Алла Пугачёва (Alla Pugacheva) – Мама (Mother) Lyrics

[Куплeт 1]
Ты далeко, далeко
Мнe бeз тeбя нeлeгко
Мнe бeз тeбя, сын, нeвмочь
Слёзы я спрятала в ночь
В ночь, в ночь

[Куплeт 2]
Мам, для тeбя я живой
Слышишь, мам?
Буду всeгда я с тобой
Я проклинаю тот бой, мам

Что разлучил нас с тобой
Разлучил, разлучил

[Куплeт 3]
Как я могла отпустить тeбя, сын?
Как могла
В этот ужаснeйший бой
Отпустила тeбя, бeсы попутали
Сeрдцу вдруг стало нeвмочь
А ты снишься мнe, снишься мнe
Каждую ночь, каждую ночь

[Куплeт 4]
Мам, я погиб
Но бeссмeртна душа
Мама, я дышу нe дыша
Я обнимаю тeбя, мам
Ты вeдь всё это чувствуeшь, мам
Мам, мам, мам, мам, мам, мам, мам, мам

 

Алла Пугачёва – Мама (Mother)

Song Details

  • Title: Мама (Mother)
  • Artist: Алла Пугачёва (Alla Pugacheva)
  • Genre: Russian Pop / Ballad
  • Release Year: Various recordings, but thematically fits her emotional, dramatic style
  • Themes: Loss, War, Motherhood, Grief, Spirituality
  • Mood: Heart-wrenching, Emotional, Tragic

Step-by-Step Lyrical Breakdown & Meaning

[Куплет 1]

Ты далеко, далеко
Мне без тебя нелегко
Мне без тебя, сын, невмочь
Слёзы я спрятала в ночь
В ночь, в ночь

Interpretation:

  • The mother expresses her deep sorrow and longing for her son.
  • “Ты далеко, далеко” (You are far, far away) suggests a separation beyond physical distance, hinting at death.
  • “Мне без тебя, сын, невмочь” (Without you, son, I cannot bear it) reflects unbearable grief.
  • “Слёзы я спрятала в ночь” (I hid my tears in the night) shows her silent suffering, as if crying in the dark where no one can see.

[Куплет 2]

Мам, для тебя я живой
Слышишь, мам?
Буду всегда я с тобой
Я проклинаю тот бой, мам
Что разлучил нас с тобой
Разлучил, разлучил

Interpretation:

  • The son’s voice enters, assuring his mother he is still with her spiritually.
  • “Буду всегда я с тобой” (I will always be with you) reflects the eternal bond between mother and child.
  • “Я проклинаю тот бой” (I curse that battle) confirms his death in war, blaming the conflict for separating them.
  • Repetition of “разлучил” (separated us) reinforces the finality of his death and the mother’s unbearable pain.

[Куплет 3]

Как я могла отпустить тебя, сын?
Как могла
В этот ужаснейший бой
Отпустила тебя, бесы попутали
Сердцу вдруг стало невмочь
А ты снишься мне, снишься мне
Каждую ночь, каждую ночь

Interpretation:

  • The mother regrets letting her son go to war, questioning herself:
    • “Как я могла отпустить тебя, сын?” (How could I let you go, my son?)
    • “Бесы попутали” (The devils deceived me) – She blames fate, war, and external forces for her decision.
  • “А ты снишься мне… каждую ночь” (You appear in my dreams every night) – Her grief manifests in dreams, where she still sees her son.

[Куплет 4]

Мам, я погиб
Но бессмертна душа
Мама, я дышу не дыша
Я обнимаю тебя, мам
Ты ведь всё это чувствуешь, мам
Мам, мам, мам, мам, мам, мам, мам, мам

Interpretation:

  • The son confirms his death:
    • “Мам, я погиб” (Mom, I died) – stark and direct.
    • “Но бессмертна душа” (But my soul is immortal) – introduces spirituality and afterlife themes.
  • “Я дышу не дыша” (I breathe without breathing) – a poetic paradox, possibly reflecting an in-between state between life and death.
  • “Ты ведь всё это чувствуешь” (You feel all of this, don’t you, mom?) suggests that his presence is still real to her, either as memory or spirit.
  • The repeated “Мам” (Mom) in the end is desperate and haunting, representing his final farewell or her lingering grief.

Meaning of the Song

“Мама” is a deeply emotional ballad about the tragic loss of a son in war. It highlights:

  • A mother’s sorrow – She struggles to cope with her son’s death, hiding her grief.
  • The son’s presence beyond death – He tries to comfort her, emphasizing spiritual connection.
  • Regret and helplessness – The mother questions why she let him go, feeling she was misled.
  • The brutality of war – The song does not glorify war but rather condemns its destruction of families.

It resonates with many who have lost loved ones to conflict, making it a powerful anti-war statement and a universal song of mourning.

FAQs

1. Is this song based on a true story?

It is not confirmed to be autobiographical, but it reflects universal experiences of mothers who lost their sons to war, making it emotionally powerful and relatable.

2. What war does the song reference?

The lyrics do not specify a war, but many listeners associate it with WWII, Afghanistan, or other Russian conflicts. It serves as a general anti-war anthem rather than referencing one specific event.

3. Why does the son’s voice appear in the song?

The duality of voices (mother and son) represents:

  • Her memories of him
  • His ghost or spirit trying to console her
  • A symbolic conversation between the living and the dead

4. What is the significance of “Я дышу не дыша” (I breathe without breathing)?

This phrase poetically describes the son’s state after death—he exists but is no longer alive in a physical sense.

5. What is the overall message of the song?

It conveys the devastating consequences of war, emphasizing grief, loss, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child.

Conclusion

“Мама” by Алла Пугачёва is a deeply moving, anti-war song that explores the pain of a mother losing her son in battle. It masterfully blends:

  • Personal grief (a mother’s sorrow)
  • Spiritual elements (the son’s lingering presence)
  • A powerful anti-war sentiment (condemning war’s impact on families)

The song transcends time and geography, resonating with anyone who has experienced loss. Its haunting melody, heartfelt lyrics, and emotional depth make it a timeless masterpiece in Russian music history.