The image above is a Bolshoi Karetnyi, the street where Vysotsky grew up.
"Большой Каретный" (Bolshoi Karetnyi) was written by Vladimir Vysotsky in 1969. Below is the original Russian text, an English translation underneath, and the poem as a song (played by Vysotsky himself).
Где твои семнадцать лет? На Большом Каретном. Где твои семнадцать бед? На Большом Каретном. Где твой черный пистолет? На Большом Каретном. А где тебя сегодня нет? На Большом Каретном. Помнишь ли, товарищ, этот дом? Нет, не забываешь ты о нём. Я скажу, что тот полжизни потерял, кто в Большом Каретном не бывал. Еще бы, ведь: Где твои семнадцать лет? На Большом Каретном. Где твои семнадцать бед? На Большом Каретном. Где твой черный пистолет? На Большом Каретном. А где тебя сегодня нет? На Большом Каретном. Переименован он теперь, стало всё по новой там, верь-не верь. И всё же, где б ты ни был, где ты ни бредёшь, нет-нет да по Каретному пройдёшь. Еще бы, ведь: Где твои семнадцать лет? На Большом Каретном. Где твои семнадцать бед? На Большом Каретном. И где не гаснет ночью свет? На Большом Каретном. А где тебя сегодня нет? На Большом Каретном.
Where were you at seventeen? On Bolshoi Karetnyi. And where’ve your troubles always been? On Bolshoi Karetnyi. Where’s your black pistol? On Bolshoi Karetnyi. And where aren’t you today? On Bolshoi Karetnyi. Do you still recall that house, my friend? You’ll remember always where it stands. I would say that anyone’s life was lived in vain, If he never walked Karetnyi Lane - Because... Where were you at seventeen? On Bolshoi Karetnyi. And where’ve your troubles always been? On Bolshoi Karetnyi. Where’s your black pistol? On Bolshoi Karetnyi. And where aren’t you today? On Bolshoi Karetnyi. Now, Karetnyi Lane is not the same; It has been repainted and renamed. But anyplace you go and no matter what you find, Karetnyi Lane is always on your mind - Because... Where were you at seventeen? On Bolshoi Karetnyi. And where’ve your troubles always been? On Bolshoi Karetnyi. Where’s your black pistol? On Bolshoi Karetnyi. And where aren’t you today? On Bolshoi Karetnyi.
Vladimir Vysotsky (Владимир Высоцкий) is regarded as the greatest bard in Russian history. He had achieved unprecedented fame and notoriety amongst the Russian people, yet was suppressed by the Soviet government. Vysotsky wrote and sang his own songs, always with a guitar, and acted in several movies. Vysotsky was born on January 25th, 1938, in Moscow. He had spent several years in East Germany with his father's family, but when he returned to Russia, he lived in a humble communal apartment. Vysotsky began writing and singing songs as a student in the 1960's. His song, "courtyard hooligan," skyrocketed him to fame, and by 1967, all of Russia knew about the bard, Vysotsky. His rise to fame came as a result of his amusing songs and his willingness to speak the truth in his songs, at a time when many were scared to do so due to the oppressive Soviet government. He also became famous for his phraseology. Many people absorbed his phraseology into everyday language. People even referred to his phraseology as "Vysotsky's Language." In the beginning, his songs were considered street songs, but eventually, his songwriting developed into critical commentaries on everyday Russian life.
"Bolshoi Karetnyi" (Большой Каретный) was written by Vysotsky in 1962. Like most of his early work, this song was meant for his friends, in particular Levon Kocharyan (Левону Кочаряну). It also contains a friendly mood, which maybe why it gained its popularity. The poem itself is about where Vysotsky and his childhood friends grew up. Vysotsky and his family lived in a communal apartment on Bolshoi Karetnyi street. The living conditions of his family and everyone else that lived on the street were quite poor. However, even though Vysotsky faced many obstacles growing up, he wrote this song to pay homage to the great aspects of life on Bolshoi Karetnyi. He reminisces about good times with his family and friends. In the beginning of the song, he states, "Where've your troubles always been? On Bolshoi Karetnyi." In this quote, Vysotsky explains that he had a troubled childhood Several lines later he also states, "Do you recall that house ... you'll always remember where it stands." In this quote, Vysotsky explains that he will never be able to forget where he grew up. Surprisingly, he concludes the second stanza by saying, "I would say that anyone's life was lived in vain, if he never walked on Kertnyi Lane." By ending the stanza this way, he suggests that while his time on that street was difficult, he looks back on his time there fondly. He is happy he had experienced life on Bolshoi Karetnyi because it helped mold him into a man he was proud to be. He goes on to explain that the street has changed, "It has been repainted and renamed." Vysotsky conveys this message with sadness. He is sad that the place where he grew up, no matter how troubled, was no longer how he remembers it was when he lived there. He concludes the fourth stanza by saying, "Karetnyi Lane is always on your mind." In this quote, Vysotsky explains that no matter what happens, he will always remember Bolshoi Karetnyi, even if that street’s soul is not there anymore.
Nostalgia is defined as, "a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations." "Bolshoi Karetnyi," is a perfect example of Vysotsky experiencing nostalgia; he reminisces about all the special moments from his childhood on that street. Researchers in Southampton, England, conducted a study on nostalgic stories and their effects. Dr. Sedikides stated, "nostalgic stories often start badly, with some kind of problem, but they tend to end well." The lead researcher on the study further details that because nostalgic stories follow this structure, "you end up with a stronger feeling of belonging and affiliation, and you become more generous toward others." It seems Vysotsky wrote "Bolshoi Karetnyi" to give readers and listeners an opportunity to feel this way. This song is powerful because it successfully conveys the feeling of nostalgia to all that read and listen to the song while inducing a healing effect on them.
References:
Высоцкий В. С. Сочинения. В 2 томах. Том I / Подготовка текста и комментарии А. Крылова. — М.: Художественная литература, 1993. — Т. 1. — 639 с. — ISBN 5-280-02943-2.
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