание.

Oh Arbat, my Arbat, you're my vocation.

Ты — и радость моя, и моя беда.

You're my happiness, and my misfortune.

Ах, Арбат, мой Арбат, ты — моё призвание.

Oh Arbat, my Arbat, you're my vocation.

Ты — и радость моя, и моя беда.

You're my happiness, and my misfortune.

Пешеходы твои — люди невеликие,

Your pedestrians are not great people,

Каблуками стучат — по делам спешат.

Heels clattering, they rush to their occupations.

Ах, Арбат, мой Арбат, ты — моя религия,

Oh Arbat, my Arbat, you're my religion,

Мостовые твои подо мной лежат.

The pavement lies beneath me.

Ах, Арбат, мой Арбат, ты — моя религия,

Oh Arbat, my Arbat, you're my religion

Мостовые твои подо мной лежат.

The pavement lies beneath me.

От любови твоей вовсе не излечишься,

I won't be cured from loving you,

Сорок тысяч других мостовых любя.

Though forty thousand other streets I loved.

Ах, Арбат, мой Арбат, ты — моё отечество,

Oh Arbat, my Arbat, you're my Motherland,

Никогда до конца не пройти тебя.

I will never see the end of you.

Ах, Арбат, мой Арбат, ты — моё отечество,

Oh Arbat, my Arbat, you're my Motherland,

Никогда до конца не пройти тебя.

I will never see the end of you.

Песенка об Арбате (Song about the Arbat) was written in 1959…