Brest Fortresses Lyrics & music by ILyas Autov / Translated by Lizz Zakharoff We were not carried by storm We have opened gates by ourselves. Even those who have hurt us till bleeding Were offered to live in peace. They were amazed That we were so careless And have taken artificial guilt On our humble shoulders. Huge guilt was imposed on us By arrogant European standards: It is our Asian mix And our Cyclopian scale… Continuing to penetrate into our houses This highly-experienced foreign land Has started nibbling our roots – Since without roots it’s easier to negotiate. It has eaten our scientists and doctors It has strangled cinematograph It has gnawed the teachers And geographer has drunk away his globe. It has gnawed holes in brain To implement clobber inside. Our will was completely destroyed And our memory was holed as well. And when they started To call us “stupid absurdity” in our face I decided something’s got to give And turned into Brest fortress. On a sliver of Motherland I have become robust in all-round defense For the occupants not to be able To trample this land For our children not to be given In slavery of their babel culture. If only I could go to the war earlier! But we were cunningly cheated. The world jigged to the enemy’s tune And betrayers were all on clover Nazis’ horns got stronger And blessed fools joined them in singing. And it seemed it is just one step to abyss And when this abyss opened up Our Motherland’s flag sailed up into the clouds – It was one more fortress struggling! And others were also struggling far off All in smoke but full of life. Thus not all were got down By “do-gooders” of our Motherland. And then I got it: give us some time And we will sweep evil spirits away! Our people cannot be reduced to dust They can only be reduced to gunpowder. God forbid you to go with weapon to them And check this powder’s strength - They do not beat enemy by ones They throw them down in graves like Reich. But this lesson did not do good And just in two generations New Reich started blooming at door Wanting tribute and obedience. How many times shall we explain to the fools And repeat our grandfathers’ words: All accounts are paid in full On the Great 9th of May! So again we shall explain to the fools And repeat our grandfathers’ words: We will always pay your any accounts On the Great 9th of May!