Песня летчика [Pesnja letchika] [English translation]

Eight of them-two of us, the fight plans

Don't suit us, but we will play!

*Serezha, hold on! We have no chance,

But we need to equalise tramp cards today.

This square of the sky, I'll not neglect-

The numbers now not important to me at all:

Today my friend protecting my back,

That means- our chances are equal.

The "messer" * jumped on my tail, but here's it started to smoke,

With anguish the propellers were howling,-

They don't even need the crosses on the graves-

It's good enough the crosses on the wings!

I'm-"The First", I'm-"The First", they under your plane!

To cut them off I'll try!

I'll cover you, hide in the clouds, kill the flame!

There is no miracles in the *dogfight.

Sergei, you're burning! Trust, man,

Your straps now, they are reliable!

No, it's too late, the "messer" coming towards my front,-

I'll take him head on, farewell!..

I know, someone else will even the score,-

But sliding among the clouds,

Like two planes our souls will soar,-

After all, they can't be each other without.

Archangel will tell us:" It will be hard in heaven!"

But as soon as the gate behind will slam,-

I' will ask God:" Do enter me and my friend

In some sort of angelic regiment!"

And I'll ask God, the Spirit and the Son,-

So he can make easy my plight:

Let my friend for eternity cover my back, as he done,

Like in that final dogfight!

We will ask God to give us wings and arrows, a lot,-

After all, they in need of angel-ace,-

And if they have many fighter pilots-

Let them enlist as custodians us!

It's also a matter of honor to keep others save,-

To bear good luck on the wing everywhere

As we were, when alive, me and Sergei

On the land as well as in the air

• Artist:Vladimir Vysotsky