Volkhov Drinking song
(provided by ShAA)

Music: I. Lyuban Lyrics: P.Shubin

It's a half-dirge, half-drinking song - something truly Russian. Originally it was a drinking song written in the praise of Stalin in 1942, but in January 1943, following the operation "Spark", it was rewritten by P. Shubin, a military correspondent of "Volkhov Pravda".

It not so often we get together, friends
But if we've got this chance now
Let us remember the past and drink as we should
As is the rite of our Rus'

May a Leningrad family sit next to us here
At our big dinner table
Let us remember how Russian soldiers' might
Drove the Germans beyond Tikhvin

Let's drink to those who stayed in their dugouts
Freezing for many long weeks
Who fought on Ladoga, who fought on Volkhov
Who never made one step back

Let's drink to those who took charge of companies
Those who died on the snow
Those who waded through swamps to Leningrad
Breaking the enemy's throat.

Let their glory be the lore of the centuries 
As under machine-gun hail
Thrust our bayonets on the hills of Sinyavino
Fought our regiments at Mga

So let us stand up and clink our cups now
Let's stand up, brothers in arms.
Let's drink to the courage of fallen heroes
Let's drink to the meeting of the living