Balladi toveri Viljasesta [English translation]

Surely you remember comrade Viljanen, and the okhrana's hotel?1

Surely you remember that cool June night when Viljanen disappeared?

We were communists and we still are.

We remember comrade Viljanen who was murdered by the okhrana.

When we were accused of treason, Viljanen only said:

If Judge, Your Honor, will permit I will exit the room and have a laugh.

We were communists...

Something about Viljanen's smile annoyed the okhrana.

When the torturers started to get tired, he said: Let's continue.

We were communists...

I guess comrade Viljanen knew what was ahead.

On the early morning when they came for him.

They had knocked out his teeth and broken his fingers,

but still he would not submit or give them that important confession.

We were communists...

He knew how prisoners were treated at the okhrana's place.

He might have been a dangerous witness.

The sun had already risen and the morning dew glittered,

When Viljanen stood on his grave and looked towards the east.

He did not cry for himself, he only mourned his brothers,

whom the Finnish Lord's sent to the die on the Karelian fields.2

We were communists...

The memory of Viljanen does not call us to take bloody revenge.

It calls us to build a better world.

We are communists and we will build it.

It is our shared international task and responsibility.

1. When Finland was a part of the Russian Empire, the term "okhrana" referred to the Tsar's secret police. After Finland became independent, Finnish communists used the word okhrana to insult the Finnish security service. In the context of this song the "okhrana's hotel" refers to the pre-trial detention center of the Finnish security service.2. The "Karelian fields" were the place where many Finnish soldiers fell while fighting against the Soviet Union.

• Artist:KOM-teatteri