It's been driving me nuts cause I knew I had heard an "Alexandra" song long ago and I finally tracked it down. This is the opening song in the movie "Moscow Does Not Believe In Tears" which won an oscar for best foreign film in 1980. At the time I was dating a Georgetown U. girl who was studying Russian so we went to see it (she later spent a semester there).
Anyway, I rented the movie and captured the song for anyone who wants to listen to it. The opening has some traffick sound to it but then disappears:
http://www.oneleft.com/songs/ralexandra.mp3
Would love to have it translated... any Russians out there?
Russian Alexandra
Russian Alexandra
Washington, DC
Hi Rick,
[Elizabeth, thank you for the invitation
]
Here’s a translation:
Everything had turned out all right not at one stroke,
Moscow wasn't built in a moment.
It burned so many times,
And grew from the ashes.
A tree stretched to the sky,
And believed only the sky,
And besides the sky,
It believed the overworked ground.
Refrain:
Alexandra, Alexandra,
What is flattering there, in front of us? –
An ash-tree scatters seeds,
And they’re waltzing round on the pavement.
[Literally: an ash-tree is waltzing round by the seeds on the pavement ]
An ash-tree, with its rustic look,
Has accommodated itself to Viennese waltzes;
It’ll push through, Alexandra,
It’ll breathe in Moscow air to its heart’s content.
[Literally: it’ll breath in Moscow]
Moscow was decorated with rowans,
And oaks stood like princes,
But they weren’t those ones which grew without permission –
They were ash-trees.
It’s not in vain that Moscow hopes
To dress in leaves –
Moscow will find at least a plot of land
For a little tree.
Refrain.
There’s also other version of the lyrics. I don’t remember now if both of them were used in the film or not
. The second verse is the same, and the first one is different in that version. And it contains one more verse, and one more refrains, as well. If you’re interested in their translation, too, I could do that for you later.
[Elizabeth, thank you for the invitation
]Here’s a translation:
Everything had turned out all right not at one stroke,
Moscow wasn't built in a moment.
It burned so many times,
And grew from the ashes.
A tree stretched to the sky,
And believed only the sky,
And besides the sky,
It believed the overworked ground.
Refrain:
Alexandra, Alexandra,
What is flattering there, in front of us? –
An ash-tree scatters seeds,
And they’re waltzing round on the pavement.
[Literally: an ash-tree is waltzing round by the seeds on the pavement ]
An ash-tree, with its rustic look,
Has accommodated itself to Viennese waltzes;
It’ll push through, Alexandra,
It’ll breathe in Moscow air to its heart’s content.
[Literally: it’ll breath in Moscow]
Moscow was decorated with rowans,
And oaks stood like princes,
But they weren’t those ones which grew without permission –
They were ash-trees.
It’s not in vain that Moscow hopes
To dress in leaves –
Moscow will find at least a plot of land
For a little tree.
Refrain.
There’s also other version of the lyrics. I don’t remember now if both of them were used in the film or not
. The second verse is the same, and the first one is different in that version. And it contains one more verse, and one more refrains, as well. If you’re interested in their translation, too, I could do that for you later.Hi Helven,
Another question. In the movie White Nights there is a point where Baryshnikov dances on the stage at the Kirov. He plays the tape of a Russian singer singing with his guitar. It is quite a powerful moment. I've been unable to locate this singer, I believe he was a banned poet/songwriter.
Any thoughts?
Thanks again!
Rick
Another question. In the movie White Nights there is a point where Baryshnikov dances on the stage at the Kirov. He plays the tape of a Russian singer singing with his guitar. It is quite a powerful moment. I've been unable to locate this singer, I believe he was a banned poet/songwriter.
Any thoughts?
Thanks again!
Rick
Washington, DC
Hi Rick,
I don’t remember for sure, but still think that version must be in the movie. At least, the lines of the first verse correspond to its name:
Everything had turned out all right not at one stroke,
Moscow wasn’t built in a moment.
Moscow didn’t believe in tears,
But it believed in love…
and so on.
In fact, I have this version [didn’t have the one you offered; I’ve downloaded it through your link, thank you !]. And if it isn’t in the movie I can “throw” it on my site so that it’d be possible to download it from there. If you’d like to get it – just let me know. But I must say it’ll, probably, take quite a long time – to download it: servers aren’t quite good here 
.
And as for the White Nights, I haven’t seen it, unfortunately. But I was lucky today and found a little discussion upon this movie, and its participants mentioned this very fragment. The record of Vladimir Vysotsky sounded there. He was a great poet/songwriter – and my favourite one! Not so that he was exactly banned… He was an actor, and worked at one of the Moscow theatres, acted in some films, as well. But, of course, his activity was prevented by the officials in one way or another. For example, films he took part in were rather few, and some of them weren’t even demonstrated in those days; there were also very few “official” studio records made by him, and he never participated in “official” concerts. But, at the same time, he gave numerous concerts in different clubs, and so on. There were many “home” amateur records, and ones made during those concerts. Some records were made in France thanks to his wife and his friend, an artist and sculptor Mikhail Shemyakin (who was “chucked out” of USSR and lived in France and then in the U.S.A.). And people just taped and re-taped his songs one from another. So everyone knew him, and many loved…
Elizabeth,
Thank you
!
