"Farewell of Slavianka" is a Russian patriotic march, written by the composer Vasily Agapkin in honour of Slavic women accompanying their husbands in the First Balkan War.Василий Агапкин и его марш «Прощание славянки». The march was written and premiered in Tambov in late 1912. In the summer of 1915, it was released as a gramophone single in Kiev. Slavianka translates to 'Slavic woman'.
History
The melody gained popularity in Russia and adjoining countries during World War I, when the Russian soldiers left their homes and were accompanied by the music of the march. It was also performed during the parade of 7 November 1941, on the Red Square, after which soldiers went straight to fight in the Battle of Moscow as part of World War II.Владимир Соколов. "Прощание славянки", Москва, изд. "Советский композитор", 1987. This march was also used as an unofficial anthem of Admiral Kolchak's White Army.
Sources alleged that the song was banned prior to its use in the award-winning 1957 film The Cranes Are Flying, because of its lyrics about supposedly banned subjects. However, there are multiple documentations of the song being performed prior to this, many conducted by Agapkin himself. The earliest recorded publication of Farewell to Slavianka in the Soviet era was in 1929, and its earliest known performance by communist troops was in 1918. Most famously, it was one of four marching tunes performed during the 1941 October Revolution Parade on the Red Square. The song was originally published by Zimmerman Production Association around 1912. The march was published in an official collection of music for Red Army orchestras,Official ceremonial repertoire for orchestras of the Red Army (), Moscow, Voenizdat, 1945. The editor of this collection was the great Russian march composer Semyon Aleksandrovich Chernetskiy (1881–1950), who was from 1925 to 1949 the Head of Military Music Service of the People's Commissariat of Defense, later Ministry of Armed Forces of the Soviet Union. and it was recorded in the early 1940s by a military orchestra under the conductor Ivan Petrov (1906–1975), but different lyrics were then used. Other lyrics are now usually sung by the Red Army Choir.
Subsequently, several composers have written lyrics for the music in various languages. During the Finnish Civil War the Red Guards adapted the song into "Vapaa Venäjä", a working class marching song. During World War II in German-occupied Poland, an adapted "underground" version of the song, (), became popular in the Polish resistance and was based on lyrics by Roman Ślęzak.
In the 1990s, the liberal political party Yabloko lobbied unsuccessfully for the march to be adopted as the Russian national anthem.
"Farewell of Slavianka" was used in movies such as The Cranes Are Flying and Charlie Wilson's War, which is about the Soviet–Afghan War, and in the Russian movies 72 Meters and Prisoner of the Mountains. An instrumental version of the song was also featured in the 1974 Soviet film At Home Among Strangers, and the 1990 Ukrainian film Raspad during the Pripyat evacuation scene.
A Hebrew version was written in 1945 by the singer-songwriter Haim Hefer for the Palmach. In his version of the song, "" (; ), Hefer coined the phrase "" (; ), which was used by the Israel Defense Forces to call Operation Defensive Shield (literally "Operation Defensive Wall") in 2002.http://www.zemer.co.il/song.asp?id=119 (Hebrew)
As the march was first published in 1912, the original musical composition has entered the public domain in the United States and many other jurisdictions. Under U.S. copyright law, all works published before 1 January 1931, are in the public domain regardless of the author's date of death.
Lyrics 1967 version "Farewell of Slavianka" first received official lyrics under the Soviet leadership that were appropriate for the time's political climate, but references to Russian culture, religion and patriotism were changed. The new version by A. Fedotov.
The first version under the Soviet Union (1941) did not mention the Battle of Berlin, unlike the later version (1967).
Russian originalAnglo-Russian RomanizationEnglish translationThis march was not silent on the platforms, When the foe clouded the horizon. With it, our fathers, in smoking railcars, Were brought to the front by trains.
In '41 he preserved Moscow, In '45 he marched on Berlin. He accompanied the soldiers to victory, Along the roads of tough years.
And if the country, Calls us to campaign. For our native land, We'll all march to sacred war!
Wheat rustles in the fields, My fatherland marches! Toward the heights of joy, Through all misfortunes, On the path of peace and labor!
1984 version Another version of the lyrics was written by Vladimir Lazarev in 1984 and has gained the popularity since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 because of the slower tempo and the added human fragility factor.
Russian originalAnglo-Russian RomanizationEnglish translationThe minute of parting's near, You look into my eyes with angst. I can feel your breath, A storm's already forming from afar.
The heavy, misty air's trembling, Anxiety's touched my temples. Russia's calling us for heroic deeds, One can feel the wind of marching regiments.
Farewell, homeland, Remember us. Farewell, familiar faces, Forgiving farewell, forgiving farewell.
Farewell, homeland, Remember us. Farewell, familiar faces, We're not all gonna come back.
Fly, fly through the years, Trains disappear in the darkness. In them are the soldiers, And in the dark sky The soldier's star shines.
1993 version This version of the lyrics was performed in 1993, around the time of the constitutional crisis in Russia.
Russian originalAnglo-Russian RomanizationEnglish translationA Slavic woman stood on the pier And she waved her hand goodbye, I would run after him along the river: "My falcon, come home!"
Goodbye, my dear, Go to mortal combat Let the vile enemy know How they fight for the Soviet flag!
