Driftwood 7 34

Driftwood 7 34

Again, I’m disappointed in the available English versions of this beautiful Commie song. In the Swedish original, this scene is funny in a different way, because the Swedish lyrics are much less bloodthirsty than the Russian version. (Then again, how many people know both Swedish and Russian and thus get it …? Oh well.)

This English translation (the most singable I could find so far, from Wikipedia) is very close to the Russian version, but I still think the Russian lyrics are even more fun: “Merciless death to all supostates! To all parasites of the working masses! Torture and death to all tzar-plutocrats!” :3

Driftwood’s Slavonics lesson #356:
When Russians say the wrong word or pronounce something wrong (or, in this case, start talking in the wrong language), they have a cute way of pretending to spit out the wrong word by saying “T’fu!”
“Prosím?” is of course Czech for “Excuse me?”. Read more about “prosím” at Radio Praha.


Discussion (3)¬

  1. Ilmari says:

    Aha, a joke on the old CPR chestnut. I’ve lost count of the number of times resuscitation has been used as a metaphor or excuse for kissing. I’m guessing Eva hasn’t seen enough bad television to be irritated by that… or just really wants to get Willie and Aeron together. Probably both, actually.

    I’m just wondering, exactly where the story is currently taking place that Aeron can get such bad sunburn – and presumably heatstroke. I had previously assumed that that truly outstanding expanse of sand was just an impressive beach (we have some like that down in Australia), but now I’m wondering if this isn’t some sort of desert connecting with the sea…

    “Merciless death to all supostates! To all parasites of the working masses! Torture and death to all tzar-plutocrats!”

    Good lord. You know, sometimes I understand those communist-phobics. I’ll admit that does have a nice ring to it, though – though it’s very far removed from the Spanish and Portuguese songs that are the mainstay of my socialist song collection.

    Which reminds me, thanks for the link to the Punakaartin Marssi song – as it happened, I’ve already heard that, and from the sound of things my version is exactly the one used in the video. But cheers anyway, I really like that one.

    -Aidan.

  2. Ainur says:

    Oh, the intricacies of the Slavic tongues. I didn’t spend enough time in Croatia to learn to use the words on the right occasions, but there seems to be a distinction between “oprostite” (pardon, which is also used) and “molim” (please) which doesn’t quite follow English. For example, “molim” as a question means “pardon, what were you saying?” I managed to have a little conversation with an old lady by simply repeating every word she said, like “da, da”, “dobra familija”, “hvala Bogu”…

  3. Tinet says:

    Aidan: I guess Eva likes that kind of stupidly obvious humour … I do, too. ;o)

    Aeron was in the Gobi desert. It will be even more clear in a moment, but that scene where he climbed up the huge dune and suddenly was back on the beach should already tell you that the desert wasn’t really there. :o) He doesn’t have a heat stroke, though – he was just sleeping because he didn’t get any sleep all night.

    As for the Russian Warszawianka, well, if you consider the historical context and apply Old Testament justice, maybe it can be understandable … It has a beautiful melody, anyway, and in many other languages the lyrics are much more friendly. :o)
    I’m glad you knew the March of the Red Guard already! It’s one of my biggest favourites.

    Ainur: Aww, old Slavic ladies. It makes me miss Russia. ;_;