The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Who is chasing what" (Kto za chem bejit) the performer of the song "Vladimir Vysotsky"

On the distance - four champions, -

Everyone thinks that he is the bravest,

Everyone thinks that he is the least tired,

Everyone wants to be on a high pedestal.

Someone's blood is colder, someone's hotter, -

Everyone has listened to parting speeches,

Everyone ate about the same amount of food, -

And the judge will not record a draw.

And the struggle all the way -

In general, almost equal.

"Tell me, how are they doing,

for God's sake, huh?"

"Television here

together with the radio!

No special news -

everything is smooth,

But the intensity of passions -

oh-ho-ho what!"

Number one - tears the tags like a hero,

Like rolling downhill, he wants to go downhill.

He is in a victorious halo and in the dust

With a firm gait will approach the cauldron.

Why didn't he have high thoughts? -

Because he didn't eat much porridge as a child,

He starved in this childhood, did not dare, -

He had time to change clothes - and into the gym.

Well, the ideas are close to us -

The best pieces for the first,

And the second - what is there,

he verified everything -

For consolation they will give

bones with liver.

Number two - far from those carnal pleasures, -

He is from the well-fed, he is from these, he is from those, -

He hopes for glory, for success -

And he lifts his legs higher than anyone else.

Oh, the slope on the turn - concrete on the cheeks!

It couldn't be more beautiful, and he - even more!

He is a strategist, he is even a tactician, in a word - special, -

Strength, will plus character - well done!

Clear, collected, tense

And does not climb on the rampage, -

This one will perform

in Thessaloniki,

And teach the kids

in newsreels,

And compete with Pele

in hardening,

And set an example of a goal-

striving!

Number three - gray-haired and wise, -

He is always the second reliable echelon, -

Probably someone in the first got sick,

Or maybe his coach took pity on him.

And the string rings annoyingly in my ears:

This is your last chance, old man!

He is in excitement - like a boy, like a kid, -

You need a spurt - otherwise it's over and kaput!

He immediately passes

Into the back old carriage,

Where the old names are -

pre-heart attack,

Where places have one price -

all reserved seats.

And the fourth - the one that is extreme, side, -

So he runs - for nothing, for no one:

It will come closer - they say, I will trample my heels,

That will lag behind, stand - they say, that's what I want.

The first one will not swallow a tasty piece,

Do not put a laurel wreath on the second,

Well, the third - to crawl on the spare path ...

How many systems are there

in today's running! -

He suddenly took it and slowed down

before the finish line,

He threw off his T-shirt - wow! -

isn't it disgusting?

Runner behavior -

unsportsmanlike!

On the distance - four champions,

Evil and kind, disinterested and greedy.

Which of them professes what, who is whose?

...Shoulder blades are separated from the shoulders -

And four champions are already flying!

На дистанции - четверка первачей, -

Каждый думает, что он-то побойчей,

Каждый думает, что меньше всех устал,

Каждый хочет на высокий пьедестал.

Кто-то кровью холодней, кто горячей, -

Все наслушались напутственных речей,

Каждый съел примерно поровну харчей, -

И судья не зафиксирует ничьей.

А борьба на всем пути -

В общем, равная почти.

"Расскажите, как идут,

бога ради, а?"

"Телевиденье тут

вместе с радио!

Нет особых новостей -

все ровнехонько,

Но зато накал страстей -

о-хо-хо какой!"

Номер первый - рвет подметки как герой,

Как под гору катит, хочет под горой.

Он в победном ореоле и в пылу

Твердой поступью приблизится к котлу.

Почему высоких мыслей не имел?-

Потому что в детстве мало каши ел,

Голодал он в этом детстве, не дерзал, -

Успевал переодеться - и в спортзал.

Что ж, идеи нам близки -

Первым лучшие куски,

А вторым - чего уж тут,

он все выверил -

В утешение дадут

кости с ливером.

Номер два - далек от плотских тех утех, -

Он из сытых, он из этих, он из тех, -

Он надеется на славу, на успех -

И уж ноги задирает выше всех.

Ох, наклон на вираже - бетон у щек!

Краше некуда уже, а он - еще!

Он стратег, он даже тактик, словом - спец, -

Сила, воля плюс характер - молодец!

Четок, собран, напряжен

И не лезет на рожон, -

Этот - будет выступать

на Салониках,

И детишек поучать

в кинохрониках,

И соперничать с Пеле

в закаленности,

И являть пример целе-

устремленности!

Номер третий - убелен и умудрен, -

Он всегда - второй надежный эшелон, -

Вероятно, кто-то в первом заболел,

Но, а может, его тренер пожалел.

И назойливо в ушах звенит струна:

У тебя последний шанс, слышь, старина!

Он в азарте - как мальчишка, как шпана, -

Нужен спурт - иначе крышка и хана!

Переходит сразу он

В задний старенький вагон,

Где былые имена -

прединфарктные,

Где местам одна цена -

все плацкартные.

А четвертый - тот, что крайний, боковой, -

Так бежит - ни для чего, ни для кого:

То приблизится - мол, пятки оттопчу,

То отстанет, постоит - мол, так хочу.

Не проглотит первый лакомый кусок,

Не надеть второму лавровый венок,

Ну а третьему - ползти на запасные пути...

Сколько все-таки систем

в беге нынешнем! -

Он вдруг взял да сбавил темп

перед финишем,

Майку сбросил - вот те на!-

не противно ли?

Поведенье бегуна -

неспортивное!

На дистанции - четверка первачей,

Злых и добрых, бескорыстных и рвачей.

Кто из них что исповедует, кто чей?

...Отделяются лопатки от плечей -

И летит уже четверка первачей!

In Vladimir Vysotsky's song "Who is running after what" under the guise of a sports competition, an allegory of human life and how people strive for success is described. The four runners represent different archetypes of behavior:

Number one is a determined and hungry for victory. He is one of those who have known hardship and is now ready for anything for the sake of first place. His motivation is clear - to get what he lacked.

Number two is a calculating strategist who strives for fame and recognition. He is initially in a more advantageous position and uses all available resources to achieve his goal. His motivation is success and everything connected with it.

Number three is an experienced but no longer young runner, for whom this chance may be the last. He is fighting for a place under the sun, realizing that time is running out. His motivation is to use the last chance and not to stay on the sidelines of life.

Number four - runs not for the sake of victory, but for the sake of the process itself. Ambitions and thirst for awards are alien to him, he enjoys movement and freedom of choice.

In the final of the song, the author destroys the sporting context, showing that running turns into flight. The heroes throw off the shackles of the material world, their shoulder blades are separated, and they take off. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for spiritual liberation, when a person goes beyond earthly passions and strives for a higher meaning.

Thus, Vysotsky's song suggests thinking about true values, about what drives a person in his aspirations, and about the fact that a true flight of the soul is possible only when we free ourselves from the shackles of material desires.