Bublichki (song) facts for kids

Bublichki (which means "hot buns" or "bagels" in Russian) is a famous Russian song from the early days of the Soviet Union. It was written by Yakov Yadov, and it tells a story about the tough times people faced during a period called the New Economic Policy (NEP). Because the song showed the difficulties of life back then, the government didn't allow it to be sung until the late 1980s. Even though it was banned, the song stayed very popular and was passed around secretly among people.

The Story Behind the Song

Bublichki was created during a time called the New Economic Policy (NEP). This was an early plan in the Soviet Union designed to help the country's economy grow after a very difficult period. The NEP allowed some private businesses to operate alongside government-controlled ones. This was different from earlier plans.

Life During the NEP

While the NEP did help factories and farms produce more, many of the benefits went to people who became very wealthy, sometimes called "NEPmen." This meant that a lot of ordinary people were still quite poor. The person singing in Bublichki is one of those who struggled. They had to sell food on the street just to make enough money to live.

Who Wrote Bublichki?

Most experts agree that Yakov Yadov wrote the song. He was inspired after talking with his friend, a performer named Grigory Markovich Krasavin. Krasavin had seen many people selling bagels and heard a familiar violin tune. He asked Yadov to write words to go with the music.

The song became one of the most popular songs of the NEP era. However, the government didn't like its message about the hard lives of ordinary people. Because of this, they banned the song until the late 1980s. Even with the ban, people kept the song alive by singing it and teaching it to others. This is why many different versions of the song exist today.

Bublichki Around the World

Bublichki also became very popular when translated into other languages. Many Yiddish-speaking Jewish people enjoyed the song, though their versions often focused less on the political message. The American singing group the Barry Sisters performed a Yiddish version even after World War II.

Famous Bandleaders like Benny Goodman recorded English versions of the song. They sometimes called it "The Pretzel Seller's Song." A Soviet singer and bandleader named Leonid Utyosov even turned Bublichki into a jazz song, which he performed with his orchestra. Utyosov often sang songs that told stories about everyday life, including Bublichki.

Song Lyrics

Because this song was passed down secretly for many years, there are different versions of the lyrics. Here is one common version: