After being evacuated to Western Ukraine in 1986 following the Chernobyl disaster, Hütz became enamored of the mystical, outsider qualities of gypsy music. Living as a refugee in Poland, Hungary, Austria, and Italy before moving to the United States in 1993, he experienced life as an outsider himself.
After arriving in New York, he teamed up with guitarist Vlad Solofar and squeezebox player Sasha Kazatchkoff. American Eliot Fergusen added a strong rock sound on the drums and the band was also augmented by Sergei Riabtsev on fiddle, a former theater director from Moscow whose past experience would prove helpful in the future in crafting Gogol Bordello's bizarre stage shows (like one which tells the story of super-powered immigrant Ukrainian vampires).
The group's early gigs involved playing straight gypsy music at Russian weddings, but their music soon evolved into the hyper-kinetic explosions that earned them a solid following amongst New York's downtown hipsters. The band issued a single in 1999 entitled Gogol Bordello, quickly followed by their debut full-length, Voi-La Intruder, which was produced by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds' drummer Jim Sclavunos. Solofar and Kazatchkoff were replaced by accordionist Yuri Lemeshev, who hails from the Russian island of Sakhalin, and two Israelis, guitarist Oren Kaplan and saxophonist Ori Kaplan, who despite their similar names were not related.
Hütz helped bolster the band's popularity by becoming somewhat of a celebrity in the downtown scene, in part fueled by his Thursday night DJ gigs at Bulgarian club/restaurant/bar Mehanata, where he played Ukrainian, Gypsy, raï and flamenco music for a crowd of artists, models, Ukrainians, Russians, Gypsies, and Bulgarians with tendencies toward exuberant dancing and smashing plates. In the spring of 2002, Gogol Bordello embarked on a European tour and performed as part of the Whitney Biennial, bringing their music to a whole new audience.
In 2007, the band released their fourth studio album, Super Taranta!.
The members of Gogol Bordello have also made appearances in film. In 2006, their song "Start Wearing Purple" was featured in the film Everything Is Illuminated (starring Elijah Wood and Eugene Hütz), bringing their music to an even broader audience throughout the US.
Gogol Bordello all appeared in Madonna's first short film as director, Filth and Wisdom. Eugene Hütz is to play one of the lead roles. The band have contributed three original songs to the soundtrack.
Their music was also featured in the film Wristcutters: A Love Story and the character of Eugene was based on and partially written by Eugene Hütz.
Ave. B
Gogol Bordello Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ai ai ai ai ai, not me, not you
Ai ai ai ai ai, ooo ooo ooo
Ai ai ai ai ai, not me, not you
Ai ai ai ai ai, a-ooo ooo ooo
Ai ai ai ai ai, not me, not you
Sitting in a Russian bath house on the Avenue B
Ай, разминку ёршиком проводим мы
Nobody learn no nothing from no history
Tall little Sally plays with magic pebbles
Dasha sells equipment to the Chechnian rebels
Я выхожу из анала в астрал
Там много чего слышал, но не записал
Несмотря на США, не потерял азарта
Бухаю строго каждое 8 марта
Sitting in the bath house on the Avenue B
And never agree
Sally, all empires fall, even trends they fade away
Even complete stranger (asshole) can lead you astray
But goddamn it, this round is on me
Nobody learns no nothing from no history
Ai, ooo ooo ooo
Ai, not me, not you
Ai, ooo ooo ooo
Ai, not me, not you
Tall little Sally, my darling
Your panic's so charming
Your shopping techniques are amazing
Celebrity erudition disarming
Tall little Sally, my darling
Your panic's so charming
Tall little Sally, my darling
Юра, выручай!
И Юра выручил
Ai, ooo ooo ooo
Ai, not me, not you
Ai, ooo ooo ooo
Ai, not me, not you
Sitting in a Russian bath house on the Avenue B
No matter how much we sweat, we just can't agree
Ai ai ai ai ai, a-ooo ooo ooo
Ai ai ai ai ai, not me, not you
The lyrics of "Ave. B" by Gogol Bordello are a commentary on the failure of humans to learn from history and their inability to agree on anything, even when sweating together in a Russian bathhouse on the Avenue B. The song begins with the repeated lines "not me, not you," emphasizing the disconnect between individuals and their inability to connect with each other despite sharing the same experience. The lyrics go on to mention characters such as Tall Little Sally and Dasha, who are preoccupied with their own interests and pursuits, not realizing the bigger picture of the world around them. The verse "Nobody learn no nothing from no history" is a reference to the cyclic nature of history and how humans tend to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. The song ends with the repeated lines "not me, not you," emphasizing the ongoing struggle for individuals to connect with each other and learn from history.
