Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: romance
Song Meaning of “Korobejniki” by Sergei Lemeshev
Korobejniki, a traditional Russian folk song, is an ode to the traditional, honest vendors of Russia. Throughout the song, the lyrics boast of the vibrant and diverse wares these vendors have to offer, from head to toe, with the narrator imagining the different places they come from.
The traditional Russian imagery, with its references to vendors in reindeer fur caps and coats, to the “samovar’s heat overflowing” and the colorful fabrics of the “inflamed chamber,” evoke a pastoral nostalgia of a simpler time. The narrator yearns for the days of old, amidst the hustle and bustle of the Korobejniki, with their wares and goods displayed in the morning market.
The theme of the song is one of resilience and hard work. The Korobejniki are rooted in the culture and customs of Russia, struggling against the drastic changes of the times to make a living. The song celebrates these vendors and their dedication, “Traveling the entire road from morning till night” and singing “so that we don’t forget you.” The song is a reminder of the days of old, when folk music and culture was alive and vibrant.