DONBASGRL – Zhyva – English Translation, Romanization, Ukrainian
DONBASGRL is a project by the Ukrainian singer better known as Leléka, which focuses on themes of mental health, depression, finding inner strength, and overcoming darkness. In her own words: “This is not just a new project, song or music video. This is the result of my decision to stay. And to live.”
Leléka herself is from a small town in Donbas. A few years after the start of the war in 2014, she moved to Berlin to continue her studies, where she founded the folk-jazz band “Leléka,” fusing jazz and Ukrainian folk.
Single: Zhyva
Released: 2025
Written by: Viktoria Leléka
Alive
All things pass, all things pass…
Hah-hah-hah-hah… (breathing)
My bones are broken and scattered,
My hopes are crushed and trampled – Ah!
Hah-hah-hah-hah… (breathing)
All my days are wasted and lost,
My feelings are laced tight, my thoughts polarized – Eh!
Hah-hah-hah-hah… (breathing)
How and with what shall I fill the abyss?
Fill the void and the battle of despair,
And a rusted harp's prayer, prayer, prayer?
What will stop the razor of indifference?
In place of eyes – despondency,
And the shadow of a beast in my soul.
But a white candle still smolders,
For if a soul is mute,
Then it is long gone.
It means I’m alive, still alive, still alive, still alive, still alive!
Hah-hah-hah-hah… (breathing)
My bones are broken and scattered,
My hopes are crushed and trampled – Ah!
Hah-hah-hah-hah… (breathing)
All my days are wasted and lost,
My feelings are laced tight, my thoughts polarized – Eh!
Hah-hah-hah-hah… (breathing)
Into my bones, I breathe the Spirit! (Hah-hah-hah)
From my muscles, I weave a mantle! (Hah-hah-hah)
Into my life, I pour movement! (Hah-hah-hah)
Because the fire in my Soul has not died down!
Because I’m alive!
I’m still alive!
Because I’m alive!
I’m alive, alive, alive, alive,
alive, alive, alive, alive,
alive, alive, alive, alive,
alive, alive, alive, alive,
alive, alive, alive, alive,
alive, alive, alive, alive,
alive, alive, alive, alive,
alive…
Zhyva
Vse myna, Vse myna….
Hah-hah-hah-hah….
Rozlamani, rozkydani kistky moi,
Rozhromleni, roztoptani nadii vsi, - Ah!
Hah-hah-hah-hah….
Vsi dni moi zmarnovani, rozhubleni,
Chuttia moi zashnurovani, dumky moi poliaryzovani, - Eh!
Hah-hah-hah-hah….
Yak i chym zapovnyty prirvu,
Porozhnechu i vidchaiu bytvu,
Zarzhavyloi arfy molytvu, molytvu, molytvu?
Zupynyty baiduzhosti brytvu?
Zamist ochei znevira,
A v dushi tin zvira.
Ta shche zhevriie svichka bila,
Bo, koly yaka dusha nima,
Todi yii davno nema,
Znachyt ya zhyva, shche zhyva, shche zhyva, shche zhyva, shche zhyva!
Hah-hah-hah-hah….
Rozlamani, rozkydani kistky moi,
Rozhromleni, roztoptani nadii vsi, - Ah!
Hah-hah-hah-hah….
Vsi dni moi zmarnovani, rozhubleni,
Chuttia moi zashnurovani, dumky moi poliaryzovani, - Eh!
Hah-hah-hah-hah….
U kistky svoi vdykhaiu Dukh! (Hah-hah-hah)
Iz miaziv ya viazhu kozhukh! (Hah-hah-hah)
V zhyttia svoie vlyvaiu rukh! (Hah-hah-hah)
Bo vohon v Dushi ishche ne vshchukh!
Bo ya zhyva-a!
Ishche zhyva-a!
Bo ya zhyva-a!
