Balāde par gulbi () is a song by Latvian Rock band Pērkons, written by Māris Melgalvis (lyrics) and Juris Kulakovs (music) in 1979 and recorded in 1983.Pērkons, Dziesmu izlase #1 1981–1982 (CD booklet) Written while Latvia was occupied by USSR, it is noted for its anti-soviet subtext that references deaths of soviet leaders in early 1980s, which were usually mourned by broadcasting Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. The opening part of the song deals with a crow with no sense of humor sitting on a fresh grave and forcing her opinion on everyone. Most of the song dwells on the stupidity of killing a swan, but in the end resolves that the swan is so red that one cannot help killing it.
Lyrics Kārna vārna Uz slapa kapa Man savu patiesību ķērc Vai tiešām viņa neattapa ka viss tas - tikai joka pēc Ak vai cik stulbi Ir nosist gulbi Bet stulbāk vēl ja vēlāk žēl Tad ir tik velnišķīgi stulbi—ik rietā sarkans gulbis kvēl Tik stulbi kvēl Ka jāsit vēl
Translation: A skinny crow On a wet grave Croaking her truth to me Didn't she really realize that it all is just for fun? Oh, how stupid It is to beat a swan to death But even more stupid if you regret it later It is so devilishly stupid—in each sunset a red swan glows Glows so stupidly That one has to beat it again
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