The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Five hundred all around." (Krugom pyatsot) the performer of the song "Vladimir Vysotsky"

I was tall and handsome -

Thanks to my mother and father.

I lived in harmony with people,

Never bossed anyone around.

I stood tall, walked straight,

Didn't brag, lived my life,

And worked with my head and hands.

I wandered and came home,

With years behind me.

Years hang on me - you can't throw them away, can't sell them.

But I got a boss who was a real recruiter:

And so I started hauling vehicles beyond the Urals.

The road, and on the road, a MAZ truck, stuck up to its ears,

Darkness in the cabin, my partner has been silent for three hours.

I wish he'd at least yell - it's making me mad,

Five hundred kilometers behind, five hundred ahead, and he's clicking his teeth like "Sabre Dance."

We both knew the route, that this MAZ was expected at the construction site.

And our job: got in, drove off - night, all night.

Of all times, on New Year's Eve: five hundred back, five hundred forward, honking in vain, blizzard, and no one to help.

"Turn off the engine," he says.

"Let this MAZ burn."

He says, "See for yourself - there's nothing left to do here."

"See for yourself: five hundred all around, and by nightfall, it'll be completely snowed in - it'll be buried so deep, there'll be no need for a funeral."

I reply: "Don't whine!"

But he grabs a wrench,

And looks at me like a wolf:

He can be really tough.

And what does he care: five hundred all around,

And whoever survives this,

Will prove who was right when they come knocking.

He was closer to me than family: he ate from my hand. And now he looks me in the eye - and I feel a chill down my spine.

And I realized, five hundred all around, and who will figure it out later,

That he forgot who I was to him, and who he was to me.

And he walked away somewhere.

I let him be and lay down myself.

I had a dream about our funny predicament.

That again there's five hundred all around, I'm looking for a way out - but there is none: there's only an entrance, and even that's not the right one.

The ending is simple: a tow truck came, and there was a cable, and there was a doctor, and the MAZ ended up where it was supposed to be.

And he came back, all shaken up,

And there's another long haul ahead.

I hold no grudge.

I'll take him with me again.

Я вышел ростом и лицом -

Спасибо матери с отцом.

С людьми в ладу,

Не понукал, не помыкал.

Спины не гнул, прямым ходил,

И в ус не дул, и жил как жил,

И голове своей руками помогал.

Бродяжил и пришёл домой,

Уже с годами за спиной.

Висят года на мне - ни брость, ни продать.

Но на начальника попал, который бойко вербовал:

И за Урал машины стал перегонять.

Дорога, а в дороге МАЗ, который по уши увяз,

В кабине тьма, напарник третий час молчииит.

Хоть бы кричал - аж зло берёт

Назад пятьсот, пятьсот вперёд, а он зубами "танец с саблями" стучит.

Мы оба знали про маршрут, что этот МАЗ на стройках ждут.

А наше дело: сел, поехал - ночь, полночь.

Ну, надо ж так под Новый год: назад пятьсот, вперёд пятьсот, сигналим зря, пурга и некому помочь.

Глуши мотор он говорит. Пусть этот МАЗ огнём горит. Мол, видишь сам - тут больше нечего ловить.

Ну, видишь сам: кругом пятьсот, и к ночи точно занесёт- так заровняет, что

не надо хоронить.

Я отвечаю: "Не канючь!"

А он за гаечный за ключ,

И волком смотрит:

Он вообще бывает крут.

А что ему: кругом пятьсот,

И кто кого переживёт,

Тот и докажет кто был прав, когда припрут.

Он был мне больше, чем родня: он ел с ладони у меня. А тут глядит в глаза -

и холод на спине.

И понял я, кругом пятьсот и кто там после разберёт,

что он забыл кто я ему и кто он мне.

И он ушёл куда-то вбок.

Я отпустил, а сам прилёг.

Мне снился сон про наш весёлый наворот.

Что будто вновь кругом пятьсот, ищу я выход из ворот - но нет его: есть только вход и то не тот.

Конец простой: пришёл тягач, и там был трос, и там был врач и МАЗ попал куда положено ему.

И он пришёл, трясётся весь,

А там опять далёкий рейс.

Я зла не помню.

Я опять его возьму.

The song "Five Hundred All Around" by Vladimir Vysotsky tells the story of two truck drivers caught in a snowdrift. The main character is an experienced driver who is used to relying on himself and his strength. He is "on good terms with people", does not boast about his experience, and is always ready to help.

His partner is a younger and more impulsive man. Stuck in the snow, he panics and suggests abandoning the truck ("Let this MAZ burn"). The phrase "five hundred all around" is an image of hopelessness, a vast space where there is neither help nor landmarks.

The tension in the song builds. The partner is ready to give up ("What does he care: five hundred all around, and whoever survives will tell..."), the relationship between the characters heats up. They used to be close ("He was closer to me than family"), but in a critical situation, each showed their true nature.

The climax is the partner's departure into the blizzard ("And he went off to the side"). The hero is left alone, worrying about his comrade. The dream he has ("...I'm looking for a way out of the gate - but there isn't one: there's only an entrance and it's the wrong one") is a metaphor for a dead-end situation, the impossibility of finding an easy way out.

Eventually, help arrives and the MAZ is rescued. The partner returns, repenting of his actions. The hero, in spite of everything, forgives him ("I bear no grudge") and is ready to work with him again. The ending of the song leaves hope that this incident will be a lesson for the young driver.