The meaning of the lyrics of the song "How old, how old" (Skolko let, skolko let) the performer of the song "Vladimir Vysotsky"

How many years, how many years

Everything is the same

No money, no women

And there never will be

How many years I've been stealing

How many years I've been trying

I'd save up some capital

But I was just drinking myself away

No house, no home

Not a penny to my name

And no friends – not a single one

And there never will be

How many years I've been stealing

How many years I've been trying

I'd save up some capital

But I was just drinking myself away

Only – vodka for three

Only – spades and hearts

Lumpy – all my pancakes

And not just the first one

Сколько лет, сколько лет

Всё одно и то же

Денег нет, женщин нет

Да и быть не может

Сколько лет воровал

Сколько лет старался

Мне б скопить капитал

Ну а я спивался

Ни кола ни двора

И ни рожи с кожей

И друзей – ни хера

Да и быть не может

Сколько лет воровал

Сколько лет старался

Мне б скопить капитал

Ну а я спивался

Только – водка на троих

Только – пика с червой

Комом – все блины мои

А не только первый

In Vladimir Vysotsky's song "How Many Years, How Many Years," we encounter a persona deeply disillusioned with his own life. The lyrics are filled with bitterness, irony, and self-reproach. The lyrical hero draws a sad conclusion about his existence, devoid of material wealth, love, and genuine friendship.

The recurring refrain "How many years, how many years" emphasizes the protracted nature of the hero's joyless existence. Time seems to have stopped for him, turning into a vicious cycle of monotony and hopelessness.

The phrase "All the same" is key to understanding the hero's state. He is tired of the aimlessness of his existence, of recurring failures, and the inability to change anything.

"No money, no women, and there can't be" is a statement of fact, devoid of even a glimmer of hope. The hero does not simply lament the lack of good things in life, but denies the possibility of their appearance in his own.

The phrase "How many years I've been stealing, how many years I've been trying, I should have saved up capital, but I was drinking myself to death" reveals the hero's presumed "path." We see a man who may have tried to break free from poverty through dishonest means, but all his efforts were in vain. Alcohol, in this case, is not just a bad habit, but a peculiar way of escaping reality, an attempt to drown out the pain and disappointment.

"Neither house nor home, nor a friendly face, nor friends – not a damn thing, and there can't be" – this verse emphasizes the hero's utter loneliness. He has no home, no family, no true friends. He is alone in his sorrow, and this intensifies the feeling of hopelessness.

The image of pancakes, all "lumpy," not just the first one, is a metaphor for the hero's unlucky and meaningless life. It's as if he is trying to "bake" his life, but nothing works out.

Overall, the song "How Many Years, How Many Years" is a cry from the soul of a man who has lost all hope for happiness and has resigned himself to his fate. Vysotsky masterfully conveys an atmosphere of hopelessness and emotional emptiness, creating an image that remains relevant to this day.