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Песенка о бумажном солдатике

Bulat Šalvovič Okudžava / Булат Шалвович Oкуджава
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English Version by Alec Vagapov
IL SOLDATINO DI CARTA

C'era una volta un soldato,
bello e ardimentoso,
ma era un balocco:
era un soldatino di carta.

Voleva rifare il mondo
perché felice fosse ognuno,
ma stava appeso sul lettino:
era un soldatino di carta.

Al fuoco e al fumo era pronto,
a morire per voi due volte,
ma voi di lui vi burlavate:
era un soldatino di carta.

A lui non confidavate
i vostri segreti importanti.
Perché? Perché
era un soldatino di carta.

Maledicendo la sua sorte,
non bramava vita tranquilla
e chiedeva sempre: «Fuoco! Fuoco!»,
dimenticando che era di carta.

Nel fuoco? Su, vacci!
E lui ci andò, ardimentoso.
E così morì invano:
era un soldatino di carta.
THE PAPER SOLDIER

Once there lived a soldier-boy,
quite brave, one can’t be braver,
but he was merely a toy
for he was made of paper.

He wished to alter everything,
and be the whole world’s helper,
but he was puppet on a string,
a soldier made of paper.

He’d bravely go through fire and smoke,
he’d die for you. No vapour.
But he was just a laughing-stock,
a soldier made of paper.

You would mistrust him and deny
your secrets and your favour.
Why should you do it, really, why?
‘cause he was made of paper.

He dreads the fire? Not at all!
One day he cut a caper
and died for nothing; after all,
he was a piece of was paper.


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