Жизнь за царя
Shortparis Lyrics

The lyrics of the song "Жизнь за царя" (Life for the Tsar) by Shortparis depict the life and death of a soldier and the glory that comes with serving the Tsar. The opening lines "Царь прощает, Царь дает, Мужчина кровь сдает" (The Tsar forgives, the Tsar gives, the man gives his blood) suggests that the soldier is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the Tsar and his country. The repetition of "Глория" (Glory) throughout the song reinforces this idea of glorifying warfare, with conditions such as giving blood or mourning a mother being accepted as part of the sacrifice.

The second verse talks about the cycle of life and death, with the birth of a son and the death of a mother juxtaposed against the soldier's devotion to the Tsar. The line "Солдат икону трет" (The soldier rubs the icon) reveals the religious aspect of the soldier's life, adding a layer of spirituality to his duties. The third verse hints at the inevitability of aging, with the Tsar getting old and the blood rotting away. Despite this, a woman still sings "Глория," suggesting that the idea of glory lasts beyond the physical.

The chorus "Станем, станем старше, Когда затянем маршем, Но Глория, Так рушится строй" (We'll get older, When we march, But Glory, The structure collapses) acknowledges the toll that war and sacrifice takes on the body and the soul. The final lines "За царя, за царя, Здесь стреляют дважды" (For the Tsar, for the Tsar, Two shots ring out) reinforce the idea that the soldier's life is not his own, but belongs to the Tsar and his country.