K’ap’ita’ni Bukhaidze
(scroll down for English translation)
Me kartveli bukhaidze,
Kavkavsis mtebshi vts’evar
Rom shemedzlos saplavidan
Dzmebo mkhrebis ts’amots’eva
Ar vushvebdi darialtan
Gaaptrebul qvitel gvelebs
/Me saplavshi k’i ara vts’evar
Ak darajad damaqenes/
Me sitsotskhles khelmeored
Shevts’iravdi mshobel mkhares,
/Shevts’iravdi imav mits’as,
Dghes rom gulze damaqares/
Vints damkhedot, gadaetsit
Sakartvelos mtebs da velebs
/Rom misi dze, bukhaidze
Aka vzhlet’di siskhlis msmelebs/
Da vubareb qvela kartvels:
Misi ts’minda vali ari -
/Mok’vdes, magram mk’erdit shehk’ras
Derbent’i da dariali/
Translation:
This translation comes from Venera Urushadze's 1958 Anthology of Georgian Poetry. Read more in the About Song section.
Captain Bukhaidze
I am a Georgian, named Bukhaidze,
Buried upon a mountain high.
Could I but rise again, my brothers
From the dark grave wherein I lie!
I am no more, for I am dead,
But gladly would I sacrifice
My life once more for that sweet earth
That now upon my bosom lies.
Tell Georgia's spreading fields of green,
Snow-covered peaks and azure sky
That here, on Balkhareti¹ mount
Bukhaidze crushed the enemy.
I barred the Pass of Dariel,²
Struck down the serpents with this hand.
Then I fell dead. But no! I live!
I live, and guard my motherland!
Georgians! your duty is to serve
Your land and for her rights to brave
All woes! The glory of dying
For Georgia illumines the grave!
(Tsutisopeli has added the following footnotes:)
¹Today it is called the Kaberdino-Balkar Republic. It is a federal subject of Russia in the North Caucasus.
²The Darial Pass in Khevi, Georgia (1,450 meters) is the historical pass of the central Caucasus that connects Vladikavkaz in Russia to Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital.
Gulo Natelashvili