“A sinner laments at the gates of Paradise. The song appears in repertoire lists compiled by folklorists from kobzari. I learned it from my father, and performed it with him and the remarkable tenor, Pavlo Pysarenko. Later I reworked it as a solo piece accompanied on kobzarska bandura.” ~ Julian Kytasty, 2015
Lyrics
(English translation by Julian Kytasty below)
Множество аз согреших, несть числа гріхів моїх,
Ой горе моє, горе мні великоє!
Мимо Царства прохожу, слізно плачу і тужу,
Ой горе моє, горе мні великоє!
Птиці райськії поют, в рай войти мні не дают,
Ой горе моє, горе мні великоє!
Як пред Богом я явлюсь, як я во святих вселюсь?
Ой горе моє, горе мні великоє!
I have sinned mightily, my sins are countless:
O woe, my woe, my great sorrow!
I walk past the Kingdom, I weep and I lament:
O woe, my woe, my great sorrow!
The birds of Paradise sing, they won’t let me enter:
O woe, my woe, my great sorrow!
How will I come before God, how will I abide with the saints?
O woe, my woe, my great sorrow!
