My Virtual Reading Room

Translation of lyrics:

You will perhaps think it odd,
But I've suddenly discovered that it's good to be drunk.
I thought perhaps I imagined it--
So I had another drink,
And it turned out to be a real cool feeling!

Y'all are going to say, "Your foolishness is out of place.
'Cause it's good to be kind, it's good to be honest",
Hey, I'm not against any of that--
It's wonderful to be humane, smart, kind, honest,
But drunk, along with all of that.

Y'understand, Misha, or what's your name? Kolya,
Life, it is of course beautiful even without the aid of alcohol.
Things like--women, or Mozart--lots of entertaining activities one could engage in--
If you wanna, you play cards, or if you want to, you believe in God.

I myself, one time, didn't drink a drop--
And for quite a long time, all the way from Easter until Eid-al-Adha,
And I walked around like Byron, proud and lookin' smart--
Well, generally, it was interesting, but very much not what I'm used to.

Folks, life without alcohol is good,
But a bit bland, like broth without salt,
Somehow a bit boring, or even a bit too constricted,
Like a sister without a brother, or a language without swear words.

Somewhere, in a quiet grove of trees,
A nightingale is singing.
One really wants a drink...
Well, if you really wanna, then go ahead and drink!

Y'understand, Kolya, or what's your name? Misha,
Our life is enough to drive one round the bend,
Everything is going according to plan,
And our plan is a good one,
Only thing is--the growth of the number of idiots is exponential.

They pry into your heart like a thug with a metal pipe,
And what if you're an artist, with a sensitive nature?
What if you are concerned about your soul, all the time?
You'll drink even if you don't want to--
Although, actually, you will want to.

And so, life throws nasty things at you, and even nastier,
But you couldn't care less,
Because boom! and you're drunk.
You can live in a constant state of neurosis,
Get mad, punch people in the phiz,
Or you can have a drink
And think about nice things.

In our homeland,
Where there are forests and fields,
And circus with horses,
And coffins with decorations,
I will live with dignity
And to spite all the dummies,
I will be honest, and kind,
And along with that, a bit drunk too.