The song What I Want to Say was written by the famous Russian and Soviet pop artist, singer, poet, composer and film actor Alexander Vertinsky at the end of 1917. It is believed that the tragic death of cadets in Moscow during the uprising in October 1917 prompted Alexander Vertinsky to write the song.
What I Have To Say lyrics translation:
I don’t know why and who needs it,
Who sent them to death with an unshakable hand,
Only so mercilessly, so evil and unnecessary
Lowered them into Eternal Peace!
Cautious spectators silently wrapped themselves in fur coats,
And some woman with a distorted face
Kissed the dead man on blue lips
And threw a wedding ring at the priest.
Threw them with Christmas trees, kneaded them with mud
And went home – to interpret under the guise,
That it’s time to put an end to the disgrace,
As it is already soon, they say, we will begin to starve.
And no one thought to just kneel
And tell these boys that in a mediocre country
Even bright feats are only steps
To the endless abysses – to the inaccessible Spring!