The meaning of the lyrics of the song ""The Song of the Prophetic Oleg"" (Pesnya o veschem Olege) the performer of the song "Vladimir Vysotsky"

As wise Oleg is now preparing

To nail his shield to the gate,

Suddenly a man runs up to him

And starts to lisp something or other.

"Eh, Prince," he says out of the blue,

"You will meet your death from your own horse!"

But just as he was about to set out,

To take revenge on the foolish Khazars,

Suddenly gray-haired sorcerers came running,

Reeking of fumes,

And they say out of the blue,

That he will meet his death from his own horse.

"Who are you, where did you come from?!"

The retinue reached for their whips.

"You're drunk, old man, go sober up,

And don't tell tales

And say out of the blue,

That he will meet his death from his own horse!"

Well, in general, they didn't tolerate such things,

You can't joke with Princes!

And for a long time the retinue trampled the sorcerers

With their bay horses:

"Imagine saying out of the blue,

That he will meet his death from his own horse!"

And wise Oleg stuck to his guns,

So much so that no one dared to utter a word,

He only once remembered the sorcerers,

And even then - he chuckled sarcastically:

"They just had to blurt out of the blue,

That he will meet his death from his own horse!"

"And here he is, my horse - has rested for centuries,

Only the skull remains!"

Oleg calmly put his foot down,

And immediately died on the spot:

A venomous snake bit him,

And he met his death from his own horse.

Everyone is eager to punish the sorcerers,

But wouldn't it be better to listen, really?

If Oleg had listened, he would have nailed another shield

To the gates of Constantinople.

After all, the sorcerers said for a reason,

That he will meet his death from his own horse!

Как ныне сбирается вещий Олег

Щита прибивать на ворота,

Как вдруг подбегает к нему человек,

И ну шепелявить чего-то.

«Эх, князь, – говорит ни с того ни с сего, –

Ведь примешь ты смерть от коня своего!»

Но только собрался идти он на вы,

Отмщать неразумным хазарам,

Как вдруг прибежали седые волхвы,

К тому же разя перегаром,

И говорят ни с того ни с сего,

Что примет он смерть от коня своего.

«Да кто вы такие, откуда взялись?! –

Дружина взялась за нагайки.

Напился, старик, – так пойди - похмелись,

И неча рассказывать байки

И говорить ни с того ни с сего,

Что примет он смерть от коня своего!»

Ну, в общем, они не сносили голов,

Шутить не могите с князьями!

И долго дружина топтала волхвов

Своими гнедыми конями:

Ишь, говорят ни с того ни с сего,

Что примет он смерть от коня своего!

А вещий Олег свою линию гнул,

Да так, что никто и не пикнул,

Он только однажды волхвов вспомянул,

И то – саркастически хмыкнул:

Ну надо ж болтать ни с того ни с сего,

Что примет он смерть от коня своего!

«А вот он, мой конь – на века опочил, –

Один только череп остался!» –

Олег преспокойно стопу возложил,

И тут же на месте скончался:

Злая гадюка кусила его,

И принял он смерть от коня своего.

Каждый волхвов покарать норовит,

А нет бы – послушаться, правда?

Олег бы послушал – еще один щит

Прибил бы к вратам Цареграда.

Волхвы-то сказали с того и с сего,

Что примет он смерть от коня своего!

Vladimir Vysotsky's "Song about Prophetic Oleg" explores the themes of fate, predestination, and human belief in prophecies. The lyrics narrate the story of Prince Oleg, who is prophesied to die from his own horse. Despite his skepticism and anger, Oleg cannot fully ignore the prediction, and it casts a shadow over his life.

Vysotsky utilizes a historical narrative to highlight the irony of fate. Oleg, a great warrior and conqueror, is rendered powerless against the prophecy. He attempts to cheat fate by getting rid of his horse, but ultimately still dies from a snake hidden within the animal's skull.

The song is imbued with satirical undertones. Vysotsky mocks both the flippancy of the soothsayers and Oleg's arrogance. The prince, accustomed to victory, is unprepared to accept the inevitable. He punishes the seers, attempting to deny their words, yet ultimately becomes a victim of his own disbelief.

"Song about Prophetic Oleg" compels us to contemplate the limits of human will and the extent to which we control our own destinies. It serves as a reminder that even the most powerful individuals cannot escape what is preordained.