The meaning of the lyrics of the song "All of Russia to the border..." (Vsyu Rossiyu do granicyi…) the performer of the song "Vladimir Vysotsky"

All of Russia, to the border's edge,

Our Tsar flooded with blood's red pledge,

And his own wife, the Tsarina fair,

To Grishka Kolka gave in despair.

For this discord, this disarray –

A cuff on the songwriter's ear, they say!

The songwriter here is I, you see,

And the sentry, you must let him be!

Всю Россию до границы

Царь наш кровью затопил,

А жену свою - царицу

Колька Гришке уступил.

За нескладуху-неладуху -

Сочинителю по уху!

Сочинитель - это я,

А часового бить нельзя!

The song "Всю Россию до границы…" (All of Russia to the Border) by Vladimir Vysotsky is a satirical, distorted picture of Russian history, presented through the prism of folk ditties. The author deliberately uses hyperbole, illogicalities, and fairytale motifs to create an absurd, grotesque image of power and its deeds.

The image of the Tsar is caricatured: he floods the whole country "with blood" to the border, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for cruelty and despotism. He then frivolously "yields" his wife, the Tsarina, to a certain Kolka Grishka. Such a depiction of power deprives it of its sacredness and grandeur, making it an object of ridicule.

The image of Kolka Grishka is no less interesting. This name, typical of the common people, acquires an ironic connotation in the context of the song. It's unclear who he is to the Tsar – a rival, a favorite, a rebel – but the fact that the Tsar "yields" his wife speaks volumes about the weakness and absurdity of the Tsar's power.

"Neskladukha-neladuha" (a mess, disorder) are the key words that describe what is happening. Chaos, lawlessness, absurdity – this is what reigns in this distorted reality.

The appearance of the lyrical hero – the songwriter – introduces a new semantic layer. On the one hand, he is a part of this world, "getting it on the ear" for his songs. On the other hand, he turns out to be the only one who is able to articulate what is happening, albeit in the form of a ditty. The phrase "But you can't beat the sentry!" sounds ambiguous: it can be both an echo of fear of authority and an ironic hint that the real culprits of the "mess" remain unpunished.

Thus, the song "Всю Россию до границы…" is a biting satire on despotism, arbitrariness, and the absurdity of power, disguised as a simple ditty. Vysotsky uses grotesque and irony to show how easy it is to manipulate people by replacing real problems with fairy tales.