Калинка (Kalinka)
1860 
Russia Russian Nursery Rhyme
Original Lyrics
Калинка, калинка, калинка моя!
(Kalinka, kalinka, kalinka moya!)
В саду ягода малинка, малинка моя!
(V sadu yagoda malinka, malinka moya!)
Ах, под сосною, под зеленою,
(Akh, pod sosnoyu, pod zelenoyu,)
Спать положите вы меня!
(Spat' polozhite vy menya!)
Ай-люли, люли, ай-люли, люли,
(Ay-lyuli, lyuli, ay-lyuli, lyuli,)
Спать положите вы меня.
(Spat' polozhite vy menya.)
Калинка, калинка, калинка моя!
(Kalinka, kalinka, kalinka moya!)
В саду ягода малинка, малинка моя!
(V sadu yagoda malinka, malinka moya!)
Ах, сосёнушка, ты зеленая,
(Akh, sosyonushka, ty zelyenaya,)
Не шуми ты надо мной!
(Ne shumi ty nado mnoy;)
Ай-люли, люли, ай-люли, люли,
(Ay-lyuli, lyuli, ay-lyuli, lyuli,)
Не шуми ты надо мной!
(Ne shumi ty nado mnoy!)
Калинка, калинка, калинка моя!
(Kalinka, kalinka, kalinka moya!)
В саду ягода малинка, малинка моя!
(V sadu yagoda malinka, malinka moya!)
Ах, красавица, душа-девица,
(Akh, krasavitsa, dusha-devitsa,)
Полюби же ты меня!
(Polyubi zhe ty menya;)
Ай-люли, люли, ай-люли, люли,
(Ay-lyuli, lyuli, ay-lyuli, lyuli,)
Полюби же ты меня!
(Polyubi zhe ty menya!)
Калинка, калинка, калинка моя!
(Kalinka, kalinka, kalinka moya!)
В саду ягода малинка, малинка моя!
(V sadu yagoda malinka, malinka moya!)
(Kalinka, kalinka, kalinka moya!)
В саду ягода малинка, малинка моя!
(V sadu yagoda malinka, malinka moya!)
Ах, под сосною, под зеленою,
(Akh, pod sosnoyu, pod zelenoyu,)
Спать положите вы меня!
(Spat' polozhite vy menya!)
Ай-люли, люли, ай-люли, люли,
(Ay-lyuli, lyuli, ay-lyuli, lyuli,)
Спать положите вы меня.
(Spat' polozhite vy menya.)
Калинка, калинка, калинка моя!
(Kalinka, kalinka, kalinka moya!)
В саду ягода малинка, малинка моя!
(V sadu yagoda malinka, malinka moya!)
Ах, сосёнушка, ты зеленая,
(Akh, sosyonushka, ty zelyenaya,)
Не шуми ты надо мной!
(Ne shumi ty nado mnoy;)
Ай-люли, люли, ай-люли, люли,
(Ay-lyuli, lyuli, ay-lyuli, lyuli,)
Не шуми ты надо мной!
(Ne shumi ty nado mnoy!)
Калинка, калинка, калинка моя!
(Kalinka, kalinka, kalinka moya!)
В саду ягода малинка, малинка моя!
(V sadu yagoda malinka, malinka moya!)
Ах, красавица, душа-девица,
(Akh, krasavitsa, dusha-devitsa,)
Полюби же ты меня!
(Polyubi zhe ty menya;)
Ай-люли, люли, ай-люли, люли,
(Ay-lyuli, lyuli, ay-lyuli, lyuli,)
Полюби же ты меня!
(Polyubi zhe ty menya!)
Калинка, калинка, калинка моя!
(Kalinka, kalinka, kalinka moya!)
В саду ягода малинка, малинка моя!
(V sadu yagoda malinka, malinka moya!)
English Translation
Little red berry, red berry, red berry of mine!
In the garden (there is) a berry - little raspberry, raspberry of mine!
Ah, under the pine, the green one,
Lay me down to sleep,
Oh-swing, sway, oh-swing, sway,
Lay me down to sleep.
Little red berry, red berry, red berry of mine!
In the garden (there is) a berry - little raspberry, raspberry of mine!
Ah, you, the great pine,
Do not make a noise over me;
Oh-swing, sway, oh-swing, sway,
Do not make a noise over me!
Little red berry, red berry, red berry of mine!
In the garden (there is) a berry - little raspberry, raspberry of mine!
Ah, beauty, soul-maiden,
Please, love me do,
Oh-swing, sway, oh-swing, sway,
Please, love me do!
Little red berry, red berry, red berry of mine!
In the garden (there is) a berry - little raspberry, raspberry of mine!
In the garden (there is) a berry - little raspberry, raspberry of mine!
Ah, under the pine, the green one,
Lay me down to sleep,
Oh-swing, sway, oh-swing, sway,
Lay me down to sleep.
Little red berry, red berry, red berry of mine!
In the garden (there is) a berry - little raspberry, raspberry of mine!
Ah, you, the great pine,
Do not make a noise over me;
Oh-swing, sway, oh-swing, sway,
Do not make a noise over me!
Little red berry, red berry, red berry of mine!
In the garden (there is) a berry - little raspberry, raspberry of mine!
Ah, beauty, soul-maiden,
Please, love me do,
Oh-swing, sway, oh-swing, sway,
Please, love me do!
Little red berry, red berry, red berry of mine!
In the garden (there is) a berry - little raspberry, raspberry of mine!
History and Meaning
"Kalinka" is a famous Russian folk-style song written in 1860 by the composer and folklorist Ivan Larionov. It was first performed in Saratov as part of a theatrical production Larionov had composed. While often mistaken for a traditional folk song, it was actually a composed piece that quickly entered the repertoire of folk choral groups. Since the end of World War II, it has been popularized globally by the Alexandrov Ensemble, the official choir of the Russian Armed Forces. The title refers to the kalinka, which is the snowball tree (Viburnum opulus), and the song is characterized by its light-hearted lyrics and a refrain that increases in tempo with each repetition.