The meaning of the lyrics of the song ""Maybe for fun, maybe as a warning..."" (Mojet, dlya veselya, dlya ostrastki...) the performer of the song "Vladimir Vysotsky"

Perhaps for fun, perhaps as a warning,

Into the eerie November gloom,

Nanny Annushka would tell fairy tales

To her grandson, little Andryusha.

About the magpie, white-sided,

Who gathered children when it was time

And sat the children at the table.

How that magpie, the sly one,

Cleverly cooked up the porridge,

Gave some to this one, gave some to that one,

Gave some to this one, and gave some to that one.

This is a very old tale,

But this tale is still alive today.

I don't know the rest of the story

And how Andryusha loved his grandma...

Who, as a fine young man, became head of the supply depot -

He was a very good lad.

And under his command, in the main food supply,

There was an old nanny,

And she was wonderful and kind,

She, without any fuss or bother,

Distributed goods to everyone:

Gave some to this one, gave some to that one,

Gave some to this one, and gave some to that one.

This is a very old tale,

But this tale is still alive today.

And, as in a fairy tale, but not as a warning,

Only once did it come here

(This, too, perhaps, is like in a fairy tale)

The session of the Supreme Court.

This session, I know,

They call "traveling,"

And it was wonderful and kind,

It, without any quarrel or squabble,

Distributed terms to everyone:

Gave some to this one, gave some to that one,

Gave some to this one, and gave some to that one.

This is a very old tale,

But this tale is still alive today.

Может, для веселья, для острастки

В жуткую ноябрьскую тьму

Няня Аннушка рассказывала сказки

Внучику Андрюше своему.

Про сороку-белобоку,

Что детей сзывала к сроку

И усаживала деток у стола.

Как сорока та, плутовка,

Каши наварила ловко,

Этому дала, этому дала,

Этому дала и этому дала.

Это очень старинная сказка,

Но эта сказка до сих пор жива.

Не знаю продолжения рассказа

И как Андрюша бабушку любил...

Который молодец заведовал главбазой -

Очень добрым молодцем он был.

И при нем в главснабпитаньи

Там была старуха-няня,

И она была чудесна и мила,

Она без всяких тары-бары

Раздавала всем товары:

Этому дала, этому дала,

Этому дала и этому дала.

Это очень старинная сказка,

Но эта сказка до сих пор жива.

И, как в сказке, но не для острастки,

Только раз приехала сюда

(Это тоже, может быть, как в сказке)

Сессия Верховного Суда.

Эту сессию, я знаю,

Называют "выездная",

И она была чудесна и мила,

Она без всякой ссоры, склоки

Всем распределила сроки:

Этому дала, этому дала,

Этому дала и этому дала.

Это очень старинная сказка,

Но эта сказка до сих пор жива.

In Vladimir Vysotsky's song "Maybe for fun, maybe as a warning...", under the guise of a children's fairy tale about a magpie, the system of corruption and unfair distribution of benefits in Soviet society is ridiculed.

At first glance, we are faced with a harmless story told by a nanny to her grandson. However, as the plot develops, we see how fairy tale motifs are intertwined with the realities of Soviet life. The "old nanny" from the main food supply department, distributing goods "without further ado", reminds us of the shortages and cronyism that prevailed at that time.

The culmination is the allegorical image of the "traveling session of the Supreme Court", which, like a fabulous magpie, "distributed terms to everyone". Here the author ironically hints at the lack of an independent judiciary and the predetermination of people's fates.

The repeating phrase "This is a very old fairy tale, but this fairy tale is still alive" emphasizes the long-standing and systemic nature of the problems Vysotsky is talking about. Using Aesopian language and satirical techniques, the author masterfully bypasses censorship, forcing us to think about the vices of Soviet reality.