Vladimir Vysotsky

If your friend just became a man,
Not a friend, not a foe, — just so,
If you cannot simply conclude,
If he's bad or he's good, -
Take him up to the top — don't stop!
Do not leave him alone, on his own,
Let him share the same view with you--
There you’ll know who is who.

We came in time – there’s no lateness to God’s palace.

No mourning widows come to this place -
The people who come here are tougher.
No crosses are placed on the brotherly graves,
But how can that bring any comfort?...

So there, the tremor left my hands
Now — to the top.
The fear has plunged into the depths
Now, I won’t stop!

No cause for rest, no time to ease
I skid, I screech,
And in this world there are no peaks
That can’t be reached!

We’re not scared of foolish talk-
In response we run and walk.
Amateurs--triumphant from the start.
Beautiful — right from beginning
No one’s losing, no one’s winning!
Stationary running‘s bringing
Peace to hearts.

To the bustle of cities and the crowded streets
We return, for these places have bound us.
We descend from the conquered mountain peaks,
Leaving our hearts in the mountains.

I’ve proven it all to myself many times,
So stop your debates, I beseech,
And to me, the one thing that is better than heights,
Is the height that I haven’t yet reached!

If the guy on the peak got weak,
Found it all hard to bear — got scared,
Took one step on the ice — surprised,
And froze up, — paralyzed,
Then the one you held close is false,
Do not bother to yell — expel, -
We can’t take such aboard, and in short,
We don’t sing of his sort.

No crosses are placed on the brotherly graves,
And here no widows are mourning.
Some only bring flowers to honor the place,
And keep the Eternal flames burning.

This earth used to spurt and abandon its sleighs,
But now it just sleeps in the sun.
And here there are no individual fates -
All fates have grown into one.

If the guy didn’t whine or pine,
Appeared stern and upset, but went,
And when you suddenly slipped, his grip
Kept you up on the cliff;
If he walked right along, seemed strong,
On the top stood like he belonged, —
Then, whenever it all seems grim,
You can count on him!

There's no difference at all between the Truth and the Lie, -
Strip them both naked, you'll never know who is who.

I see my dream, in full awareness
Above all else,
I still believe in truth and fairness
Of words and depths!