But time will fly by Our victorious march will sound, You'll come back alive You will be saved in the fire, My love protects you! You'll come back alive You will be saved in the fire, My love protects you!
Let the victory at a price be immeasurable, The cry of the Slavic woman sounds and sounds: "For the Soviet Union, for Victory My only one will stand there."
I wipe away my tears furtively, Oh, bitter is your separation, bitter, It's not in vain that I was born a Slav, I will drink the bitter cup to the dregs.
The clouds begin to melt, The Soviet army stood like a wall, Light of the world, you are our mighty banner, You call our people to follow you.
1997 version A White Army version of the march, written by Andrei Mingalyov, was created after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Russian originalAnglo-Russian RomanizationEnglish translationArise for faith, o Russian land! We composed many a song in our heart, Glorifying the native land. We loved thee no matter what, Thou, our holy Russian land. Thou hast raised high thy head, Thy face shone like the sun. But thou hast become a victim of betrayal – by those who have thee cheated and sold!
And again in march trumpet calleth us. We all stand in order And go to the holy battle.
Arise for faith, o Russian land! The saints await Russia's victory. Respond, o Orthodox host! Where is thine Ilya, where is thy Dobrynya? Mother Homeland summoneth her sons. We'll stand together under the gonfalons. And go, praying, as a procession, For the right cause of Russia We'll shed honestly Russian blood.
Arise for faith, o Russian land! We're all children of a great empire, We all remember the commandments of our fathers: For the Homeland, Honour, Glory, Pity neither thyself nor thine enemy. Arise, Russia, from thy prison of slavery, Victory's spirit is called: time for battle! Rise thy battle flags For Faith, Love, and the Good.
2026 version In the fifth year of the Special Military Operation on the territory of Ukraine, amid growing war-weariness, a perceived need emerged within Russian society for a patriotic song of a hymn-like character that would foster a positive attitude towards victory. Andrey Kandaurov, author of an alternative Russian anthem, subsequently wrote a new set of lyrics for the melody of the march.
Russian originalAnglo-Russian RomanizationEnglish translationBy the Truth our Motherland is strong!
Forging victories through all the ages, Crushing every foe, even then… Source of power on history's pages, For all peoples you're stay once again.
Sons and daughters you've raised for the glory, Heroes born to prevail and to lead. Fallen warriors live in your story, And their fame will forever proceed.
Soar high, Russian flag, Gather all the folk. Lead us on your way, Forward to victory, we’re with you.
Russia of mine, Victories are yours for all time. Source of the truth and the mighty power, Such is your destiny so grand.
Year by year you have only grown stronger, In the truth we have found all our might. We must strengthen and hold it much longer, To achieve every goal in our sight.
We will honor our history's treasures, For descendants we’ll keep it alive. Let the future arrive with new measures, By our faith and Rus' Victory's drive.
Soar high, Russian flag, Gather all the folk. Lead us on your way, Forward to victory, we’re with you.
Russia of mine, Faithful we remain for all time. Nations are one as they were before now, You are our common holy land.
Anthem of Tambov Oblast The melody of "Farewell of Slavianka" was used for the regional anthem of Tambov Oblast, whose lyrics were written on 22 May 2002 by A. Mitrofanov.Текст гимна Тамбовской области , tambov.gov.ru.
Russian originalAnglo-Russian RomanizationEnglish translationIn endless blue expanses, Where birches are admired by Tsna, In the heart of great Russia You are spread, our home region. Heat-lightnings blaze ominously, But in your history of horrid centuries You've written the pages of your glory, Keeping honour and freedom from shackles.
Our Tambov Region, Prosper for centuries! You're the glory by your folk, May God bless and save you!
Let the years fly, You are with us, our region, forever. We were born there, And with this region We have one destiny. We were born there, And with this region We have one destiny.
Checking your step with the Motherland's pulse, Our lovely region is looking forward, Multiply the glory of your faithful sons, Stepping firmly towards happiness. Let success be more noticeable, Our beloved region increases in beauty, On a graceful land forever Blossom with the colour of your apple trees.
My Comrade in Death Throes The melody of the song is also used for the poem My Comrade in Death Throes. It was written in December 1944 by Ion Degen, a Second World War tank ace.
Ты не плачь, не стони, ты не маленький, Ты не ранен, ты просто убит. Дай на память сниму с тебя валенки, Нам еще наступать предстоит. Ty ne plach', ne stoni, ty ne malen'kiy, Ty ne ranen, ty prosto ubit. Day na pamyat' snimu s tebya valenki, Nam yeshche nastupat' predstoit. Cry not, moan not, you're not little. You're not wounded, you're simply killed. Let me take off your valenki for memory, We've yet to delve into attack.
Charts Military Band Service of the Armed Forces of Russia version + 2025 weekly chart performance for "" Chart (2025) Peakposition Russia Streaming (TopHit) 88
+ 2026 weekly chart performance for "" Chart (2026) Peakposition Russia Streaming (TopHit) 65
Notes
References
External links A Chinese rendition with translated (Red Army Choir) lyrics performed by the Male Choir of the People's Armed Police A version from 1990s Original record on August 1915 (Марш Прощание славянки, 1915 год - Марш Русской Императорской армии, уникальная кинохроника)