Story Behind The Song

Part-Russian, to convince a Russian woman to marry me (she did).

Lyrics

Landscape was spread with snow...
rain came sluicing, low:
wish her heart the same, my tears the rain,
sweep away "no."
Heart the same, my tears the rain:
sweep away "no."

"Tell me what do you want?
Why lead me on?"
Oh, she's asking me, artlessly,
where my will has gone.
Artlessly asking me,
"Where has it gone?"

Vot otvet, tebya lyublyu;
vot, chto ya khochu:
sheyu beluyu tselovat' tvoyu
lebedinuyu.
Sheyu beluyu tselovat' tvoyu
lebedinuyu.

Here's a view of what will be --
I'll speak, and you'll see:
my arms around a swan-girl, frowning...
pity, love, on me.
Arms around a swan-girl:
frown, but pity me.

Vot otvet, tebya lyublyu;
vot, chto ya khochu:
obnimat' tvoyu krasotu
lebedinuyu.
Beluyu krasotu
lebedinuyu.