"Kalinka" (Russian: Калинка) might be the best-known Russian song of all time. It has been mistaken as being a genuine folksong, but was actually written in 1860 by the composer and folklorist Ivan Petrovich Larionov 1830-1889 and first performed in Saratov as part of a theatrical entertainment that he had composed. Soon it was added to the repertory of a folk choral group.
The song celebrates a snowball tree, with a speedy tempo and light-hearted lyrics. Singers and dancers many a time get into a frenzied celebration of song and dance while performing this song. The actual content of the song cannot be translated, as it possesses many Russian expressions and words that can hold a double meaning and have no equivalent in other languages.
In 2003, Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea FC. Since then, "Kalinka" has been associated with the London based Football Club and is often played before or after important matches, including the Champions League clashes with FC Barcelona and the Carling Cup final.
Several clubs and companies have been named Kalinka as well as a breed of show dog, the Kalinka terrier, and a minor character in Mega Man 4.
In 1998 the Danish band Infernal covered the song to popularity in Scandinavia.
In Crash Tag Team Racing track Tire & Ice, a slight sound of Kalinka is heard.
"Kalinka" is one of the themes for Atari's arcade version of Tetris. (The power-on test identifies the track as "Sound Number 7".)
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Калинка, калинка, калинка моя! В саду ягода малинка, малинка моя!
Ах, под сосною, под зеленою, Спать положите вы меня! Ай-люли, люли, ай-люли, Спать положите вы меня.
Калинка, калинка, калинка моя! В саду ягода малинка, малинка моя!
Ах, сосенушка ты зеленая, Не шуми же надо мной! Ай-люли, люли, ай-люли, Не шуми же надо мной!
Калинка, калинка, калинка моя! В саду ягода малинка, малинка моя!
Ах, красавица, душа-девица, Полюби же ты меня! Ай-люли, люли, ай-люли, Полюби же ты меня!
Калинка, калинка, калинка моя! В саду ягода малинка, малинка моя!
Kalinka, kalinka, kalinka moya! V sadu yagoda malinka, malinka moya!
Akh, pod sosnoyu, pod zelenoyu, Spat’ polozhite vy menya! Ay-lyuli, lyuli, ay-lyuli, Spat’ polozhite vy menya.
Kalinka, kalinka, kalinka moya! V sadu yagoda malinka, malinka moya!
Akh, sosyenushka ty zyelyenaya, Nye shumi zhe nado mnoy! Ay-lyuli, lyuli, ay-lyuli, Nye shumi zhe nado mnoy!
Kalinka, kalinka, kalinka moya! V sadu yagoda malinka, malinka moya!
Akh, krasavitsa, dusha-dyevitsa, Polyubi zhe ty myenya! Ay-lyuli, lyuli, ay-lyuli, Polyubi zhe ty myenya!
Kalinka, kalinka, kalinka moya! V sadu yagoda malinka, malinka moya!
Little snowberry, snowberry of mine in the garden, raspberry, little raspberry of mine
Ah, Under the pine, the green one, Lay me down to sleep, Ah, lully lully, ah lully lully, Lay me down to sleep
Chorus
Ah, Little pine, little green one, Don't rustle above me, Ah, lully lully, ah lully lully, Don't rustle above me
Chorus
Ah, you beauty, pretty maiden, Fall in love with me, Ah, lully lully, ah lully lully, Fall in love with me
Chorus
Калинка, калинка, калинка моя, В саду ягода малинка, малинка моя,
Под сосною под зеленою Спать положите вы меня.
Ах! Сосенушка ты зеленая, Не шуми же надо мной!
Ах! Красавица, душа девица, Полюби же ты меня!
Juniper, juniper, juniper, my juniper, In the garden there's the berry, my raspberry.
Under the pine, under the green pine, Lay me down to sleep
Oh you dear pine, oh you green pine, Don't you rustle so loud over me
Beautiful maid, dear maid, please fall in love with me!
Sample from the song by the Red Army Choir: