Когда я вернусь [Kogda ya vernus'] [English translation]

loose translation by Dmytro Zelenskyy

March 30th, 2018

When I make a comeback [-don’t start laughing]

- yes, no kidding, when I do come back,

at the end of cold season I run

through the dirty snow desert

never touching the ground,

as barely visible trek

leads me to the night lodging and warmth…

[and - imagine it further -]

on yours birds voice decoy

I will flinch with a joy

and in search turn around… oh, boy!

when I make a comeback

Oh! When I do come back…

... hey, listen, hey, listen, - don’t laugh... then…

… when I do come back...

From rail station directly,

just easily passing

all customs,

from rail station I’ll run into town -

dark, poor and fake -

that has nothing, but curse me and

barking for my decimation…

… when I make a comeback,

oh, when I do come back…

When I make a comeback,

I then go

to exceptional house

with blue dome such a perfect - the skies

can’t compete it on beauty,

olibanum aroma -

the smell of a shelter and bread -

will hit me with a splash

and through nose pours to wash up my heart

when I be here back…

oh, when I do come back…

When I make a comeback,

in despite of the Feb

nightingales will start whistle

the old melody -

ancient, forgotten and fade,

there I fell, knocked, defeated

by very own victory and overwhelmed,

and my head ‘ll come to the rest

at your knees

like at natal levee… oh, Marie

when I do come back here…

… but when I’ll come back here?

• Artist:Alexander Galich