Summer Ends

I've been in autumn kind of mood lately. The leaves haven't began to turn their brilliant reds and yellows but the nights are crisper and the wind blowing through me reminds me that summer has passed and its time for coats and sweaters.

On the way from work I was listening to one of my favorite Russian bards, Kookin. Listening to his music reminds how beautiful Russian language is. It's like reading Pushkin you can't help but be amazed at the beautiful flow of my mother tongue.

Kookin's songs are so simple (probably not wise to compare him to Pushkin) and yet so appropriate and beautiful every time I listen to them. This time it was the song about summer's end that struck me as especially poignant. "A vsetaki zjal chto konchelas leto...konchelas leto." [And really it's sad that summer is over....Summer is over. (Or something along those lines.)]

Autumn is one of my favorite season, but there is nothing like the hope of summer.

Anyway, if you don't know anything about Russian Bards you should start with Vladimir Visotsky. (He's like a manly Russian version of Dylan.) He was so well known and loved that even the KGB couldn't touch him. Russian bards were the bohemians of Russia. They put poetry to simple guitar notes and didn't sing the standard Soviet party line. Visotsky said and sang words others couldn't get away with but because he was so popular with the people, the government couldn't punish him.
Here he sings "The Reincarnation Song"*



If you ever saw White Nights with Mokhail Baryshnikov there was a spectacular scene where he dances with his sneakers on as Visotsky plays on. (The sound quality is poor, but here's the scene via Youtube, got to about 2:21 to see the dancing and hear the music. Rent the movie if you can, it has beautiful shots of St. Petersburg and more importantly great dancing by Gregory Hines and Baryshnikov.)



Visotsky's voice is passionate, ironic, weary, and truthful at the same time. You might even like if you don't understand a word he's saying.





* Translation:

THE REINCARNATION SONG

Some may believe in Jesus, some in Mohammed or whatever, Some don'’t believe in anything, just to spite them all. There is a good belief in India, and it is rather clever: That when we kick the bucket we don'’t pass away for all. To rise to heaven you may strive: You'’ll have a dream when born again, But if you'’ve lived a piggy'’s life, A piggy you'’ll remain. If people look askance at you, take all reproaches easy, Don'’t worry, you'’ll be born again a man with a mordant tongue, And if you'’ve seen the death of a foe, there'’s every reason To think that after death you will be born a keen-eyed man. So keep on living, and have fun, Be happy and don'’t bother, Maybe, your soul will settle down In some big boss's body. If you are engaged in sweeping streets, you'’ll be an engineer, And maybe slowly grow into a minister in time. But if you're dull and stupid, you'’ll be born a baobab-tree and’ Will remain one for a thousand years or more, until you die. It'’s bad to live a parrot'’s life, Or be a snake-like demon, Hadn'’t one better live a life Of just a decent human? Well, who is who and who was who, to this there is no answer, Geneticists are off their nuts over chromosomes and genes. Perhaps that shabby looking cat at one time was a rascal, And this good natured person was a friendly dog, it seems. I jump for joy, just like a kid, And I avoid all hindrance, A very good belief indeed Has been thought up by Indians!