Vladimir Vysotsky: Songs: Trans. by Hans Sleurink

Vysotsky's Lyrics: Translation by Hans Sleurink

The guy that used to be her guy
Where are they now, your 17 years?

Source: Vysotsky in German


The guy that used to be her guy
Russian title: Tot, kto ran'she s neyu byl
That night, I could not drink, or sing - 
I stood and eyeballed this sweet thing, 
Like kids watch candy, like kids watch candy. 
The guy that used to be her date, 
He told me: "You get lost now, mate", 
He told me: "You get lost now, mate, 
Your luck just ended". 

The man that used to be her man 
Got downright nasty with me then. 
I'd not been drinking, I could see clearly. 
Well, I was leaving anyhow, 
She smiled and said: "hey, easy now!" 
She smiled and said: "hey, easy now, 
It's kind of early!" 

The guy with whom she then hung out, 
He too remembered, there's no doubt - 
For some weeks later, for some weeks later, 
My friend and I were promenading, 
And there they were, all quietly waiting, 
And there they were, all quietly waiting 
A gang of eight. 

I got my knife and told myself: 
"Nobody puts me on the shelf! 
Beware you bastards! 
Why go uncalled for, and point-blank - 
I'd rather see you walk the plank, 
I'd rather see you walk the plank: 
Come meet your master!

The guy that used to be her guy 
He fixed me up with this surprise 
Just for the record, just for the record. 
One got behind me, and attacked, 
Valyukha shouted "Watch your back!"
Valyukha shouted "Watch your back!" 
But man, my back hurt. 

Eight crooks that brutally harrassed me: 
The cops decided to arrest me. 
I did my time, my wounds recovered. 
This doctor cut me up some more, 
He told me to take care, for sure! 
He told me to take care, for sure, 
I rose above it. 

Her love dissolved within a blink, 
She never seemed to stop or think, 
She's not to blame, though - love is blind, 
Mine's not to ask for reasons why, 
Mine's to get even with the guy, 
Mine's to get even with the guy, 
That used be her guy. 

Mine's not to ask for reasons why, 
Mine's to get even with the guy, 
The guy that used to be her guy - 
Just let me find him!
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Where are they now, your 17 years?
Russian title: Bol'shoj Karetnyj
You lost seventeen good years
At Bolshoy Karetnyi. 
Went through seventeen great fears
At Bolshoy Karetnyi. 
Your black hand gun - anywhere? 
At Bolshoy Karetnyi. 
What's the place without you there? 
At Bolshoy Karetnyi. 

Need I remind you of that house once more? 
Naw, you still remember, that's for sure. 
Yes, anybody's life is only half complete, 
If you haven't walked Koretnyi Street.

I'll bet you yes 
You lost seventeen good years 
At Bolshoy Karetnyi. 
Went through seventeen great fears 
At Bolshoy Karetnyi. 
Your black hand gun - anywhere? 
At Bolshoy Karetnyi. 
What's the place without you there? 
At Bolshoy Karetnyi. 

Well, a while ago they changed it's name, 
Things are turning into a whole new game. 
No matter where you go to find what must be found: 
I betcha that Koretnyi Street is all around, 

I betcha yeah 
You lost seventeen good years 
At Bolshoy Karetnyi. 
Went through seventeen great fears 
At Bolshoy Karetnyi. 
Your black hand gun - anywhere? 
At Bolshoy Karetnyi. 
What's the place without you there? 
At Bolshoy Karetnyi. 
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