Kudy nam smiyatys'? My vze vidsmiyalys',
My bachyly vse, my vse vidchuvaly.
My znyzu dyvylys', shcho robyt'sya zverchu,
Koly nam zverchu kynut' monetku?
Ce yobane sonce svitylo navkolo,
Ale ne vidchuly my radosti v nomu.
Kydalys', lomalys', molylys', smiyalys',
Sebe ne zalily, na shchos' spodivalys'.

My spodivalys', na shchos' spodivalys',
Ale ne zderzalys' i znov zasmiyalys'.

Stysnuvshy zuby dyvylys' navkolo!
Ne bachyly tam ni ch'orta, ni Boha.
Za kozne slovo chiplyalys' zubamy
I kozne slovo z dushi vyryvaly.

My vyryvaly, slova vyryvaly.
A za shcho voyuvaly my i ne znaly.