The meaning of the lyrics of the song "A Letter to a Friend, or Parisian Sketch" (Pismo k drugu, ili Zarisovka o Parije) the performer of the song "Vladimir Vysotsky"

Ah, my dear Vanya! I'm walking in Paris -

And all that I hear, and all that I see, -

I write down in my notebook, chasing impressions:

When I get old - I'll publish a little book.

About how, Vanya, you and I in Paris

Are needed - like pliers in a banya.

All the emigrants here are second generation -

They cause only misunderstandings:

They confuse everything - names and titles, -

And you, Vanya, would be called "Vanya" by them.

In general, Vanya, you and I in Paris

Are needed - like skis in a Russian banya!

I myself have started an affair with a Frenchwoman,

My friends now are - both Pierre and Jean.

I have already spat from the Eiffel Tower

On the heads of carefree Parisians!

Our penetration across the planet

Is especially noticeable in the distance:

In a public Parisian toilet

There are inscriptions in Russian!

Ах, милый Ваня! Я гуляю по Парижу -

И то, что слышу, и то, что вижу, -

Пишу в блокнотик, впечатлениям вдогонку:

Когда состарюсь - издам книжонку.

Про то, что, Ваня, мы с тобой в Париже

Нужны - как в бане пассатижи.

Все эмигранты тут второго поколенья -

От них сплошные недоразуменья:

Они все путают - и имя, и названья, -

И ты бы, Ваня, у них выл - "Ванья".

А в общем, Ваня, мы с тобой в Париже

Нужны - как в русской бане лыжи!

Я сам завел с француженкою шашни,

Мои друзья теперь - и Пьер, и Жан.

Уже плевал я с Эйфелевой башни

На головы беспечных парижан!

Проникновенье наше по планете

Особенно заметно вдалеке:

В общественном парижском туалете

Есть надписи на русском языке!

The text by Vladimir Vysotsky "Letter to a Friend, or a Sketch about Paris" is a satirical look at the life of Russian emigrants in France.

In a humorous way, addressing a fictional friend Vanya, the author ridicules the detachment of second-generation emigrants from Russian culture and language. The phrases "needed like pliers in a bathhouse" and "needed like skis in a Russian bathhouse" vividly and figuratively convey the uselessness and inappropriateness of the lyrical hero and his friend in this environment. The emigrants "confuse both names and surnames," do not understand Russian speech and culture, which causes irony and sarcasm in the hero.

At the same time, the author emphasizes the inevitability of the penetration of Russian culture into even the most unexpected corners of the world. The inscriptions in Russian in the Parisian toilet are a metaphor showing that the Russian language and culture overcome borders and leave their mark even where they are seemingly not expected.

Vysotsky's humor is based on wordplay, grotesque, and paradoxes. He makes fun of stereotypes about Russians and French, creating a comic effect. Despite the satirical focus, the text is imbued with love for Russia and longing for the homeland.