The Volga Boatmen's Song

The Song of the Volga Boatmen is a well-known traditional Russian song collected by Mily Balakirev, and published in his book of folk songs. It is a genuine barge-haulers' shanty. Balakirev published it with only one verse (the first). The other two verses were added at a later date. The song, also called "The Volga Burlak's Song", was inspired by Repin's famous painting, "Burlaks on the Volga", depicting the suffering of the people in the depth of misery in Tsarist Russia.

The song was popularised by Feodor Chaliapin, and has been a favourite concert piece of bass singers ever since. Glenn Miller took the song to #1 in the US charts in 1941.

The song in modern popular culture

The song has been adapted into the club song of the Fremantle Football Club, called "Freo Way to Go".

The song was also notable as the basis for the first ever "Daily Double" clue on the first episode of the syndicated version of the game show "Jeopardy!".

The song is the diplomacy music for Russia in Civilization and the theme for Peter the Great and Stalin in Civilization IV.

In Team Fortress 2 the Heavy character sings the tune when the player gives cheers to his team.

Soda Popinski from Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!, a Nintendo Entertainment System boxing game, uses part of the song as his ring theme.

Lyrics (English translation)

("Traditional")

Refrain

Yo, heave ho! Yo, heave ho!

Once more, once again, still once more

Verse 1

Now we fell the stout birch tree,

Now we pull hard: one, two, three.

Ay-da, da, ay-da!

Ay-da, da, ay-da!

Now we fell the stout birch tree

Yo, heave ho!

Hey, hey, let's heave a-long the way

to the sun we sing our song

Verse 2

As the barges float along,

To the sun we sing our song.

Ay-da, da, ay-da!

Ay-da, da, ay-da!

To the sun we sing our song.

Hey, hey, let's heave a-long the way

to the sun we sing our song

Verse 3

Volga, Volga our pride,

Mighty stream so deep and wide.

Ay-da, da, ay-da!

Ay-da, da, ay-da!

Mighty stream so deep and wide.

Volga, Volga you're our pride.

= Lyrics in Russian =

Эй, ухнем!

Эй, ухнем!

Ещё разик, ещё да раз!

Разовьём мы берёзу,

Разовьём мы кудряву!

Ай-да, да ай-да, ай-да, да ай-да,

Разовьём мы кудряву.

Мы по бережку идём,

Песню солнышку поём.

Ай-да, да ай-да, ай-да, да ай-да,

Песню солнышку поём.

Эй, эй, тяни канат сильней!

Песню солнышку поём.

Эй, ухнем!

Эй, ухнем!

Ещё разик, ещё да раз!

Эх ты, Волга, мать-река,

Широка и глубока,

Ай-да, да ай-да, ай-да, да ай-да,

Волга, Волга, мать-река,

Эй, ухнем!

Эй, ухнем!

Ещё разик, ещё да раз!

Эй, ухнем!

Эй, ухнем!