The Volga Boatmen's Song
Encyclopedia
Choir & Ochestra of the Red Army
_-_volga_boatmen_(1870-1873).jpg)
The "Song of the Volga Boatmen" is a well-known traditional Russia
n song collected by Mily Balakirev
, and published in his book of folk songs in 1866. It is a genuine shanty
sung by burlak
s, or barge-haulers, on the Volga River
. Balakirev published it with only one verse (the first). The other two verses were added at a later date. The song inspired Ilya Repin's famous painting, Barge Haulers on the Volga
, which depicts burlaks in Tsarist Russia
.
The song was popularised by Feodor Chaliapin
, and has been a favourite concert piece of bass singers ever since. Glenn Miller
's jazz arrangement took the song to #1 in the US charts in 1941. Spanish composer Manuel De Falla
wrote an arrangement of the song, which was published under the name Canto de los remeros del Volga (del cancionero musical ruso) in 1922. He did so at the behest of diplomat Ricardo Baeza, who was working with the League of Nations
to provide financial relief for the more than two million Russian refugees who had been displaced and imprisoned during World War I
. All proceeds from the song's publication were donated to this effort.
The song, or at least the tune, was popularized in the mid-20th Century through a jazz version played by the Glenn Miller Band. A translated vocal version was sung by Paul Robeson
. The Boston Pops Orchestra
conducted by Arthur Fiedler
recorded the tune in New York City on June 30, 1937. The arranger was Glazounov. It was released by EMI
on the HMV Records label as catalogue number B 9182.
The tune is used as the theme song for the Fremantle Dockers Australian Rules Football team, albeit with different lyrics.
The first three lines of the melody can be heard in the background of Billy Squier's 1981 song, The Stroke
. They occur beginning at approximately 2:57 into the song as a synthesizer line.
It is often used in various classic cartoons (including Tom and Jerry
and Bugs Bunny
) whenever a character is hauling something from one place to another. The music normally goes from the main (usually the chase) theme which slows down as the character drags the weight, and then transforms into the Song of the Volga Boatmen, which stops as soon as the character gets rid of the weight, and then the music goes back to normal.
The song was also used in an episode of The Simpsons
to punctuate a joke about Boris Yeltsin
(specificially, his alcoholism
).
An extract from the song was also used as part of Soda Popinski
's fight introduction in the NES game Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
.
In The Three Stooges, Shemp sings this to the milkman when he is milking the cow when they are cavemen.
The Heavy, a large Russian man and one of the playable classes of the game Team Fortress 2
, sometimes sings this song while pushing the bomb cart towards the objective, after winning a round, or after eating a Sandvich or Dalokohs Bar.
In the first Shrek movie, a group of gnome-like fairy tale creatures sings The Song of the Volga Boatmen with other lyrics as they are taken away in shackles.
On the Spongebob episode "Employee of the Month", Squidward and Spongebob try to upset each other with various traps and tricks as each races to the Krusty Krab to be early for work. The final "trap" the two lay on each other sees them both crawling while being tied to a massive boat and an anchor while a deeper, harsher instrumental of the chorus plays.
In the movie Lord of War
starring Nicolas Cage
. The song can be heard in the background in a scene featuring the vast soviet arsenal of tanks, guns and helicopters.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n song collected by Mily Balakirev
Mily Balakirev
Mily Alexeyevich Balakirev ,Russia was still using old style dates in the 19th century, and information sources used in the article sometimes report dates as old style rather than new style. Dates in the article are taken verbatim from the source and therefore are in the same style as the source...
, and published in his book of folk songs in 1866. It is a genuine shanty
Sea shanty
A shanty is a type of work song that was once commonly sung to accompany labor on board large merchant sailing vessels. Shanties became ubiquitous in the 19th century era of the wind-driven packet and clipper ships...
sung by burlak
Burlak
A burlak was a Russian epithet for a person who hauled barges and other vessels upstream from the 17th to 20th centuries. The word burlak originated from Tatar word bujdak, 'homeless'...
s, or barge-haulers, on the Volga River
Volga River
The Volga is the largest river in Europe in terms of length, discharge, and watershed. It flows through central Russia, and is widely viewed as the national river of Russia. Out of the twenty largest cities of Russia, eleven, including the capital Moscow, are situated in the Volga's drainage...