Love,
TH.
I don’t remember for sure, but still think that version must be in the movie. At least, the lines of the first verse correspond to its name:
Everything had turned out all right not at one stroke,
Moscow wasn’t built in a moment.
Moscow didn’t believe in tears,
But it believed in love…
and so on.
In fact, I have this version [didn’t have the one you offered; I’ve downloaded it through your link, thank you
!]. And if it isn’t in the movie I can “throw” it on my site so that it’d be possible to download it from there. If you’d like to get it – just let me know. But I must say it’ll, probably, take quite a long time – to download it: servers aren’t quite good here . And as for the White Nights, I haven’t seen it, unfortunately. But I was lucky today and found a little discussion upon this movie, and its participants mentioned this very fragment. The record of Vladimir Vysotsky sounded there. He was a great poet/songwriter – and my favourite one! Not so that he was exactly banned… He was an actor, and worked at one of the Moscow theatres, acted in some films, as well. But, of course, his activity was prevented by the officials in one way or another. For example, films he took part in were rather few, and some of them weren’t even demonstrated in those days; there were also very few “official” studio records made by him, and he never participated in “official” concerts. But, at the same time, he gave numerous concerts in different clubs, and so on. There were many “home” amateur records, and ones made during those concerts. Some records were made in France thanks to his wife and his friend, an artist and sculptor Mikhail Shemyakin (who was “chucked out” of USSR and lived in France and then in the U.S.A.). And people just taped and re-taped his songs one from another. So everyone knew him, and many loved…
Elizabeth,
Thank you
!Love,
TH.
Hi Helven,
Yes, Vladimir Vysotsky. Several years ago when I was looking for him there was little on the net. However there now seems to be some sites dedicated to him:
http://www.kulichki.com:8105/vv/eng/
and songs can be listened to at:
http://russia-in-us.com/Music/Artists/Visotsky/
White Nights is not a particularly good movie but when Baryshnikov danced alone in the hall to Vysotsky's song, well, it was high art. Worth the rental just to see it.
Thanks again!
Rick
Yes, Vladimir Vysotsky. Several years ago when I was looking for him there was little on the net. However there now seems to be some sites dedicated to him:
http://www.kulichki.com:8105/vv/eng/
and songs can be listened to at:
http://russia-in-us.com/Music/Artists/Visotsky/
White Nights is not a particularly good movie but when Baryshnikov danced alone in the hall to Vysotsky's song, well, it was high art. Worth the rental just to see it.
Thanks again!
Rick
Washington, DC
Dear Kush,
just a reminder .... the west won the cold war .... which means that the Russians had to go back to Russia ... which leads to the fact that ... Goodbye Lenin is a German movie
"or maybe she just has to sing for the sake of the song
and who do I think that I am to pretend that she's wrong"
quoting the great Townes van Zandt - I am riding my horse with his music, the horse that is as fast as polished steel
just a reminder .... the west won the cold war .... which means that the Russians had to go back to Russia ... which leads to the fact that ... Goodbye Lenin is a German movie
"or maybe she just has to sing for the sake of the song
and who do I think that I am to pretend that she's wrong"
quoting the great Townes van Zandt - I am riding my horse with his music, the horse that is as fast as polished steel
Last edited by Henning on Tue Oct 12, 2004 6:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Ah thank you Henning. My mistake. For some reason I thought of it as Russian when I posted, I s'pose because of the many references.
The Return is really Russian.
I hope your breath is not as hard as kerosene though
ps. Returning the favor Henning....i think that line goes "and who do I think that I am to decide that she is wrong"
The Return is really Russian.
I hope your breath is not as hard as kerosene though
ps. Returning the favor Henning....i think that line goes "and who do I think that I am to decide that she is wrong"
Hi Rick,
Thanks for the links! And you’re welcome !
I still translated other version completely:
Everything had turned out all right not at one stroke,
Moscow wasn’t built in a moment.
Moscow didn’t believe in tears,
But it believed in love.
Dusted with snow,
Bewitched by leafage,
It’ll find the warmth for a passer-by,
And land for a little tree.
Alexandra, Alexandra,
This city is yours and mine.
We became its destiny,
Peer into its face.
Whatever may happen in the beginning -
It’ll soothe every sorrow.
And now, Garden Ring
Has become our wedding one.
Then, the second verse is the same, and the second refrain is the same too. And an “additional” verse:
Moscow didn’t hide its troubles,
Moscow has seen anything,
[i.e. it came through every possible trouble]
But all the grieves and afflictions
Yielded to it.
[i.e. it overcame them]
Moscow’s love can’t be aroused at once,
But it’s true and clear
Since mother’s love
Is the most intense one.
“Garden Ring” – or Sadovoje Kol’tso – is a Moscow street.
Hi Kush,
Yes, The Return is really Russian . Still haven’t seen it, yet, too, but I heard it was good. I should see…
Thanks for the links! And you’re welcome
!I still translated other version completely:
Everything had turned out all right not at one stroke,
Moscow wasn’t built in a moment.
