The meaning of the lyrics of the song "About Magadan" (Pro Magadan) the performer of the song "Vladimir Vysotsky"

You think I'm too young for my age,

That I rarely open my soul.

I'll tell you about Magadan -

Listen!

How I saw Nagaev Bay

and the roads,

I didn't fly there on a whim.

Once I left for Magadan -

I was running from myself like from consumption.

I immediately got drunk there

On vodka!

But I saw Nagaev Bay

and the roads,

I didn't fly there on a whim.

Rumors flew after me,

Outpacing the plane and the blizzard,

I still went to Magadan

To a friend!

And I saw Nagaev Bay

and the roads,

I didn't fly there on a whim.

I didn't give my enemies a reason -

Didn't cut a vein, didn't tear an aorta, -

I just up and left for Magadan,

To hell with it!

I saw Nagaev Bay

and the roads,

I didn't fly there on a whim.

I did leave many ladies behind,

They wrote to me: "All your ladies are heartbroken!"-

Well then - and I went to Magadan,

We're even!

And I saw Nagaev Bay

and the roads,

I didn't fly there on a whim.

When the cold comes,

Even though it's far and expensive,

I can go to my friend in Magadan -

Alright!

You haven't seen Nagaev Bay -

You fool!

I didn't fly there on a whim.

Ты думаешь, что мне - не по годам,

Я очень редко раскрываю душу, -

Я расскажу тебе про Магадан -

Слушай!

Как я видел Нагайскую бухту

да тракты, -

Улетел я туда не с бухты-

барахты.

Однажды я уехал в Магадан -

Я от себя бежал, как от чахотки.

Я сразу там напился вдрабадан

Водки!

Но я видел Нагайскую бухту

да тракты, -

Улетел я туда не с бухты-

барахты.

За мной летели слухи по следам,

Опережая самолет и вьюгу, -

Я все-таки уехал в Магадан

К другу!

И я видел Нагайскую бухту

да тракты, -

Улетел я туда не с бухты-

барахты.

Я повода врагам своим не дал -

Не взрезал вену, не порвал аорту, -

Я взял да как уехал в Магадан,

К черту!

Я увидел Нагайскую бухту

да тракты, -

Улетел я туда не с бухты-

барахты.

Я, правда, здесь оставил много дам, -

Писали мне: "Все ваши дамы биты!"-

Ну что ж - а я уехал в Магадан, -

Квиты!

И я видел Нагайскую бухту

да тракты, -

Улетел я туда не с бухты-

барахты.

Когда подходит дело к холодам, -

Пусть это далеко, да и накладно, -

Могу уехать к другу в Магадан -

Ладно!

Ты не видел Нагайской бухту -

дурак ты!

Улетел я туда не с бухты-

барахты.

In Vladimir Vysotsky's song "About Magadan", the lyrical hero talks about his escape from life's difficulties to distant Magadan. Magadan in this case is not so much a real geographical location, but a symbol of a new life, an opportunity to start everything from scratch.

The hero runs away from himself, from emotional experiences ("I ran from myself as if from consumption"), from gossip and rumors ("Rumors flew after me on my heels"), from love dramas ("I did leave many ladies behind"). Magadan becomes a salvation for him, a place where he can be himself, not looking back at the past.

The repeating phrase "I saw Nagaev Bay and the roads" emphasizes that the hero actually visited Magadan, it is not just a metaphor. He saw the harsh beauty of this region, which may have helped him find inner freedom.

The phrase "I didn't fly there on a whim" indicates that the decision to leave was deliberate and balanced. The hero did not just run away from problems but made a conscious choice in favor of a new life.

At the end of the song, the hero invites the listener to go to Magadan as well, showing that this path is open to anyone who is looking for a change and is ready to start all over again.