The meaning of the lyrics of the song "About Mary Ann" (Pro Meri Enn) the performer of the song "Vladimir Vysotsky"

Mary Ann was oh so stout:

She ate and drank a monstrous amount,

And barely squeezed through any door.

She'd fall asleep right on the floor,

Then cry and cry and bawl and weep,

Or scream and screech with a piercing peep,

The laziest girl in all the land.

To gobble food was her demand,

She’d eat it all between each bell.

At school she’d sleep as if in a spell,

Upon her desk, she'd lay her head,

Like bears in dens or sleepyheads.

A trial at the blackboard she would be:

No “yes,” no “no,” no "a," no "b,"

A hundred errors in a sum she’d make.

But Mary Ann, for goodness’ sake,

Knew who was where, and who with whom,

Oh, what a pest, oh, what a gloom,

The nastiest girl in all the world.

Though one thing never changed, we’re told:

Inside her head, it’s always cold.

But when she sang, a wondrous thing,

Everyone around would stop and cling

To every note, completely still –

Her music deafened with its skill.

Толстушка Мэри Энн была:

Так много ела и пила,

Что еле-еле проходила в двери.

То прямо на ходу спала,

То плакала и плакала,

А то визжала, как пила,

Ленивейшая в целом мире Мэри.

Чтоб слопать все, для Мэри Энн

Едва хватало перемен.

Спала на парте Мэри

Весь день по крайней мере, -

В берлогах так медведи спят и сонные тетери.

С ней у доски всегда беда:

Ни бэ ни мэ, ни нет ни да,

По сто ошибок делала в примере.

Но знала Мэри Энн всегда -

Кто где, кто с кем и кто куда, -

Ох, ябеда, ох, ябеда -

Противнейшая в целом мире Мэри!

Но в голове без перемен

У Мэри Энн, у Мэри Энн.

И если пела Мэри,

То все кругом немели, -

Слух музыкальный у нее - как у глухой тетери.

Vladimir Vysotsky's song "About Mary Ann" uses irony and humor to conceal a deeper social commentary. He paints a picture of a lazy, clumsy, and intellectually unremarkable girl who, nevertheless, possesses a surprising awareness of the lives of those around her. She is always up to date on all the events: "who is where, who is with whom, and who is going where".

This contrast between her apparent simplicity and hidden observation forces us to consider that appearances and even abilities can be deceiving. Mary Ann, despite her "laziness" and unwillingness to learn, possesses a sharp mind and insight that allows her to see what others miss.

The image of Mary Ann can be interpreted as an allegory for a consumer society where people are absorbed in satisfying their basic needs ("ate and drank", "slept at her desk"), without bothering with intellectual development. However, even in such an environment, where there seems to be no place for insight and observation, there will always be those who see more than others, who are able to break through the veil of routine and see the essence of things.

It is important to note the ironic tone of the song, which does not allow for an unambiguous interpretation of Mary Ann's image. Perhaps the author is simply ridiculing human weaknesses, or perhaps, on the contrary, he is calling on us to consider that a person's true value does not always lie on the surface.