AUDIO VIDEO
BY GEORGE TOKAREV PH.D.,
Performance Gregory Taylor (USA).
Translated by George Tokarev © GEORGE TOKAREV 1999
VLADIMIR VYSOTSKY (1938-1980) FAIRY TALES IN SONG
Vladimir Vysotsky’s versatility in songs is but amazing! He wrote songs about wars, sports, seas, mountains, criminals and – fairy tales! In 1976 Vysotsky wrote songs to the radio show “Alice in Wonderland”. Every single character acting in this tale got their own song. Of course, the author Lewis Carroll got his song too. Here goes my translation of this very song. Arranged and performed by Gregory Taylor (USA).
LEWIS CARROL’S SONG
Please, solve a riddle — I hope you won't fail,
(Alice can't solve it, though she's bright and bold):
What will remain of the fairy tale
Right after this tale to children is told?
Where would fairies go in the end?
Where’s the pipe with its magic falsetto?
Ah ? Eh ... listen, my friend,
This is the heart of the matter!
Of course, they never melt away, of course, they wouldn't disappear
Those magic things you heard in tales or witnessed in your dream ...
They simply move to Wonderland, from now on they’re living here —
You’ll see that Wonderland is full with fairies to the brim.
Many odd riddles this Wonderland keeps,
You may get lost on each path that you step on,
Yes, you are brave — but it gives you the creeps
If you imagine what can only happen!
If on your way an abyss you must jump —
Will you? Or are you with fright seized and shattered?
Ah? Eh ... my little chum,
This is the heart of the matter!
Both Good and Evil in this land you’ll certainly encounter,
But here they are not confused - they carry different flags ..
A lot of stories gad about this weird magic county
And fantasies are running there on graceful fragile legs.