VLADIMIR VYSOTSKY (1938-1980)
In the previous issue of this magazine I asked a question – How many love songs have been written the world over? The easy answer was – as many as there are stars in the sky. Now I want to ask another question – How many hate songs have been written? As far as I know – only one. And of course the artist who wrote this song is Vladimir Vysotsky. In his song “I hate” he paradoxically expressed his life-asserting credo, the code of nobility, gentle-manhood and dignity.
"I Hate"
I hate the fatal end — it’s so clear,
Life never makes me tired, faint or blue,
And I do hate each season of the year
When I don’t sing my merry songs to you.
I hate the guy who’s cynical and cold;
I’m rather cautious seeing too much glee;
I hate to see the lad so rude and bold,
Who reads my letters peeping over me.
I’m full of bile when things are half-completed,
To cut the talk abruptly — it’s a shame!
To shoot in someone’s back is mean and bitter,
To shoot the man point blank is just the same!
Conceit and vanity, I think, are both rotten —
I’d rather have a car with no brakes ...
It’s a disgrace that honor is forgotten
But in the race of life the squealers win the stakes
For gossip, tittle-tattle I don’t care,
I hate both wavering and grandeur-gaining fuss,
I hate it when I’m stroked against the hair,
I hate to see how iron crushes glass.
The broken wings in me wake no compassion,
Though I am not too callous or too hard;
And though I hate depression and aggression,
The martyrdom of Christ still breaks my heart.
I hate myself when I get feet so cold
That I can watch how innocents are hit ...
I hate it when they break into my soul,
And hate it when into my soul they spit.
I hate it when true art is turned to vending ,
When tawdry jesters’ fortunes dissipate ...
And even if great changes are impending,
I’ll never fall in love with what I hate!
Performance
Translated by George Tokarev
© GEORGE TOKAREV 2001
READ MORE
Audio Video
HATE In Music
Audio Video