Farewell of Slavianka/Прощание славянки

Farewell of Slavianka/Прощание славянки

by composer Vasily Ivanovich Agapkin/Василий Иванович Агапкин ( b.1884 d.1964 )

This VERY POWERFUL Russian patriotic march, was inspired by The First Balkan War of 1912. It was written about the Bulgarian women ( Slavic women ) escorting their men, as they left home to fight for their independence against the tyrannical Ottoman Empire.

The song has been used with different versions over the years. The original version of 1912 did not have any lyrics. Subsequent versions of the song, have had lyrics written for it which were relevant for the times.

The march was used by the Russian Empire in World War 1.

Later it became the unofficial anthem of Admiral Kolchak and the White Army, during the Russian Civil War ( 1917-1922 ).

A generation later, it was used by the Soviet Army, during their war against the Nazi Juggernaut of World War 2.

The Russians played it in Red Square - Nov 7th 1941 before sending off the troops to battle the German invaders a few scarce miles away - poised to take Moscow.
They played it again, before they fought the final, victorious battle of  The Great Patriotic War ( 1941-1945 )...The Battle of Berlin - 1945

Simply put - EPIC

"Farewell of Slavianka"

The moment of parting is nigh

You look into my eyes with alarm.

I sense your dear breath,

And far away the storm is already gathering.

A tremor ran through the blue, misty air,

Alarm touched my temples,

And Russia calls us to a feat,

A breath is wafting from the marching regiments.

Farewell, the land of the fathers,

Remember us.

Farewell, dear glance,

Forgive-farewell, Forgive-farewell...

Years fly by

Trains disappear in the dark.

In them—the soldiers.

And in the dark sky

The soldier's star is shining.

In them—the soldiers.

And in the dark sky

The soldier's star is shining.

refrain

Forests, the steppe, junctions stand in the steppe

The light of the twilight, evening, morning—So,

don't forget the Slavic woman's farewell,

Repeat it to yourself in your soul!

No, the soul will not be indifferent—

The lights of justice shine...

For love, for the great fraternity

We have sacrificed our lives.

refrain

Years fly by,

A the song—you are always with us.

We remember you,

And in the dark sky

The soldier's star is shining.

refrain