Moscow didn’t believe in tears,
But it believed in love.
Dusted with snow,
Bewitched by leafage,
It’ll find the warmth for a passer-by,
And land for a little tree.
Alexandra, Alexandra,
This city is yours and mine.
We became its destiny,
Peer into its face.
Whatever may happen in the beginning -
It’ll soothe every sorrow.
And now, Garden Ring
Has become our wedding one.
Then, the second verse is the same, and the second refrain is the same too. And an “additional” verse:
Moscow didn’t hide its troubles,
Moscow has seen anything,
[i.e. it came through every possible trouble]
But all the grieves and afflictions
Yielded to it.
[i.e. it overcame them]
Moscow’s love can’t be aroused at once,
But it’s true and clear
Since mother’s love
Is the most intense one.
“Garden Ring” – or Sadovoje Kol’tso – is a Moscow street.
Hi Kush,
Yes, The Return is really Russian
. Still haven’t seen it, yet, too, but I heard it was good. I should see…Helven, thank u for great translations!
You should really rent the " White Nights" with Baryshnikov, he is a darling 
The actor- i dont remeber his name(black guy) very good dancer and all- he died last year, I think it was last year, too sad. The movie is not the first class, but many things there very acurat and the movie is sweet.
Also Isabella Rosselini was playing a Russian girl there
Visotsky's song- (the one about the horses) was indeed very powerful there, I've seen the movie several times and always was moved by that scene.
I very much loved that movie- Burnt By Sun- that director is something else- Michalkov. Helven- has he done any other movies lately?
I really would love to see all of his work. The guy is a genius
Was the little girl, (such a great actress) his- Michalkov's daughter?
love
You should really rent the " White Nights" with Baryshnikov, he is a darling The actor- i dont remeber his name(black guy) very good dancer and all- he died last year, I think it was last year, too sad. The movie is not the first class, but many things there very acurat and the movie is sweet.
Also Isabella Rosselini was playing a Russian girl there
Visotsky's song- (the one about the horses) was indeed very powerful there, I've seen the movie several times and always was moved by that scene.
I very much loved that movie- Burnt By Sun- that director is something else- Michalkov. Helven- has he done any other movies lately?
I really would love to see all of his work. The guy is a genius
Was the little girl, (such a great actress) his- Michalkov's daughter?
love
bee
Hi Bee,
Nice to see you ! Thank you!
I don’t know why, but having found that discussion upon the White Nights, I thought of that very song (it wasn’t mentioned there which one was used in the movie). Oh, I llllllove it! That’s amazing - to learn that it really was “The Horses”. Well, now I just must see it!
Mikhalkov, for a long, long time, has been intending to shoot the sequel to that movie – Burnt By Sun 2. He planned to start picture-taking in the beginning of this year. And in 2005 the movie must be released. It’ll be about WWII, and the characters will be the same – all of them survived . And that girl was his daughter, indeed.
The Barber of Siberia was his “post-sun” item. It’s about Russia of XIX c. and about “mysterious russian soul” (
); “mysterious Russian soul through the eyes of an American” I’d say. Julia Ormond (spelling?) starred there – she played an American who visited Russia for the purpose of business, and fell in love with a Russian cadet. And that actor who took the part of Mitya in Burnt by Sun was her partner there.
He shot a mini serial for the TV, as well.
Love,
TH.
Nice to see you
! Thank you!I don’t know why, but having found that discussion upon the White Nights, I thought of that very song (it wasn’t mentioned there which one was used in the movie). Oh, I llllllove it! That’s amazing - to learn that it really was “The Horses”. Well, now I just must see it!
Mikhalkov, for a long, long time, has been intending to shoot the sequel to that movie – Burnt By Sun 2. He planned to start picture-taking in the beginning of this year. And in 2005 the movie must be released. It’ll be about WWII, and the characters will be the same – all of them survived
. And that girl was his daughter, indeed.The Barber of Siberia was his “post-sun” item. It’s about Russia of XIX c. and about “mysterious russian soul” (
); “mysterious Russian soul through the eyes of an American” I’d say. Julia Ormond (spelling?) starred there – she played an American who visited Russia for the purpose of business, and fell in love with a Russian cadet. And that actor who took the part of Mitya in Burnt by Sun was her partner there.He shot a mini serial for the TV, as well.
Love,
TH.
Hi Helven,
Well, now I must rent White Nights and put the song up (the Horses?) for you to translate for me! At this rate I will soon owe you a dinner or a bottle of wine!
Yes, at the end of Moscow Does Not Believe In Tears is another version of Alexandra with a female singer joining in and more instruments. It is quite nice and a bit longer so perhaps that's the one you translated.
Rick
Well, now I must rent White Nights and put the song up (the Horses?) for you to translate for me! At this rate I will soon owe you a dinner or a bottle of wine!
Yes, at the end of Moscow Does Not Believe In Tears is another version of Alexandra with a female singer joining in and more instruments. It is quite nice and a bit longer so perhaps that's the one you translated.
Rick
Washington, DC