The meaning of the lyrics of the song "The one who was with her before" (Tot, kto ransche s neyu byil) the performer of the song "Vladimir Vysotsky"

That evening I didn't drink, I didn't sing,

I looked at her intently,

Like children look, like children look,

But the one who was with her before, [2x]

Told me to leave,

Told me to leave,

That there was no hope for me.

And the one who was with her before -

He was rude to me, he threatened me -

And I remember everything, I wasn't drunk.

When I decided to leave, [2x]

She said: - Don't rush! -

She said: - Don't rush,

It's too early.

But the one who was with her before,

Apparently, he didn't forget about me,

And somehow in the fall, and somehow in the fall -

I'm walking with a friend, I look - they are standing. [2x]

They stood silently in a row,

They stood silently in a row,

There were eight of them.

I had a knife with me, I decided: - Well,

You won't take me that easily.

Hold on, bastards! Hold on, bastards! -

Why should I go down without a fight? [2x]

I struck first then,

I struck first then -

It had to be done.

But the one who was with her before,

He brewed this mess

Quite seriously, quite seriously.

Someone fell on my shoulders, [2x]

Valyukh shouted: - Watch out! -

Valyukh shouted: - Watch out! -

But it was too late.

For eight troubles - one answer.

There is also an infirmary in prison,

I was lying there, I was lying there.

The doctor was cutting me lengthwise and across, [2x]

He told me: - Hold on, buddy! -

He told me: - Hold on, buddy! -

And I held on.

The separation passed quickly.

She didn't wait for me,

But I forgive her, I forgive her.

I forgave her, of course,

But the one who was with her before,

The one who was with her before,

I do not forgive.

I forgave her, of course,

But the one who was with her before,

The one who was with her before,

I will meet him!

В тот вечер я не пил, не пел,

Я на нее вовсю глядел,

Как смотрят дети, как смотрят дети,

Но тот, кто раньше с нею был, [2х]

Сказал мне, чтоб я уходил,

Сказал мне, чтоб я уходил,

Что мне не светит.

И тот, кто раньше с нею был, -

Он мне грубил, он мне грозил, -

А я все помню, я был не пьяный.

Когда ж я уходить решил, [2х]

Она сказала: - Не спеши! -

Она сказала: - Не спеши,

Ведь слишком рано.

Но тот, кто раньше с нею был,

Меня, как видно, не забыл,

И как-то в осень, и как-то в осень -

Иду с дружком, гляжу - стоят. [2х]

Они стояли молча в ряд,

Они стояли молча в ряд,

Их было восемь.

Со мною нож, решил я: - Что ж,

Меня так просто не возьмешь.

Держитесь, гады! Держитесь, гады! -

К чему задаром пропадать? [2х]

Ударил первым я тогда,

Ударил первым я тогда -

Так было надо.

Но тот, кто раньше с нею был,

Он эту кашу заварил

Вполне серьезно, вполне серьезно.

Мне кто-то на плечи повис, [2х]

Валюха крикнул: - Берегись! -

Валюха крикнул: - Берегись! -

Но было поздно.

За восемь бед - один ответ.

В тюрьме есть тоже лазарет,

Я там валялся, я там валялся.

Врач резал вдоль и поперек, [2х]

Он мне сказал: - Держись, браток! -

Он мне сказал: - Держись, браток! -

И я держался.

Разлука мигом пронеслась.

Она меня не дождалась,

Но я прощаю, ее прощаю.

Ее, конечно, я простил,

Того ж, кто раньше с нею был,

Того, кто раньше с нею был,

Не извиняю.

Ее, конечно, я простил,

Того ж, кто раньше с нею был,

Того, кто раньше с нею был,

Я повстречаю!

In the song "The One Who Was With Her Before," Vladimir Vysotsky tells a story of jealousy, revenge, and their consequences. The lyrical hero, languishing from unrequited love, encounters a rival – "the one who was with her before." This rival becomes a symbol of the past that does not let go of the hero's beloved.

Throughout the song, the hero goes from timid hope ("It's too early") to blind rage ("Hold on, bastards!") and, finally, to a bitter awareness of the consequences of his actions ("There's an infirmary in prison too").

It is important to note that the "eight" opponents the hero faces can be interpreted as a metaphor. This is not necessarily the literal number of people, but rather an image of an insurmountable obstacle, the embodiment of a hostile world that the hero encounters in the struggle for his love.

Despite the tragic ending, the hero retains the ability to forgive. He forgives his beloved, who did not wait for him from prison. However, he does not forgive "the one who was with her before," seeing him as the culprit of his troubles. The final line "I will meet you!" sounds ominous, leaving open the question of future revenge.