Smuglyanka

About the Song

"Smuglyanka" (The Dark-Skinned Girl) is a beloved Soviet song originally written in 1940 by Anatoly Novikov (music) and Yakov Shvedov (lyrics). It tells the story of a young Moldovan partisan girl who recruits a young man to join the resistance. The song gained massive popularity after being featured in the 1973 Soviet film "Only Old Men Are Going to Battle" and remains a staple at Victory Day celebrations.

Video

Lyrics

Как-то летом на рассвете

Kak-to letom na rassvete

(One summer at dawn)

Заглянул в соседний сад,

Zaglyanul v sosedniy sad,

(I looked into the neighboring garden,)

Там смуглянка-молдаванка

Tam smuglyanka-moldavanka

(There a dark-skinned Moldovan girl)

Собирала виноград.

Sobirala vinograd.

(Was picking grapes.)

Я краснею, я бледнею,

Ya krasneyu, ya bledneyu,

(I blush, I turn pale,)

Захотелось вдруг сказать:

Zakhotelos' vdrug skazat':

(I suddenly wanted to say:)

«Станьте, милая, рядочком,

"Stan'te, milaya, ryadochkom,

("Stand beside me, dear,)

Разрешите вас обнять!»

Razreshite vas obnyat'!"

(Let me embrace you!")