VLADIMIR VYSOTSKY (1938-1980)
When (ages ago!) I saw the title “Rocky Raccoon” on the song list of the Beatles’ “White Album” I was rather excited. “Wow! – I thought, these geniuses even wrote a song about an animal!” But soon my excitement evaporated – Rocky Raccoon is just a nickname of some cowboy from Dakota. The song, though great as always with the Beatles, has nothing to do with the animals. This “animal niche in music was doomed to remain empty if not for Vladimir Vysotsky who wrote a series of songs about animals. He created songs about wolves, horses, parrots, in one of these animal songs the main figure is a goat (a scape goat to be precise). Among these songs there is a song about a giraffe. And not only about the giraffe – practically entire zoo act out in this song. Of course, it is a poetic parable or a fable. Thus as in any fable, animals only represent human beings – their habits, behavior, actions and moral positions. This Giraffe song is actually condemning racial prejudice, on the one hand, and shameful conformism, on the other. Listening to a funny song, people can easily see their own portraits and grasp a serious message. And learn a lesson.
Here is my translation of the song by Vladimir Vysotsky “About mixed marriages or what happened in Africa”. It is performed by a Swedish musician and vocalist Michael Ohlsson.
Once in Chad or Cameroon - Where the sun is scorching,
Painting grass and rocks maroon -There happened a misfortune.
Said old Lion: “Flood I smell, For the best let’s hope!”
All because Giraffe once fell - In love with Antelope!
Beasts began to neigh and bray - But smart Parrot, old and gray,
Stated wisely from his nest: “Giraffe is big! He knows best!”
“Horns of hers deserve no scorn!” — That Giraffe would shout .
“Equal we are now born - Fathers’ norms are out!
If my herd speak ill of her - Snub her for no reason
Then I’ll leave this foul herd - And don’t call it treason!”
Beasts began to neigh and bray - But smart Parrot, old and gray,
Stated wisely from his nest - “Giraffe is big! He knows best!”
Antelope’s Dad resents - His prospective sonny:
“What his muzzle represents - Is comical and funny!
No assent will he receive - From me, a spotted dope!”
Thus, to zebras went to live - Giraffe with Antelope!
Beasts began to neigh and bray - But smart Parrot, old and gray,
Stated wisely from his nest - “Giraffe is big! He knows best!”
Now in Cameroon or Chad -There’s no quiet, nope!
Crying hard, they feel so sad -Giraffe with Antelope.
But there’s nothing they can do -Laws are now surprising —
Their daughter shocked them too - Having wed a bison!
Yes, Giraffe was wrong enough -Yet we shouldn’t blame Giraffe,
But that one, stating from his nest - “Giraffe is big! He knows best!”
Stated wisely from his nest - “Giraffe is big! He knows best!”
Performance
Translated by George Tokarev
© GEORGE TOKAREV 2001
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aNIMALS In Music
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