Unusual arrangements, self-invented musical instruments and esoteric lyrics make the band a completely unique occurrence in the Russian rock music genre. Lyrics contain themes such as Ancient Egypt, vampires and mysticism. Shklyarsky is the band's main singer-songwriter, composing both music and lyrics. Also his own paintings were used as few albums' cover art.
Пикник's logo is a made up kanji-like symbol (which makes more sense for Russian speakers as Chinese/Japanese as well as Ancient Egyptian characters are all called "hieroglyphs" in Russian language).
Official website: http://www.piknik.info
Разбойники
Пикник Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Было в кошельках тугих
Охраняют их разбойники
От разбойников других
Запоскудили все изверги
А ведь написано не гадь
Им ужимкамки да визгами
Нет пока ещё не вздрогнули
Не взлетели топоры
Спит огонь у бочки пороха
Спит родимый до поры
Чтобы золотым спокойнее
Было в кошельках тугих
Охраняют их разбойники
От разбойников других
The song "Разбойники" (Robbers) by Пикник (Picnic) is a powerful piece that talks about the paradox of thieves protecting their own loot from other thieves. The first two lines of the song state that for the stolen gold to give the robbers peace of mind, other robbers must guard the treasure. The second stanza, "Запоскудили все изверги, а ведь написано не гадь, им ужимкамки да визгами, лишь бы ближнего пугать" (All scoundrels have taken everything, and it's not written to be so. With their twisted, hissing voices, they only scare the neighbors), describes how the robbers have taken everything from the people around them, and how they use their intimidating tactics and their hushed tones to manipulate and frighten everyone into submission.
The last stanza, "Нет пока ещё не вздрогнули, не взлетели топоры, спит огонь у бочки пороха, спит родимый до поры" (Not until now have they quivered; no axes have been sharpened. The fire by the powder keg is sleeping, peaceful for the time being), indicates that the robbers have not yet had to resort to violence, but they are fully prepared to use it when necessary. The song is a commentary on the fragile balance of power and the resulting paranoia that comes with the constant need to protect material wealth.
Line by Line Meaning
Чтобы золотым спокойнее
In order for the gold to be at peace
Было в кошельках тугих
And remain tightly in their purses
Охраняют их разбойники
Bandits guard them
От разбойников других
From other bandits
Запоскудили все изверги
All the villains have plundered
А ведь написано не гадь
Despite it being clearly written
Им ужимкамки да визгами
They intimidate with their meanness and hissing
Лишь бы ближнего пугать
Just to scare people
Нет пока ещё не вздрогнули
So far, no one has flinched
Не взлетели топоры
The axes have not yet taken flight
Спит огонь у бочки пороха
The fire sleeps by the powder barrel
Спит родимый до поры
And all is peaceful for the time being
Contributed by Ava N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.