The meaning of the lyrics of the song "The Song of Things Cassandra." (Pesnya o veschey Kassandre) the performer of the song "Vladimir Vysotsky"

Long Troy, under siege,

Remained an unconquerable fortress,

But the Trojans did not believe Cassandra,

Perhaps Troy would still be standing today.

Incessantly the mad maiden

Cried: "I clearly see Troy fallen to dust!"

But seers - however, like eyewitnesses -

Have been burned at the stake by people for centuries.

And on the night when, from the belly of the horse, death descended upon Troy,

Winged, as expected,

Over the crowd driven mad by the slaughter,

Someone shouted: "This is the witch's fault!"

Incessantly the mad maiden

Cried: "I clearly see Troy fallen to dust!"

But seers - however, like eyewitnesses -

Have been burned at the stake by people for centuries.

And on this night, and in this blood, and in this turmoil,

When all the predictions gloriously came true,

The crowd would have found a suitable moment

To carry out their usual reprisal.

Incessantly the mad maiden

Cried: "I clearly see Troy fallen to dust!"

But seers - however, like eyewitnesses -

Have been burned at the stake by people for centuries.

And here is the end - though not tragic, but regrettable:

Some Greek found Cassandra's abode,

And began to use her not as Cassandra,

But as a simple and insatiable conqueror.

Tirelessly the mad maiden

Cried: "I clearly see Troy fallen to dust!"

But seers - however, like eyewitnesses -

Have been burned at the stake by people for centuries.

Долго Троя в положении осадном

Оставалась неприступною твердыней

Но троянцы не поверили Кассандре,

Троя, может быть, стояла б и поныне

Без умолку безумная девица

Кричала: "Ясно вижу Трою павшей в прах!"

Но ясновидцев - впрочем, как и очевидцев

Во все века сжигали люди на кострах

И в ночь, когда из чрева лошади на Трою

Спустилась смерть, как и положено, крылата

Над избиваемой безумною толпою

Кто-то крикнул: "Это ведьма виновата!"

Без умолку безумная девица

Кричала: "Ясно вижу Трою павшей в прах!"

Но ясновидцев - впрочем, как и очевидцев

Во все века сжигали люди на кострах

И в эту ночь, и в эту кровь, и в эту смуту

Когда сбылись все предсказания на славу

Толпа нашла бы подходящую минуту

Чтоб учинить свою привычную расправу

Без умолку безумная девица

Кричала: "Ясно вижу Трою павшей в прах!"

Но ясновидцев - впрочем, как и очевидцев

Во все века сжигали люди на кострах

А вот конец - хоть не трагичный, но досадный:

Какой-то грек нашел Кассандрину обитель,

И начал пользоваться ей не как Кассандрой

А как простой и ненасытный победитель

Без устали безумная девица

Кричала: "Ясно вижу Трою павшей в прах!"

Но ясновидцев - впрочем, как и очевидцев

Во все века сжигали люди на кострах

In Vladimir Vysotsky's song "Song about the Things of Cassandra", the tragic image of the ancient Greek prophetess conceals a profound allegory for the eternal human drama of misunderstanding and rejection of truth.

Vysotsky draws a parallel between the fate of Troy and the fate of those who try to open people's eyes to the true state of affairs. Cassandra, cursed with the gift of foresight that no one wants to accept, becomes a symbol of all prophets, geniuses, innovators whose ideas and warnings are ahead of their time.

The Trojans, blinded by self-confidence and an unwillingness to believe the unpleasant truth, ignore Cassandra's warnings. Their fate is a bitter lesson in the cost of ignorance and self-deception.

However, Cassandra's tragedy does not end with the fall of Troy. Her curse – the eternal burden of misunderstanding – continues afterwards. Even when prophecies come true, people do not admit their mistakes. They look for someone to blame, not the truth.

The ending of the song emphasizes the tragedy of the prophetess's situation: the Greek, the conqueror, does not see her as the bearer of a prophetic gift; for him, she is only a war booty. This detail intensifies the bitterness and hopelessness of Cassandra's situation: her voice will remain unheard.

"The Song about the Things of Cassandra" is not just a retelling of an ancient Greek myth. It is a warning about the importance of seeing and hearing, about the need to think critically and not be afraid of uncomfortable truths. It is a song about the tragedy of loneliness of those who know more than they are willing to hear from them.