"The Roads" («Дороги»), also known by its incipit "Oh, the Roads…" («Эх, дороги…»), is a Soviet World War II song, composed by Anatoly Novikov to lyrics by the poet Lev Ivanovich Oshanin.
Novikov and Oshanin were members of a military troupe at the front and the song was composed under artillery fire at Zhizdra.
Знать не можешь Доли своей, Может, крылья сложишь Посреди степей.
А кругом бушует пламя Да пули свистят.
Выстрел грянет, Ворон кружит: Твой дружок в бурьяне Неживой лежит…
Znatj ne možešj Doli svojej, Možet, kryljja složišj Posredi stepej.
Vystrel grjanet, Voron kružit: Tvoj družok v burjjane Neživoj ležit…
Vsjo gljadjat vosled za nami Rodnyje glaza.
Chorus: Oh, the roads… The dust and mist, The cold and bitterness And wild steppe grass.
A shot will burst, A raven circles: Your friend in the weeds Lies lifeless…