The meaning of the lyrics of the song "About Seryozhka Fomin" (Pro Serejku Fomina) the performer of the song "Vladimir Vysotsky"

I grew up like all the street riffraff

We sang songs, drank vodka at night

And we didn't like Seryozha Fomin

Because he was always so focused

And we didn't like Seryozha Fomin

Because he was always so focused

Once we were sitting at Seryozha Fomin's place

We were celebrating our meetings there

And Molotov, in his famous speech

Told us that the war had begun

And Molotov, in his famous speech

Told us that the war had begun

At the enlistment office they told me: "Old man,

Your native Kompressor factory is giving you armor!"

I refused, but Seryozha Fomin

Was saved from the army by his father, a professor

I refused, but Seryozha Fomin

Was saved from the army by his father, a professor

Now he goes to the movies

Where they show newsreels about us before the film

I wish Seryozha Fomin was here now

So he could be at the front, fighting the Germans!

I wish Seryozha Fomin was here now

So he could be at the front, fighting the Germans!

I shed blood for you, my country

And yet my heart is indignant

I shed blood for Seryozha Fomin

And he just sits there, not giving a damn!

I shed blood for Seryozha Fomin

And he just sits there, not giving a damn!

But finally the war was over

We threw off our shoulders tons of weight

I met Seryozha Fomin

And he was a Hero of the Soviet Union

I met Seryozha Fomin

And he was a Hero of the Soviet Union

Я рос как вся дворовая шпана

Мы пели песни, пили водку ночью

И не любили мы Сережку Фомина

За то, что он всегда сосредоточен

И не любили мы Сережку Фомина

За то, что он всегда сосредоточен

Сидим раз у Сережки Фомина

Мы у него справляли наши встречи

И вот о том, что началась война

Сказал нам Молотов в своей известной речи

И вот о том, что началась война

Сказал нам Молотов в своей известной речи

В военкомате мне сказали: "Старина

Тебе броню дает родной завод "Компрессор"!"

Я отказался, – а Сережку Фомина

Спасал от армии отец его, профессор

Я отказался, – а Сережку Фомина

Спасал от армии отец его, профессор

Теперь небось он ходит по кинам

Там хроника про нас перед сеансом

Сюда б сейчас Сережку Фомина

Чтоб побыл он на фронте на германском!

Сюда б сейчас Сережку Фомина

Чтоб побыл он на фронте на германском!

Кровь лью я за тебя, моя страна

И все же мое сердце негодует

Кровь лью я за Сережку Фомина

А он сидит и в ус себе не дует!

Кровь лью я за Сережку Фомина

А он сидит и в ус себе не дует!

Но наконец закончилась война

С плеч сбросили мы словно тонны груза

Встречаю я Сережку Фомина

А он - Герой Совейского Союза

Встречаю я Сережку Фомина

А он - Герой Совейского Союза

Vladimir Vysotsky's song "About Seryozha Fomin" carries a deep meaning, revealing the hypocrisy, injustice, and ambiguity of wartime.

The lyrical hero is a simple guy from a working-class background. He describes his youth, spent in the company of guys like him. They disliked Seryozha Fomin for his aloofness, concentration, and dissimilarity to them.

When the war begins, the hero volunteers for the front, refusing the exemption provided by his factory. At the same time, Seryozha Fomin is "saved" from the army by his father, a professor. There's a bitter irony in these lines. The hero risks his life on the front lines while Fomin lives peacefully in the rear, watching newsreels about the war. A natural desire arises to see Fomin on the front line, in his place.

The culmination comes with the hero's realization that he's "shedding blood" not only for his country but also for those like Fomin who evaded their duty. His words are filled with resentment, indignation, and lack of understanding.

An unexpected plot twist occurs after the war ends. Fomin, to the hero's astonishment, turns out to be a Hero of the Soviet Union. The ending is left open, making one wonder how this is possible and prompting reflections on the price of glory, the ambiguity of human destinies during and after the war.