Ya zhyva, zhyva, zhyva, zhyva,
zhyva, zhyva, zhyva, zhyva,
zhyva, zhyva, zhyva, zhyva,
zhyva, zhyva, zhyva, zhyva,
zhyva, zhyva, zhyva, zhyva,
zhyva, zhyva, zhyva, zhyva,
zhyva, zhyva, zhyva, zhyva,
zhyva…
Жива
Все мина, Все мина….
А-а-а-а…. (дихання)
Розламані, розкидані кістки мої,
Розгромлені, розтоптані надії всі, - А!
А-а-а-а…. (дихання)
Всі дні мої змарновані, розгублені,
Чуття мої зашнуровані, думки мої поляризовані, - Е!
А-а-а-а…. (дихання)
Як і чим заповнити прірву.
Порожнечу і відчаю битву,
Заржавілої арфи молитву, молитву, молитву?
Зупинити байдужості бритву?
Замість очей зневіра,
А в душі тінь звіра.
Та ще жевріє свічка біла,
Бо, коли яка душа німа,
Тоді її давно нема,
Значить я жива, ще жива, ще жива, ще жива, ще жива!
А-а-а-а…. (дихання)
Розламані, розкидані кістки мої.
Розгромлені, розтоптані надії всі, - А!
А-а-а-а…. (дихання)
Всі дні мої змарновані, розгублені.
Чуття мої зашнуровані, думки мої поляризовані, - Е!
А-а-а-а…. (дихання)
У кістки свої вдихаю Дух! (а-а-а дихання)
Із м’язів я в’яжу кожух! (а-а-а дихання)
В життя своє вливаю рух! (а-а-а дихання)
Бо вогонь в Душі іще не вщух!
Бо я жива-a!
Іще жива-a!
Бо я жива-a!
Я жива, жива, жива, жива,
жива, жива, жива, жива,
жива, жива, жива, жива,
жива, жива, жива, жива,
жива, жива, жива, жива,
жива, жива, жива, жива,
жива, жива, жива, жива,
жива…
Personnel:
The Beach Boys:
Carl Wilson: Lead Vocals / Twelve-String Electric Guitar
Bruce Johnston: Backing Vocals
Brian Wilson: Backing Vocals
Terry Melcher: Tambourine
Session Musicians: The Wrecking Crew:
Carol Kaye: Twelve-String Electric Guitar
Don Randi: Tack Piano with Taped Strings
Larry Knechtel: Harpsichord
Carl Fortina: Accordion
Frank Morocco: Accordion
Bill Green: Flute and Alto Flute
Jim Horn: Flute and Alto Flute
Jay Migliori: Clarinet
Leonard Hartman: Clarinet and Bass Clarinet
Alan Robinson: French Horn
Lyle Ritz: Upright Bass
Ray Pohlman: Electric Bass Guitar
Jim Gordon: Percussion (Plastic Orange Juice Cups)
Hal Blaine: Drums and Sleigh Bells
The Sid Sharp Strings:
Sid Sharp: Violin
Leonard Malarsky: Violin
Darrel Terwilliger: Viola
Jesse Erlich: Cello
Arranged and Produced by Brian Wilson
Instrumental Track Recorded:
on March 10, 1966
@ United Western Recorders
in Hollywood, California USA
Vocals Tracks Recorded:
March - April, 1966
@ CBS Columbia Square Studio
in Hollywood, California USA
Album Released:
on May 16, 1966
Single Released:
on July 18, 1966
Capitol Records
Paul McCartney described 'God Only Knows' as "the greatest song ever written."
snippets from my recent show
you can listen to the full songs "DON'T LOVE YOU BUT WANT TO III", "Ranum Kamaishe Ghar" and "Genebenesserit V" on youtube or bandcamp
HAIR & MAKEUP IDEAS FROM THE DARK WAVE/AVANT-POP/GOTHIC ROCK/POST-PUNK/ART POP ‘80s.
PIC INFO: Spotlight on Danielle Dax, (born Danielle Gardner on September 23, 1958), English rock musician, fashion icon, & avant garde artist, pictured here in the early to mid 1980s. 📸: unknown.