Line by Line Meaning
Ai ai ai ai ai, ooo ooo ooo
Expressing frustration and confusion
Ai ai ai ai ai, not me, not you
Neither of us are to blame for this situation
Sitting in a Russian bath house on the Avenue B
We are in a place of relaxation and reflection
No matter how much we sweat, we just can't agree
We are unable to come to a consensus despite our efforts
Ай, разминку ёршиком проводим мы
We begin our relaxation ritual with a scrubbing brush
Nobody learn no nothing from no history
People do not learn from past mistakes
Tall little Sally plays with magic pebbles
A person named Sally engages in mystical activities
Dasha sells equipment to the Chechnian rebels
A person named Dasha is involved in illegal activities
Я выхожу из анала в астрал
I am able to transcend physical reality
Там много чего слышал, но не записал
I have heard many things but have not recorded them
Несмотря на США, не потерял азарта
Despite being in the USA, I have not lost my enthusiasm
Бухаю строго каждое 8 марта
I drink heavily on March 8th
Sally, all empires fall, even trends they fade away
Sally, nothing lasts forever, including nations and popular culture
Even complete stranger (asshole) can lead you astray
Someone you do not know well can negatively influence you
But goddamn it, this round is on me
I will pay for the next drink
Tall little Sally, my darling
Addressing Sally affectionately
Your panic's so charming
Your nervousness is endearing
Your shopping techniques are amazing
You have impressive shopping skills
Celebrity erudition disarming
Impressed by someone's intellectual knowledge despite being a celebrity
Юра, выручай!
Asking for help from a person named Yura
И Юра выручил
And Yura came to help
Contributed by Isaiah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jacobboyle2556
***** From Ultimate Guitar.
Sitting in Russian bath house on the Avenue B
Am E F E Am (Am)
No matter how much we sweat we just can't agree
Am E F E Am (Am)
Ai razminku yorshikom provodim mi
Am E F E Am (Am)
No body learns no nothing from no History
Am E
Tall little Sally plays with magic pebbles
E Am
Dasha sells equipment to the Chechnian rebels
Am E
ya vihozgu iz anala v astral
E Am
mnogo chevo slishal no ne zapisal
Am E
nesmotrya na Si-Sheh a ne poteryal azarta
E Am
buhayu strogo kazdoye 8-e marta
Am E
sitting in the bath house on the avenue B
F E Am STOP!!!
and never agree...
Bm F# G F# Bm
Sally all empires fall... even trends they fade away
Bm F# G F# Bm
even complete (Stranger) asshole can lead you astray...
C#m G# A G# C#m
but god damn it, next round is on me
C#m G# A G# C#m
Nobody learns no nothin' from no history
Am E F E Am (Am)
oh ooh ooh ooh
Am E F E Am
Ay Ay Ay Ay Ahh, Not me, Not you.
Am E F E Am (Am)
Ay Ay Ay Ay Ahh oh ooh ooh ooh
Am E F E Am STOP!!!
Ay Ay Ay Ay Ahh, Not me, Not you.
Am E E Am
Tall little sally my darlin' your panic is so charming
Am E E Am
Tall little sally my darlin' oh your panic is so charming
Am E E Am
your shopping techniques are amazing celebrity erudition's disarming...
Am E E Am
Tall little sally my darlin' your panic is so charming
@alexanderthesomewhat
This is my personal favorite song that this band made. It's the first song I heard from Gogol Bordello and I loved them ever since.
@geoffmead9081
This worth a listen just for the accordion solo.
@singbackwards
Юра, выручай!
@user-sz6bs7vw6p
(Юра выручил)
@russellsolomon6138
Ай, разминку ёршиком проводим мы....
Я выхожу из анала в астрал
Там много, чего слушал, но не записал
Несмотря на США, не потерял азарта
Бухаю строго каждое восьмое марта
@jamesbond4931
сегодня 8е марта) спецом искал эту песню
@KristinPedemonti
Each track is BETTER than the next? How is it possible when EVERY track is Insanely AWESOME?! <3 Gogol Bordello!!!!
@schnook11
Was in radio studio in St.Louis with Eugene; the DJ asked me what song to play--I chose this one from his list of choices. Eugene disagreed--wanted them to play a more wild song! I don't care; I still love Ave. B!
@tommybootlegger
We think alike apparently lol
@LucasHartwell
I am going to see them at Bonnaroo, I can not wait!