Дети короткой тьмы (Children of the short darkness)

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a stark picture of a small, isolated group, referred to as "children of the short darkness." They are few in number, "not more than seven," and confined to a basement, seeking refuge from the "summer sun in the basement window." This initial image establishes a sense of vulnerability and hiding, a deliberate withdrawal from a world that seems overwhelming or dangerous. The dominant emotional tone shifts dramatically between verses, creating a jarring dissonance. The first verse speaks of hiding, while the second introduces a pervasive greyness – "grey people, grey faces, grey hands." This greyness culminates in the grim news of a "grey employee hanged himself yesterday." Yet, the narrator commands the group to "rejoice, children of the short darkness," a directive that feels deeply ironic and unsettling given the bleak circumstances. The most striking aspect is the stark contrast between the narrator's commands and the reality presented. The greyness and despair of the outside world, exemplified by the suicide and the police scraping away "traces from the asphalt," are juxtaposed with the forced, almost desperate, joy the narrator demands. The final verse declares, "We all left – we are not visible from outside," suggesting a complete disappearance or erasure, and the finality of "vanished children of the short darkness." This lyrical construction creates a powerful sense of existential dread and a desperate, perhaps delusional, attempt at maintaining control or defiance. The forced rejoicing in the face of overwhelming despair highlights a profound internal conflict, making the listener question the nature of their survival and the meaning of their "short darkness."