. Balakirev published it with only one verse (the first). The other two verses were added at a later date. The song inspired Ilya Repin's famous painting, Barge Haulers on the Volga
Barge Haulers on the Volga
Barge Haulers on the Volga or Burlaki is a 1870–1873 oil-on-canvas painting by the Russian realist painter and sculptor Ilya Repin. The work depicts 11 labouring men dragging a barge on the Volga River...
, which depicts burlaks in Tsarist Russia
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
.
The song was popularised by Feodor Chaliapin
Feodor Chaliapin
Feodor Ivanovich Chaliapin was a Russian opera singer. The possessor of a large and expressive bass voice, he enjoyed an important international career at major opera houses and is often credited with establishing the tradition of naturalistic acting in his chosen art form.During the first phase...
, and has been a favourite concert piece of bass singers ever since. Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
's jazz arrangement took the song to #1 in the US charts in 1941. Spanish composer Manuel De Falla
Manuel de Falla
Manuel de Falla y Matheu was a Spanish Andalusian composer of classical music. With Isaac Albéniz, Enrique Granados and Joaquín Turina he is one of Spain's most important musicians of the first half of the 20th century....
wrote an arrangement of the song, which was published under the name Canto de los remeros del Volga (del cancionero musical ruso) in 1922. He did so at the behest of diplomat Ricardo Baeza, who was working with the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
to provide financial relief for the more than two million Russian refugees who had been displaced and imprisoned during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. All proceeds from the song's publication were donated to this effort.
Lyrics
| Russian | Transliteration | (Poetic) English translation |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Modern popular culture
The catchy tune of The Song of the Volga Boatmen has led to its being used in many musical situations, particularly as background music, often with the theme of unremitting toil (or, alternatively, devotion to duty). Some uses, particularly those portending doom or despair, employ only the iconic four-note beginning; others go so far as to add new, often wryly humorous, lyrics, such as the "Birthday Dirge". Some of the uses acknowledge the tune's Russian heritage; very few use the original lyrics.The song, or at least the tune, was popularized in the mid-20th Century through a jazz version played by the Glenn Miller Band. A translated vocal version was sung by Paul Robeson
Paul Robeson
Paul Leroy Robeson was an American concert singer , recording artist, actor, athlete, scholar who was an advocate for the Civil Rights Movement in the first half of the twentieth century...
. The Boston Pops Orchestra
Boston Pops Orchestra
The Boston Pops Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts, that specializes in playing light classical and popular music....
conducted by Arthur Fiedler
Arthur Fiedler
Arthur Fiedler was a long-time conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, a symphony orchestra that specializes in popular and light classical music. With a combination of musicianship and showmanship, he made the Boston Pops one of the best-known orchestras in the country...
recorded the tune in New York City on June 30, 1937. The arranger was Glazounov. It was released by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
on the HMV Records label as catalogue number B 9182.
The tune is used as the theme song for the Fremantle Dockers Australian Rules Football team, albeit with different lyrics.
The first three lines of the melody can be heard in the background of Billy Squier's 1981 song, The Stroke
The Stroke
"The Stroke" is the title of a song written and recorded by American rock artist Billy Squier. It was released in May 1981 as the debut single from his 1981 album Don't Say No....
. They occur beginning at approximately 2:57 into the song as a synthesizer line.
It is often used in various classic cartoons (including Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry are the cat and mouse cartoon characters that were evolved starting in 1939.Tom and Jerry also may refer to:Cartoon works featuring the cat and mouse so named:* The Tom and Jerry Show...
and Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny is a animated character created in 1938 at Leon Schlesinger Productions, later Warner Bros. Cartoons. Bugs is an anthropomorphic gray rabbit and is famous for his flippant, insouciant personality and his portrayal as a trickster. He has primarily appeared in animated cartoons, most...
) whenever a character is hauling something from one place to another. The music normally goes from the main (usually the chase) theme which slows down as the character drags the weight, and then transforms into the Song of the Volga Boatmen, which stops as soon as the character gets rid of the weight, and then the music goes back to normal.
