Vladimir Vysotsky Haunted House, Песня о старом доме

Song by Vladimir Vysotsky. Misic by Michael Tariverdiev. English translation by Alex Sokolov. Original title Песня о старом доме Pesnya o starom dome. There was a house everybode knew it Napoleon was able to visit it At last officials said to pull it down The tenants left it long ago But it was still alive It was cold in the house The front door was closed long ago Boys smashed the panes already Stucco peeled off all over But something still existed there On the third floor In sighed, it moaned and groaned up there And children often whined to their mothers And used to walk around the house Having joined with neighbouring courts Having armed themselves with spades and crowbars In came a crowd of Janitors quietly They stand inside puzzled and perplexed They hurry back so clearly afraid Perhaps Napoleon s spirit hovers there Or perhaps it s just an auditory