Песни (сборник) - Борис Гребенщиков

Дерево

Ты – дерево, твое место в саду,И, когда мне темно, я вхожу в этот сад.Ты – дерево, и ты у всех на виду,Но если я буду долго смотреть на тебя,Ты услышишь мой взгляд.

Ты – дерево, твой ствол прозрачен и чист,Но я касаюсь рукой и ты слышишь меня.Ты – дерево, и я как осиновый лист,Но ты ребенок воды и земли, а я сын огня.

Я буду ждать тебя там, где ты скажешь мне,Там, где ты скажешь мне,Пока эта кровь во мне, и ветер в твоих ветвях,Я буду ждать тебя, ждать тебя.

Ты – дерево, твоя листва в облаках,Но вот лист пролетел мимо лица.Ты – дерево, и мы в надежных руках;Мы будем ждать, пока не кончится времяИ встретимся после конца.

1986

Очарованный тобой

Очарованный тобойМой лес, – ослепительный сад,Неподвижный и прямой все дни.Кто мог знать, что мыНикогда не вернемся назад,Однажды выйдя из дверей.

Очарованный тобой, я ничего не скажу,Между нами нет стекла и нечего бить.Кто мог знать, что нам –Нам будет нечего пить,Хотя вода течет в наших руках…

Скажи мне хоть слово, я хочу слышать тебя!

И оставленный один, беззащитен и смят.Этот выбор был за мной, и я прав,Вот мой дом, мой ослепительный садИ отражение ясных звездВ темной воде, в темной воде, в темной воде…

1987

Поколение дворников

Поколение дворников и сторожейПотеряло друг другаВ просторах бесконечной земли,Все разошлись по домам.В наше время,Когда каждый третий – герой,Они не пишут статей,Они не шлют телеграмм,Они стоят как ступени,Когда горящая нефтьХлещет с этажа на этаж,И откуда-то им слышится пение.И кто я такой, чтобы говорить им,Что это мираж?

Мы молчали, как цуцики,Пока шла торговля всем,Что только можно продать,Включая наших детей;И отравленный дождьПадает в гниющий залив.И мы еще смотрим в экран,А мы еще ждем новостей.И наши отцы никогда не солгут нам.Они не умеют лгать,Как волк не умеет есть мясо,Как птица не умеет летать.

Скажи мне, что я сделал тебе,За что эта боль?Но это без объяснений,Это, видимо, что-то в крови,Но я сам разжег огонь,Который выжег меня изнутри.Я ушел от закона,

Но так не дошел до любви.Но молись за нас,Молись за нас, если ты можешь.У нас нет надежды, но этот путь нашИ голоса звучат все ближе и строже,И будь я проклят, если это мираж.

1987

Radio silence

Radio silence

It suddenly feels like a new year,Like I’m a million miles away from here.I can see some kind of light here,Although I can’t name it.

I want to talk about moonlight,I want to talk about the wild child, you know,That real wild one, dancing aloneIn the middle of the whirlpool.

Spinning tales about silence,About radio silence,About some kind of asylumIn the middle of an empty field full of danger.

It’s strange I don’t feel like I’m a stranger;I feel like I belong here,I feel like I’ve been waiting for a long time,And now I can tell you some stories,

Stories about the madmen,Stories about the dream-child,

You know, that real wild one,Who dance aloneIn the middle of the whirlpool.And I can tell you about silence,About radio silence,About some kind of asylumIn the middle of an empty field full of danger.

If you want it…

The postcard

This is a postcardSaying I’m alright in this beautiful city,

This is a phone callSaying, yes, I am sleeping alone here,But the telephone lines are cut,My hands can’t hold the paper –You are on my mind…

Nobody knows your name here,Except when the moon is out.And then they toss in their sleepCrying out for you to take them,But me I cannot sleep,I cannot dream,My heart is shattered –You are on my mind…

Once seven colors used to make a man blind,And now we are like birds stuck in barbed wire,

Precise, like sunrise,A child just like any other,Made of the bones of the earth,

Fragile and deathless.Yes, I’m alright,I’m a church,And I’m burning down.

You are on my mind…

The Wind

Your eyes are colored like wind,The Wind from the northern sea.A wave on the sand so clear,Whoever got me that far must be laughing;Alright, I can laugh as well.

So sweet is your touch,May I never go free,But I’m breaking awayTo return unbound,And I hear the soundBehind my shoulderLike the shape of the swan, gliding,

And when the trees are bare,There will be nowhere to return toBut we stay, believing.Your eyes are colored like wind…Bringing incredible newsI don’t know if I’m ready,Does it matter?Whoever cut me that deep,I love you.And here I stand, transfixed,Listening to the sound of the wind.

The Time

Sitting in a cornerIn my castle made of single-malt and smokeWith all my friends around me.And I love them «till I chokeAnd I watch you dance with someone,Someone not even there,And you’re simple as in sacrilege,And you are pure as in player.

Somewhere there’s a point of no resistance,But we make sure there’s no getting there.And we’re beautiful when we’re animalsBut so easily scared.And I cannot even talk to youStricken down as a hunter to its prey,Sliding down, down this hill of glass again,And there’s nothing I can say.

