I present to you the first-ever, as far as I know, translations of Egor Letov to English. Egor Letov is the premier contemporary nihilst and existentialist in Russia; the translations posted here are from his early "nihilism" phase, circa 1984-1989. Admittedly, his later "existentialist" phase is much better, but more difficult to translate. (The poetics gets much more involved and flowery.)

In any case, enjoy, and remember that you saw it here first.

Optimism

You know how to weep -- you're going to die.
Someone's writing on walls -- he's going to die.
She has beutiful eyes -- she's going to die.
It is time to relax -- we're going to die.


Someone's writing on walls -- he's going to die.
It smells of spring showers -- someone just died.
They have something to say -- they're going to die.
Someone's quetly laughing -- I'm going to die.


I dared to speak the Word -- I'm going to die.
I dared to sing "fuck!" (*) -- someone just died.
Someone's watching the Sun -- he's almost dead.
Someone's watching my step -- he's ready to die.


  This is optimism.
  Our optimism.
  New optimism.


(*) Alternative version: "I dared to take this step"

(c. 1985, Listen to the original. [MP3])

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Children's World

This didn't happen to me, it was only a guess,
Someone smashed my window, someone smashed my glass.
Very difficult to run with a gun strapped to your back,
With a yo-yo in your head and a target on your back.


  Children's World
  It's a Children's World


Someone's crawling in my trench, bloody and a bit unhinged,
But no matter what I do, he will die without my help.
If you tried to draw all this, you would get a sticky stain,
Very large and sticky stain, very hard to know your place.


  Children's World
  It's a Children's World


I will shoot me in the head, get some funny juice to flow,
If you try this game again, it will double all the fun.
When there's nothing left to lose, you can tolerate much more,
You can play the happy game, roam the fields collecting flowers.


  Children's World
  It's a Children's World


(c. 1986, Listen to the original. [MP3])

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The Zoo

No need to treasure, no need to wait,
No need for faith, no need for lies,
No need to fall, no need to drink,
No need to weep, no need to live.


  I need people like myself,
  Crazy and a little strange,
  Crazy and a little sick.
  Time will come and I will find them,
  We will leave without a fight,
  We will leave you in the night,
  We're leaving the zoo.


Oh baby, baby, you're like a squeak,
You're like a point when you don't speak,
But you're too many, my eyes are dim,
I wish I could just smash the glass.


  I need people like myself,
  Crazy and a little strange,
  Crazy and a little sick.
  Time will come and I will find them,
  We will leave without a fight,
  We will leave you in the night,
  We're leaving the zoo.


More empty sounds, more empty days,
You're one too many, and we are strays,
The hands of children are holding knives,
I'm hoping all this is simply lies.


  I need people like myself,
  Crazy and a little strange,
  Crazy and a little sick.
  Time will come and I will find them,
  We will leave without a fight,
  We will leave you in the night,
  We're leaving the zoo.


(c. 1986, Listen to the original. [MP3])

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Unclarity of Mind

Dreaming inside-out
I am tripping on level ground
Dreaming inside-out
Strands of hair in the cup of my water


  Dirty bandage and glass after glass.
  Dirty bandage and glass after glass.


I have seen the day
I saw in the sky, there someone was walking
I have seen the day
Wandering windows of waxen lights


  Dirty bandage and glass after glass.
  Dirty bandage and glass after glass.


Please prohibit me
I'm strung out over and over
Please prohibit me
I already feel the high wearing off


  Dirty bandage and glass after glass.
  Dirty bandage and glass after glass.


(c. 1987, Listen to the original. [MP3])

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