The Volga Boatmen's Song
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The Song of the Volga Boatmen is a well-known traditional Russian song collected by Mily Balakirev, and published in his book of folk songs. It is a genuine barge-haulers' shanty. Balakirev published it with only one verse (the first). The other two verses were added at a later date. The song, also called The Volga Burlak's Song, was inspired by Repin's famous painting, Burlaks on the Volga, depicting the suffering of the people in the depth of misery in Czarist Russia. It has been adapted into the club song of the Fremantle Football Club, called Freo Way to Go.
The song was popularised by Feodor Chaliapin, and has been a favourite concert piece of bass singers ever since. Glen Miller took the song to #1 in the US charts in 1941.
(Traditional)
Refrain
Yo, heave ho! Yo, heave ho!
Once more, once again, still once more
Verse 1
Now we fell the stout birch tree,
Now we pull hard: one, two, three.
Ay-da, da, ay-da!
Ay-da, da, ay-da!
Now we fell the stout birch tree
Yo, heave ho!
Hey, hey, let's heave a-long the way
to the sun we sing our song
Verse 2
As the barges float along,
To the sun we sing our song.
Ay-da, da, ay-da!
Ay-da, da, ay-da!
To the sun we sing our song.
Hey, hey, let's heave a-long the way
to the sun we sing our song
Verse 3
Volga, Volga our pride,
Mighty stream so deep and wide.
Ay-da, da, ay-da!
Ay-da, da, ay-da!
Mighty stream so deep and wide.
Volga, Volga you're our pride.
Lyrics in Russian:
Эй, ухнем!
Эй, ухнем!
Еще разик, еще раз!
Разовьем мы березу,
Разовьем мы кудряву!
Ай-да, да ай-да, ай-да, да ай-да,
Разовьем мы кудряву.
Мы по бережку идем,
Песню солнышку поем.
Ай-да, да ай-да, ай-да, да ай-да,
Песню солнышку поем.
Эй, эй, тяни канат сильней!
Песню солнышку поем.
Эй, ухнем!
Эй, ухнем!
Еще разик, еще раз!
Эх ты, Волга, мать-река,
Широка и глубока,
Ай-да, да ай-да, ай-да, да ай-да,
Широка и глубока.
Эй, ухнем!
Эй, ухнем!
Еще разик, еще раз!
Эй, ухнем!
Эй, ухнем!