I guess it’s just the timeI guess it’s just the timeI guess it’s just the timeAnd I will see you when the time is over.And then the northern wind calls,And then curtains part,And then the castle wall falls,And there’s an arrow in my heart.

There’s only one way out of prisonWhich is to set your jailer free.But then, it’s just another bunch of pretty wordsThat stand between the sailor and the sea.So forgive me, though I know you never willBattered by your pride,And so I’m locked again within these castle walls,And you freeze alone outside.

I guess it’s just the timeI guess it’s just the timeI guess it’s just the timeAnd I will see you when the time is over.

Winter

Now that the summer is gone,Snow’s on the ground.I sought and I found,I know what I found is true.But the bitter gray skyFades into silence,Only the fire is left.And some say it’s not enoughTo carry us through.

Days of apple bloom white,Silver and steel,Tales of websSpun around a careless heart.I dream of the snow-white seagulls,Crying to show me the way,But I will stay here with you,And nothing will ever comeTo tear us apart.

Look into my eyes sister,No harm will come to you.Look into my eyes sister,No harm will come to you.

That voice again

I hear that voice againI hear that voice again

Seems so simple now,Now that the sky is clear,Maybe the road was toughBut at last we’re hereI’ve nothing to hide from you,Nothing to explain,Just this vision of broken wing,And the raven cries in pain.

I hear that voice againI hear that voice again

If darkness surrounds you,I’ll be the fireTo guard your sleep.If there’s nothing to stand on,I will lay myself beneath your feet,I will show the world to youAnd this world will have no stain.Just hold me now,Hold me close,Don’t let me go,But close your eyesAnd look away…

I hear that voice again

Fields of my love

Hello sweet victory,So nice meeting you hereMmm, MmmSo strange when you think about it.I never did anything out of my way,I just strayed…

Out in the fields of my loveOut in the fields of my loveOut in the fields of my love

Well met and thank youI’m glad you taught me so well.It was fun being around for a while,So sad you have to stay hereOr can you spread out your wings and fly with me…

Out in the fields of my loveOut in the fields of my loveOut in the fields of my love

Real slow today

This is a dangerous taleOf oxygen and flame,Tale of running away.Nowhere to run,All I can see is you –Visions of water in the desert sun.Stay…

Things gonna get real slow todayThings gonna get real slow todayTakes one prisoner,Takes one to show him the way,Then comes this lesson in natural history.

And these ladies are laughing at me,Can I join the fun?I know I’m haunted, keeps the flame bright;I guess I can say I’m alright,Just a burning arrow stuck in my heart,Well, anyway…

And some people say thatWe shouldn’t cross this line,But there is no line,Only the sky,I want to see you smile,Want to feel us get up and fly,Shouldn’t we?

Things gonna get real slow todayThings gonna get real slow todayTakes one prisoner,Takes one to show him the way,Then comes this lesson in natural history.

Mother

This city is on fire tonight,Sweet forest fire silent and unseen,The sleepers awaken.Your eyes are open I know you’re smiling at me.Some people say you’re not here anymoreBut your trees stand proudAnd laugh and let them passSo mischievous and holy;And this is a question I’ll never want to ask.

There’s a moon out there and she wants to be growing.There’s a river down here and she wants to go back to the sea.I am your child, mother,Crying to be consoled.I recognize you now,Do you recognize me?

There’s a part of me that wants to be silent,Immersed in your movement,Stung by your grace.And here is your song, and I’ll sing it,I’m coming home,I’ve never been away.There’s a moon out there and she wants to be growing.There’s a river down here and she wants to go back to the sea.

I am your child, mother,Crying for you to console me.Now that I know you,Do you recognize me?

There’s a moon out here and she wants to be growing.Here’s a river down here and she wants to go back to the sea.I am your child, mother,Crying to be consoled.Now that I know you,Recognize me!

Radio London

Up in smoke

Book of love in front of meTries to bite my chin;Angel right behind my shoulderWaits to do me in;I wish I had a heartTo walk me like a dog –But life’s a sweet thing,Going up in smoke.

Used to be a passenger,Now they take me as their own;Used to be a fisher-kingBut now my cross is gone.I wish I had some faith,But all I do is talk –And life’s a sweet thing,Going up in smoke.

We could be engineers,We could drive a coach;Could be real New AgeWith positive approach.I wish I still could laugh,I wish it was a joke –But life’s a sweet thing,Going up in smoke.

Eloise

EloiseStanding in the rain outsideWondering if the sky is really made out of airThere she is, always looking right at meBut is she? I can’t really tellAnd I don’t really care

EloiseSomething of the childSomething of the brideAnd sometimesJust not there.Help me, please,Discover about your secret lifeAnd the purpose behind the clothes that you wear;

I just need some time to settle down,Just need some time to settle down,I need to get my feet on the ground,Before I can dance with you;But now,I can’t even see you now;And she smiles, and she turnes,And she says: «I know,I know…»

EloiseStaring at the seaSeven white birdsSingLost in her hair;I’ve heard she isLethal for the likes of meWell, I can’t really tellAnd I don’t really care.

I just need some time to settle down,Just need some time to settle down,Just need to get my feet on the ground,Before I can dance with you;But now,I can’t even see you now;And she smiles, and she turnes,And she says: «I know,I know…»

Heading for the absolute one