Eisen and Abramov sing Black Raven 1956 London

The fabulously beautiful but desperately sad «Black Raven» (Чёрный ворон or Chorni Voron).

Soundtrack: Artur Arturovich Eisen (Артур Артурович Эйзен) and Nicolai A. Abramov (Николай А. Абрамов) sing Black Raven with the Alexandrov Ensemble, conducted by Boris Alexandrovich Alexandrov in London, 1956.

Abramov, a choral soloist, was constantly irritated by record companies confusing his name with others when crediting solos and duets. However the soundtrack and images here have been confirmed by the great bass Leonid Mikhailovich Kharitonov, who was in the choir with Abramov until 1965. Kharitonov's channel is here: www.youtube.com/user/LHaritonov

Чёрный ворон, что ты вьёшся,
Что ты вьёшся надо мной?
Ты добычи не добьешься.
Чёрный ворон, я не твой.

Что-ж ты когти распускаешь
Над моею головой?
Иль добычу себе чаешь?
Черный ворон, я не твой!

Отлети в мою сторонку,
Скажи маменьке моей,
Ты скажи, молви, любезной,
Что за Родину я пал.

Отнеси платок кровавый
Милой любушке моей.
Ты скажи — она свободна,
Я женился на другой.

Калена стрела венчала
Среди битвы роковой.
Вижу, смерть моя приходит,
Черный ворон, весь я твой.
—

BLACK RAVEN

O Black Raven, do not circle
In the sky above my head
I am not yours, o Black Raven,
I am not yet, not yet dead.

Do not stretch your mighty talons,
O Black Raven, at my head,
You are dreaming of your quarry,
But I am not yet, not yet dead.

I will tie my wound with kerchief
That was given as a gift,
I will talk to you about
Only one important thing.

Would you fly towards my home,
Give my mother farewell.
Tell my dear, o Black Raven,
For the Homeland I fell.

Would you fetch the bloody kerchief
To my darling, to my love,
(To my darling, best beloved)
Tell her she is free from now,
I do have another wife.

I took a bride that's shy and modest
Under bushes in a glade.
And we had a good matchmaker:
Razor-sharp my honest blade.

A sharp arrow has wed us
In the midst of deadly wars,
And I feel my death a-coming,
O Black Raven, I am yours.

(Grateful thanks to Sanekgorbunek for this translation)