The song was also used in an episode of The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
to punctuate a joke about Boris Yeltsin
Boris Yeltsin
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin was the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999.Originally a supporter of Mikhail Gorbachev, Yeltsin emerged under the perestroika reforms as one of Gorbachev's most powerful political opponents. On 29 May 1990 he was elected the chairman of...
(specificially, his alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
).
An extract from the song was also used as part of Soda Popinski
Soda Popinski
, originally known as , is a fictional boxer from Nintendo's Punch-Out!! series. Soda Popinski first appeared in the Arcade game game Super Punch-Out!!, featuring the above mentioned Vodka Drunkenski name...
's fight introduction in the NES game Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
Punch-Out!!, originally known as Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!, is a boxing video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System developed and published by Nintendo in 1987. It is a port of both the Punch-Out!! and Super Punch-Out!! arcade games with some variations. It has consistently been ranked among...
.
In The Three Stooges, Shemp sings this to the milkman when he is milking the cow when they are cavemen.
The Heavy, a large Russian man and one of the playable classes of the game Team Fortress 2
Team Fortress 2
Team Fortress 2 is a free-to-play team-based first-person shooter multiplayer video game developed by Valve Corporation. A sequel to the original mod Team Fortress based on the Quake engine, it was first released as part of the video game compilation The Orange Box on October 10, 2007 for Windows...
, sometimes sings this song while pushing the bomb cart towards the objective, after winning a round, or after eating a Sandvich or Dalokohs Bar.
In the first Shrek movie, a group of gnome-like fairy tale creatures sings The Song of the Volga Boatmen with other lyrics as they are taken away in shackles.
On the Spongebob episode "Employee of the Month", Squidward and Spongebob try to upset each other with various traps and tricks as each races to the Krusty Krab to be early for work. The final "trap" the two lay on each other sees them both crawling while being tied to a massive boat and an anchor while a deeper, harsher instrumental of the chorus plays.
In the movie Lord of War
Lord of War
Lord of War is a 2005 French-German-American action drama film written and directed by Andrew Niccol and starring Nicolas Cage. It was released in the United States on September 16, 2005, with the DVD following on January 17, 2006 and the Blu-ray Disc on July 27, 2006.Cage plays an illegal arms...
starring Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage is an American actor, producer and director, having appeared in over 60 films including Raising Arizona , The Rock , Face/Off , Gone in 60 Seconds , Adaptation , National Treasure , Ghost Rider , Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans , and...
. The song can be heard in the background in a scene featuring the vast soviet arsenal of tanks, guns and helicopters.
Other sources
In the song Red Fraction from Mel, used as intro song for the Anime Black Lagoon, you can hear "Queen of Ocean, Sing the Volga to you" in the lyricsExternal links
- YouTube: Song of the Volga Boatmen — sung in the tradition of ChaliapinFeodor ChaliapinFeodor Ivanovich Chaliapin was a Russian opera singer. The possessor of a large and expressive bass voice, he enjoyed an important international career at major opera houses and is often credited with establishing the tradition of naturalistic acting in his chosen art form.During the first phase...
by Leonid Mikhailovich KharitonovLeonid Mikhailovich KharitonovLeonid Mikhailovich Kharitonov is a Russian bass-baritone singer, born 18 September 1933 in the village of Golumet, Irkutsk Oblast. He has been honoured with: People's Artist of Russia and Honoured Artist of Russia. In the West he is noted for his 1965 video of the Song of the Volga Boatmen.-...
with the Alexandrov Ensemble, 1965. - YouTube: Song of the Volga Boatmen — Paul RobesonPaul RobesonPaul Leroy Robeson was an American concert singer , recording artist, actor, athlete, scholar who was an advocate for the Civil Rights Movement in the first half of the twentieth century...
. - YouTube: Song of the Volga Boatmen — Glenn MillerGlenn MillerAlton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
and his orchestra. - Youtube: Song of the VOlga Boatmen — translated Chinese version performed by the Male Choir of the People's Armed Police.