Белый вальс [Belyy valʹs] [English translation]

O what a ball! Intensity of movement, nerves and sound!

The hearts were beating in three beats and not in twain.

And ladies were inviting gentlemen

To a traditional white waltz - and took the breath away.

And you, that dance with sorrow together,

Decided to invite that one girl long ago -

But you must always leave to go somewhere -

To help somebody or to ready for a war.

And all, still closer, the more real it becomes,

She, one with whom you had intended to come in,

She comes in order to invite you to the waltz -

And in your temple blood was pounding.

Externally calm in a ball full of noise,

You're given away by the shadow of yours -

She tore, and broke, and trembled in blurry light, as you spun.

Held gently by the hand, and whirling her like mad,

And you could have put her across a knife's blade

So why do you stand, crossing arms, not your own and no one's?

It was white waltz - the end to doubts of unbelievers

And end of childhood consolations, dreams and games -

Today the ladies were inviting cavaliers

And not because the latter weren't brave.

The ladies are called forth in time of ball

And waltz spins heads around, like long before.

But we must always answer someone's call -

To help somebody or get ready for a war.

Whiter than snow is the white waltz, spin now, strive!

That snow does not get interrupted as it falls!

She came in order to invite you to a life -

And you were white - whiter than walls, whiter than waltz!

Wherever you were - in the lyceum, in the tavern -

In palace halls, in school - whatever luck despite -

In Russia ladies were inviting gentlemen

In every age to the white waltz, and all was white.

Dulling the sight, not looking to each side,

Through the despair, silence, quiet, resignation,

The women hurried to come to our aid -

Their hall - the size of the entire nation.

Where you will go, wherever you will fly

Recall the waltz - how you were white - and smile, you'll learn:

They'll wait forever - and from sea and from the sky -

They will invite you to white waltz when you return.

• Artist:Vladimir Vysotsky