Муха (Fly)

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a surreal and unsettling picture of a society that has become subservient to a pervasive, almost absurd, threat. Initially, a 'fly' enters the 'people,' buzzing and dying, but instead of being eradicated, it's venerated. This flies in the face of logic, as the people begin to 'bow' to it and feed it 'rotten food,' even remnants of a 'tsarist family.' This bizarre ritual suggests a deep-seated societal decay where the populace actively nourishes its own corruption and stagnation, seemingly forgetting any notion of a broader world or progress ('forget Europe'). The narrative then shifts to a more direct commentary on societal control and conformity. A 'fungus' or similar entity 'leveled everyone,' but some emerged 'a little straighter,' only to be 'taken away.' This implies a system that punishes even slight deviations from a manufactured norm. The lyrics suggest a willingness to sacrifice others for a perceived 'common good,' a theme amplified by the mention of Abrahamic sacrifice and the subsequent invocation of Soviet-era authority figures like the General Secretary and 'Moloch.' The core message here is a critique of blind obedience and the cyclical nature of oppressive power structures, where the populace chooses 'clones' of a dark entity over genuine leadership. The latter half of the song introduces a more personal, yet still allegorical, perspective. The narrator questions inaction and hints at a past where transgressions were indelible ('washing machine won't wash away sins'). There's a sense of resignation and a loss of clear moral boundaries ('If you don't draw a line, on whose side will I be?'). The recurring refrain about not choosing one's 'family'—a 'thief' for a father and a 'cop' for an uncle—grounds the abstract societal critique in a personal, inherited dysfunction. This familial corruption mirrors the larger societal rot, leaving the narrator feeling trapped and unable to speak without causing harm ('no right to miss the mark with words').