Bulat Okudzhava
A beauty’s tempting eyes...

A beauty’s tempting eyes
Will do no harm by glancing;
Since youth we fantasize
Of loving and romancing.
My friends, you must agree,
My friends, you must agree,
Although it’s not all sugar,
It simply has to be.

Move on, my destiny!
If not — oh well, whatever;
My friends, you must agree
With destiny’s endeavor.
My friends, you must agree,
My friends, you must agree,
Although it’s not all sugar,
It simply has to be.

Somewhere it waits for me,
The ultimate defying;
My friends, you must agree,
No life is without dying.
My friends, you must agree,
My friends, you must agree,
Though life is not all sugar,
Our life just has to be.

Translated by Evgenia Sarkisyants