The meaning of the lyrics of the song "The Scapegoat's Song" (Pesenka pro kozla otpuscheniya) the performer of the song "Vladimir Vysotsky"

In a nature reserve (forgot which one it was)

There once lived a Goat - long were his horns, -

Though he lived with wolves, he didn't howl like them -

He bleated songs, all of them goatish ones.

He nibbled grass, and grew fat on its bounty,

You'd never hear a bad word from him, -

He was, truth be told, as useful as goat's milk,

But also, however, - entirely harmless.

He lived in the pasture, by the lake,

Never encroaching on another's territory, -

But they noticed the modest little Goat

And chose him to be the scapegoat!

For instance, the Bear - a rascal and a rogue -

Would insult someone in his bearish way, -

They'd immediately find the Goat, bring him forth, and beat him:

On his horns and between them...

He didn't resist, the grey one, the violence with evil,

And endured the beatings cheerfully and proudly.

The Bear himself said: "Guys, I'm proud of the Goat -

A heroic personality, that goat-faced fellow!"

They cherished the Goat as an heir, -

There was even a ban issued in the forest

From the territory of the reserve

To release the scapegoat.

And the Goat continued to prance about like a goat,

But he began to misbehave on the sly:

Once, he tied his beard in a knot -

And from the bushes called the Wolf a scoundrel.

And when he received his next round of scapegoating -

All because the wolves had overindulged, -

He, as if by accident, growled in a bearish manner, -

But they paid no attention at the time.

While the predators fought amongst themselves,

An opinion grew strong in the reserve,

That dearer than all bears and foxes -

Was their precious scapegoat!

The Goat heard this - and became like this:

"Hey, you brown ones," he shouts, "hey, you spotted ones!

I'll take away your wolf rations

And your bearish privileges!

I'll show you a real "goat face" in the forest,

I'll paint it here and there using a stencil, -

I'll skewer you all on my horns, scatter you over the bumps,

And make you infamous throughout the whole wide world!

Not one of you will eat anything but dirt,

You'll all die without forgiveness, -

Who to absolve of sins - that's for me to decide:

For I am the scapegoat!"

...In the nature reserve (forgot which one it was)

The Goat now rules the ball, but not as before:

He lived with wolves - and howled like a wolf, -

And now he roars like a bear.

В заповеднике (вот в каком - забыл)

Жил да был Козел - роги длинные, -

Хоть с волками жил - не по-волчьи выл -

Блеял песенки, да все козлиные.

И пощипывал он травку, и нагуливал бока,

Не услышишь от него худого слова, -

Толку было с него, правда, как с козла молока,

Но вреда, однако, тоже - никакого.

Жил на выпасе, возле озерка,

Не вторгаясь в чужие владения, -

Но заметили скромного Козлика

И избрали в козлы отпущения!

Например, Медведь - баламут и плут -

Обхамит кого-нибудь по-медвежьему, -

Враз Козла найдут, приведут и бьют:

По рогам ему и промеж ему...

Не противился он, серенький, насилию со злом,

А сносил побои весело и гордо.

Сам Медведь сказал: "Робяты, я горжусь Козлом -

Героическая личность, козья морда!"

Берегли Козла как наследника, -

Вышло даже в лесу запрещение

С территории заповедника

Отпускать Козла отпущения.

А Козел себе все скакал козлом,

Но пошаливать он стал втихимолочку:

Как-то бороду завязал узлом -

Из кустов назвал Волка сволочью.

А когда очередное отпущенье получал -

Все за то, что волки лишку откусили, -

Он, как будто бы случайно, по-медвежьи зарычал, -

Но внимания тогда не обратили.

Пока хищники меж собой дрались,

В заповеднике крепло мнение,

Что дороже всех медведей и лис -

Дорогой Козел отпущения!

Услыхал Козел - да и стал таков:

"Эй, вы, бурые, - кричит, - эй вы, пегие!

Отниму у вас рацион волков

И медвежие привилегии!

Покажу вам "козью морду" настоящую в лесу,

Распишу туда-сюда по трафарету, -

Всех на роги намотаю и по кочкам разнесу,

И ославлю по всему по белу свету!

Не один из вас будет землю жрать,

Все подохнете без прощения, -

Отпускать грехи кому - это мне решать:

Это я - Козел отпущения!"

...В заповеднике (вот в каком забыл)

Правит бал Козел не по-прежнему:

Он с волками жил - и по-волчьи взвыл, -

И орет теперь по-медвежьему.

Vladimir Vysotsky's song "Song about the Scapegoat" tells an allegorical story about a goat chosen by the inhabitants of a nature reserve to vent their aggression and anger on.

The essence of the song:

The image of the scapegoat: The goat is a symbol of defenselessness, meekness, and innocence. He does no harm, "you won't hear a bad word from him," but becomes a victim of someone else's aggression.

The hypocrisy of the strong: The bear, the wolf, and other predators personify strength, power, and hypocrisy. They use the goat as a means to relieve tension and justify their own misdeeds.

Gradual awareness of power: The goat, initially resigned to his fate, gradually realizes his power over the situation. He understands that he has become an indispensable element of the system and begins to use it to his advantage.

Role reversal: In the end, the goat throws off the mask of submissiveness and turns his "power" against his tormentors. He becomes as aggressive and cruel as they are, adopting their habits and language.

Criticism of society: The song is a metaphor for human society, where the weak and defenseless often become victims of injustice and arbitrariness at the hands of the powerful.

Warning: Vysotsky shows that the victim's patience is not limitless. Constantly humiliated and oppressed, a person can become embittered and turn into a tyrant himself.

The ending of the song leaves a bitter aftertaste. The goat, having achieved power, himself becomes what he hated, repeating the vicious circle of violence and aggression.