Кем быть (Who to Be)

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a stark picture of disillusionment, opening with a cascade of potential life paths for an unnamed 'he' – a policeman, a filmmaker, a child catcher, even a communist tending gardens. These grand, varied ambitions are quickly undercut by a cynical reality. The narrator questions the value of these dreams when faced with a world where authority figures ('менты') and criminals ('воры', 'мудаки') seem indistinguishable, and where 'шпана' (thugs/hoodlums) dominate each other. This creates a palpable tension between aspiration and the crushing weight of a corrupt environment. The core of the song's emotional punch lies in the forced descent into vice and violence. The narrator states, 'Поневоле будешь курить и пить' (You'll smoke and drink by force), and 'Поневоле насрёшь ближнему в рот' (You'll shit in your neighbor's mouth by force), accompanied by the chilling image of wiping a knife with a bitter smile. This isn't a choice; it's a consequence of the oppressive social landscape described in the chorus. The repeated, slightly altered chorus, 'Вокруг одни менты, вокруг одни мудаки!' (Around are only cops, around are only assholes!), hammers home the pervasive corruption and lack of genuine options. The third verse offers a complex, almost fatalistic reflection on the initial aspirations. The narrator ponders if 'he' knew it all along, was a cynical fool, or just waited for advice that never came. The subsequent lines suggest that all the initial dreams met a grim end: caught by a 'cunning cop,' mocked by a 'renowned director,' or lectured by a 'communist.' Even in silence, his eyes 'smiled,' hinting at a hidden, perhaps bitter, understanding or resignation. The final lines, 'Убей этот кайф, стерпи этот кайф' (Kill this high, endure this high), serve as a desperate, paradoxical command to either destroy the fleeting pleasure or simply bear the unbearable, encapsulating the bleak outlook.