SADOVNIKOV, Dmitry

Stenka Razin

From beyond the wooded island

To the river wide and free

Proudly sailed the arrow-breasted

Ships of Cossack yeomanry.

On the first is Stenka Razin

With his princess by his side

Drunken holds in marriage revels

With his beauteous young bride.

From behind there comes a murmur

"He has left his sword to woo;

One short night and Stenka Razin

Has become a woman, too."

Stenka Razin hears the murmur

Of his discontented band

And his lovely Persian princess

He has circled with his hand.

His dark brows are drawn together

As the waves of anger rise;

And the blood comes rushing swiftly

To his piercing jet black eyes.

"I will give you all you ask for

Head and heart and life and hand."

And his voice rolls out like thunder

Out across the distant land.

Volga, Volga, Mother Volga

Wide and deep beneath the sun,

You have never such a present

From the Cossacks of the Don.

So that peace may reign forever

In this band so free and brave

Volga, Volga, Mother Volga

Make this lovely girl a grave.

Now, with one swift mighty motion

He has raised his bride on high

And has cast her where the waters

Of the Volga roll and sigh.

Now a silence like the grave

Sinks to all who stand and see

And the battle-hardened Cossacks

Sink to weep on bended knee.

"Dance, you fools, and let's be merry

What is this that's in your eyes?

Let us thunder out a chantey

To the place where beauty lies."

From beyond the wooded island

To the river wide and free

Proudly sailed the arrow-breasted

Ships of Cossack yeomanry.