The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Like in an old Russian fairy tale..." (Kak v starinnoy russkoy skazke...) the performer of the song "Vladimir Vysotsky"

Like wizards, a little kinder — God bless my memory! —

In an old Russian fairy tale used to say:

“Go to sleep, Ivanushka!

The morning is wiser than the evening!”.

Like once late at night a good fellow,

Having escorted a beautiful maiden to her husband,

Felt sad, but remembered: tomorrow is a new day,

Well, and in the morning — it doesn't get any worse.

Like notorious robbers and enemies,

Evil wizards and sorcerers

Began to brew a potion, and the whole world became different,

And they changed morning and evening.

Oh, how the maidens began to fall asleep in the morning

After wild fun and potion,

Well, in the evening — where will you go —

Again the potion — for a hangover!

And it turns out that those ancient storytellers

Acted both evil and bad.

Well, the truth is: for those who drink the potion —

Morning and evening — are one and the same.

Как в старинной русской сказке — дай бог памяти! -

Колдуны, что немного добрее,

Говорили: «Спать ложись, Иванушка!

Утро вечера мудренее!».

Как однажды поздно ночью добрый молодец,

Проводив красну девицу к мужу,

Загрустил, но вспомнил: завтра снова день,

Ну, а утром — не бывает хуже.

Как отпетые разбойники и недруги,

Колдуны и волшебники злые

Стали зелье варить, и стал весь мир другим,

И утро с вечером переменили.

Ой, как стали засыпать под утро девицы

После буйна веселья и зелья,

Ну, а вечером — куда ты денешься —

Снова зелье — на похмелье!

И выходит, что те сказочники древние

Поступили и зло и негоже.

Ну, а правда вот: тем, кто пьет зелие, —

Утро с вечером — одно и тоже.

Vladimir Vysotsky's song "As in an old Russian fairytale..." uses the motifs of folk tales to veil a sharp social theme — the problem of alcoholism.

The image of the potion serves as an allegory for alcohol. The "kind" sorcerers advising Ivanushka to go to bed ("the morning is wiser than the evening") symbolize public opinion, which calls for prudence and restraint.

The juxtaposition of day and night, morning and evening, is also no coincidence. Day in the song is associated with sobriety, clarity of thought, and normal life. Night is the time when "evil" sorcerers and wizards "brew potions," that is, they get people drunk. Alcohol consumption turns the world upside down: "morning and evening have changed places."

The image of the beautiful maiden whom the young man walks home to her husband emphasizes the detrimental effect of the potion on all segments of society. Even those who do not seek drunkenness find themselves drawn into a vicious circle.

The final lines of the song are a bitter reflection on the fact that the old storytellers were wrong. The consumption of the "potion" blurs the lines between day and night, good and evil, turning life into a monotonous and hopeless existence.