The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Honour of the Chess Crown: 1. Preparation" (Chest schahmatnoy koronyi: 1.Podgotovka) the performer of the song "Vladimir Vysotsky"

"Have you gone mad?" I cried. "Lost your minds?

You've let our chess prestige fall behind!"

They told me at the sports committee:

"Yes, brilliant - you're the one to beat him!

But be warned, Fischer is a force of nature,

Even sleeps with the board - the power's in his stature.

He plays clean, without a single flaw..."

Well, I'm no slouch either, you know.

I've got a knight move up my sleeve.

Oh, you steel muscles,

My fingers, strong and fleet!

Ah, carved and painted,

Wooden rooks so neat!

My friend, the footballer, advised: "Don't fear,

He's not used to opponents like you, my dear.

Don't worry about the flanks or the center field,

Just play on the edge - direct and unrevealed."

I took up running, sprints my game,

In the sauna, sweat poured, shedding weight like flame.

I even trained with the hockey team...

In short, after all this preparation extreme,

I'll crush him without breaking a sweat!

Oh, you powerful palms,

Muscles of my back, strong and set!

Ah, my knights, my knights,

Oh, my bishops, I won't forget!

"Don't rush, and most importantly, don't hunch,"

The boxer said, sharing his punch.

"Don't go for the clinch, work the body instead,

Remember, your knockout punch is straight ahead."

The honor of our chess crown is at stake,

He won't escape defeat, no mistake.

Tal and I played ten games straight,

Preferans, "ochko," and billiards, we sealed our fate.

Tal said, "He won't let you down, mate!"

Oh, the relief of my musculature!

Deltoids strong, a sight to see!

What use are light pieces, I venture,

These knights and bishops to me!

And at the buffet, closed to the rest,

The cook reassured me: "Be your best!

With your appetite, so grand and so keen,

You'll swallow all his horses, it's obscene!

Sit down before the long road ahead,

Pack a rucksack with food, it's been said.

Prepare an Easter cake for two, it's wise,

This Fischer, though a genius in his eyes,

Must enjoy a good meal, I surmise!"

Oh, we're tough nuts to crack, you see!

We'll bring home the crown, victory!

I go to sleep, a pawn it seems,

But wake up a queen, living my dreams!

Я кричал: "Вы что ж там, обалдели?

Уронили шахматный престиж!"

Мне сказали в нашем спортотделе:

"Ага, прекрасно - ты и защитишь!

Но учти, что Фишер очень ярок,

Даже спит с доскою - сила в ём

Он играет чисто, без помарок..."

Ничего, я тоже не подарок,

У меня в запасе - ход конем

Ох вы мускулы стальные

Пальцы цепкие мои!

Эх, резные, расписные

Деревянные ладьи!

Друг мой, футболист, учил: "Не бойся,

Он к таким партнерам не привык

За тылы и центр не беспокойся

А играй по краю - напрямик!."

Я налег на бег, на стометровки

В бане вес согнал, отлично сплю

Были по хоккею тренировки...

В общем, после этой подготовки

Я его без мата задавлю!

Ох вы сильные ладони

Мышцы крепкие спины!

Эх вы кони мои, кони

Ох вы милые слоны!

"Не спеши и, главное, не горбись,

Так боксер беседовал со мной.

В ближний бой не лезь, работай в корпус

Помни, что коронный твой - прямой"

Честь короны шахматной - на карте,

Он от пораженья не уйдет:

Мы сыграли с Талем десять партий

В преферанс, в очко и на бильярде,

Таль сказал: "Такой не подведет!"

Ох, рельеф мускулатуры!

Дельтовидные - сильны!

Что мне легкие фигуры

Эти кони да слоны!

И в буфете, для других закрытом

Повар успокоил: "Не робей!

Ты с таким прекрасным аппетитом

Враз проглотишь всех его коней!

Ты присядь перед дорогой дальней

И бери с питанием рюкзак

На двоих готовь пирог пасхальный:

Этот Шифер - хоть и гениальный,

А небось покушать не дурак!"

Ох мы - крепкие орешки!

Мы корону - привезем!

Спать ложусь я - вроде пешки

Просыпаюся - ферзем!

The song "Honor of the Chess Crown" by Vladimir Vysotsky portrays a lyrical hero preparing for a chess match against a grandmaster, likely inspired by Bobby Fischer.

The meaning of the text lies in the ironic juxtaposition of chess, as an intellectual pursuit, with the hero's physical training regimen, more suited for boxing or other strength-based sports. The hero, neglecting the study of chess theory and strategy, focuses on physical exercise, diet, and advice from athlete friends. He is convinced that such preparation will lead him to victory against his formidable opponent.

This irony is emphasized through hyperbole and the grotesque: the hero runs sprints, "sweats weight off in the bathhouse," trains "for hockey," and his boxer friend advises him to work "the body" and deliver a "straight right."

The comicality of the situation is amplified by the advice the hero receives from his friends. A footballer suggests playing "along the edge - straight ahead," as if talking about a football field rather than a chessboard. A boxer gives advice on close-combat tactics, while a cook worries about a "backpack of snacks" and an "Easter cake" for the opponent, implying that the path to victory lies through the stomach.

All of this creates a comical effect and satirizes the dilettante's approach to a serious matter, demonstrating that brute force and simplistic tactics cannot guarantee success in an intellectual duel. At the same time, the song is filled with optimism and belief in victory, albeit based on the hero's naive understanding of chess.