Bulat Okudzhava
The Pirates` Lyrical Song

St. Elmo’s fire lights up at midnight,
Burns on the mast before a tempest.
It will be warming up our spirits
For all past years, come shine or rain.
The day that we return to Portland,
Like little lambs we'll be the tamest,
Except to Portland, as we reckon,
We’re never going back again.

Well, if to Portland we’re not going,
Let's have the black sail keep on pulling,
And dink the old Jamaican spirit,
The rest will pass, the rest is vain.
The day that we return to Portland,
I swear, I’ll take my charges fully,
Except to Portland, as we reckon,
We’re never going back again.

Well, if to Portland we’re not going,
Let’s have the merchants tremble, dreaded.
No God, no Devil is to help them
To save their ships to keep their gain.
The day that we return to Portland,
I swear, I’ll gladly get beheaded,
Except to Portland, as we reckon,
We’re never going back again.

Well, if to Portland we’re not going,
Let’s split the loot of gold like brothers,
‘Cause getting hold of someone’s moneys
Is what we do without much pain.
The day that we return to Portland,
Our land will take us like a mother,
Except to Portland, as we reckon,
We’re never going back again.

The day that we return to Portland,
Our land will take us like a mother,
Except to Portland, as we reckon,
God, may we never go again!

Translated by Evgenia Sarkisyants