You will believe me, you will not understand me - It’s more awful in space, than it is in Dante’s hell. We’re flying in a spaceship through the time-galaxy, Just like down the mountain on our rear end. From the Earth to Beta it takes eight days, But to the planet Epsilon We don’t count, in order not to go insane, Eternity and melancholy are in us. We’re required to know Kipling by heart, While around us there’s the cosmic gloom. Back on Earth we’ve read in science fiction novels About the possible encounters with aliens from space. Back on Earth we’ve forgotten the cheap old ten commandments. We’re not bound to meet any fellow creatures here. From the Earth to Beta it takes eight days, But to the planet Epsilon We don’t count, in order not to go insane. Eternity and melancholy are toys to us. We’re required to know Pushkin by heart, While around us there’s the cosmic gloom. We’ve received our shots from tears and cheap dreams, From foolish diseases and from insane beasts, Here in cosmos we don’t give a damn for any explosions - We were much happier back on Earth. From the Earth to Beta it takes eight days, But to the planet Epsilon We don’t count, in order not to go insane, Eternity and melancholy are in us. We’re required to know Kipling by heart, While around us there’s the cosmic gloom. There is something to laugh at-nothing is scary on this earth The earth has no more prisons and palaces. We once had trust in God, but found out he doesn’t exist Now, ever and throughout all centuries. From the Earth to Beta it takes eight days, But to the planet Epsilon We don’t count, in order not to go insane. Eternity and melancholy are toys to us. We’re required to know Pushkin by heart, While around us there’s the cosmic gloom. Never shall we see the former earthly horizon - If one should believe in tales of scientist-fools, Indeed, when we’ll return back, as their laws say so, Seven hundred ages will pass on the planet Earth. From the Earth to Beta it takes eight days, But to the planet Epsilon We don’t count, in order not to go insane. Eternity and melancholy are toys to us. We’re required to know Pushkin by heart, While around us there’s the cosmic gloom.
© Nathan Mer. Translation, 1991