Song meaning of Варяг (Varyag) by Михаил Елизаров (Mikhail Elizarov)

The lyrics of the song "Варяг" (Varyag) by Михаил Елизаров (Mikhail Elizarov) convey a powerful and poetic message about the struggles and sacrifices of a warrior. The song begins with the protagonist dreaming of the number twenty and feeling tied to his homeland of Pskov. He expresses his desire to rise and fight, but he is trapped in iron shackles, unable to break free. The lyrics then describe a battle where arrows rain down, resulting in the massacre of his unit. The protagonist reflects on the deaths of his comrades and the futility of their resistance.

The song speaks of the haunting aftermath of the battle, where the sound of a grasshopper is juxtaposed with the pain from spears piercing his back. The river carries the bodies of fallen soldiers, symbolizing the inevitable flow of life and death. The lyrics then shift to criticize the ruling class in the Kremlin, portraying them as corrupt and disconnected from the Russian people. The protagonists mockingly calls them "servants of a higher will" and highlights their non-Russian language and false religiosity.

In the second half of the song, the protagonist asserts his identity as a warrior and suggests that if someone aligns with him, they can call him a different ethnicity. He comically refers to himself as a Greek, then an Uzbek, and even jokingly claims to be the son of the Mongol ruler Jochi. These claims are a way of expressing defiance and asserting independence from the oppressive ruling class.

The lyrics also touch on themes of betrayal and the consequences of loyalty, as the protagonist warns that befriending a Varyag (a Norse warrior) will lead to damnation. The song concludes with a haunting realization as the protagonist wonders whether he has returned from the battle or not, and questions the significance of the number twenty in his dream.

Overall, the lyrics of "Варяг" tell a story of a warrior trapped in a cycle of violence and repression, highlighting the sacrifices made in the pursuit of freedom and justice. The song serves as a social commentary on the ruling class and the struggles faced by those who resist oppression.