Говорили долго

"Говорили долго" (Talked for a Long Time) is a profound reflection on the fragility of peace and the looming, often abstract, threat of war that suddenly becomes concrete. While the band's leader, Stanislav Shklyarsky, often avoids explicit political commentary, this song strikes a chord as a deeply humanistic anti-war anthem.

The central theme is the contrast between the mundane (long conversations, fluff on the roads, mown grass) and the catastrophic (war, leaden wounds, death). The "long conversation" represents the normalcy of life—we talk, we worry about trifles ("sad without sense")—while ignoring the darker reality approaching.

The recurring line "Liish by v nashe vremya ne bylo voyny" (If only there were no war in our time) serves as a desperate mantra. It captures the universal fear of a generation that grew up in relative peace, suddenly facing the possibility of conflict. The song suggests that despite our civilized exterior (talking, gardens), we are helpless against the "birds" that disturb the nest and the "pale day" of death.

The ending leaves the listener with the "smell of mown grass." This is a powerful image of life cut short. The grass is still fragrant, just as the memories of peace are still fresh, but the act of cutting (war/death) has already occurred. The song essentially mourns the loss of innocence and the inevitable intrusion of history's violence into private lives.

The song opens with a scene of prolonged, perhaps aimless, conversation. Two people are talking at length, their words filling the air, yet there is a sense of futility in their sadness. The setting is painted with the image of poplar fluff covering the roads, a sign of early summer, while heads are bowed like flowers in a garden—a gesture of resignation or perhaps mourning. A singular, desperate wish pierces through this mundane atmosphere: the hope that their time will not be marked by war.

As the narrative progresses, the atmosphere darkens. A 'pale day' is described as landing on the wing of death, suggesting that the peaceful daylight is being carried away or overshadowed by mortality. Birds disturb a nest, a metaphor for displacement and chaos. The lyrics advise caution—even if asked, one should not 'offer their forehead,' implying a need to protect oneself from inevitable harm or betrayal. There is a sense of being lost, with 'devils' carrying people to unknown, endless territories.

The imagery becomes more visceral and violent. Something is referred to as a 'fugitive plague,' and the connection between the characters is held together only by patience, not blood or joy. The narrator rejects 'copper or leaden wounds'—symbols of military honors and bullets—expressing a desire to escape the fate of a soldier. Time begins to run fast, 'ringing like a trill,' and the sky turns crimson, signaling bloodshed or a fiery sunset close by. The 'red snake' crawling through veins suggests the poisoning of the body or mind, or simply the pulse of fear and life.

In the final moments, the song returns to the initial image. Despite the crimson sky and the 'grey canvases' covering the heavens, the memory of the conversation remains. The text concludes with a sensory lingering—not of the words spoken, but of the 'smell of mown grass,' a symbol of something natural and peaceful that has been cut down, leaving only a scent behind as a reminder of what was lost.

The song was written by Stanislav Shklyarsky, the frontman of the band Инкогнито (Incognito) and son of Edmund Shklyarsky (leader of the legendary band Piknik). While the exact date of writing is not documented, the song gained significant traction with the release of a special version recorded in January 2017 featuring Alena Romanova, a vocalist known for her work with the folk-fusion project Zventa Sventana and as a backing vocalist for DDT.

This duet version added a haunting, folk-like dimension to the track, enhancing its sorrowful atmosphere. Stanislav has mentioned in interviews that he typically writes the music first, allowing the melody to dictate the lyrical content. In this case, the melody demanded something serious and resonant. The song was later included as a key track on the band's 2018 album, "Наши голоса" (Our Voices).

The song's release coincided with a period of rising global tensions, which likely contributed to its strong resonance with listeners. Fans and critics often cite it as one of the band's most powerful lyrical works, noting how it steps out of the shadow of the "Shklyarsky family style" (characterized by surrealism) into more direct, emotional territory.

The song primarily uses a standard AABB or sometimes ABAB rhyme scheme, which gives it a traditional, song-like quality, reminiscent of a ballad or a folk song. The rhythm is steady and mid-tempo, resembling a march that is neither too fast nor too slow, suggesting the inexorable passage of time. The meter is generally trochaic, creating a falling rhythm that enhances the melancholic and resigned mood. The consistent pacing allows the listener to focus on the imagery, with the musical rhythm pulsating like the "red snake" mentioned in the lyrics.

Musical Techniques: The song employs a melodic rock structure with a strong emphasis on atmosphere. The arrangement often builds from a quiet, acoustic-driven introduction into a fuller rock sound, mirroring the escalation from a quiet conversation to the loudness of internal or external conflict. The use of a duet (in the 2017 version) creates a dialogue effect, representing the collective voice of people facing a common threat. The vocal delivery is calm yet tense, typical of the "Shklyarsky style"—detached but emotionally heavy.

Literary Techniques:
Alliteration & Assonance: The Russian lyrics use soft vowel sounds and hushing consonants (e.g., "Govorili dolgo... vslukh... pukh") to create a whispery, intimate texture that mimics the "long conversation" mentioned.
Juxtaposition: The sharp contrast between soft nature imagery (fluff, flowers, grass) and harsh war imagery (lead, plague, death) drives the emotional impact.
Repetition: The refrain "Govorili dolgo..." acts as a frame for the song, grounding the surreal images in a repetitive, almost hypnotic human action.

While Инкогнито is a relatively younger band compared to the giants of Russian rock, "Говорили долго" has established itself as one of their signature tracks. The collaboration with Alena Romanova broadened its appeal to fans of folk and art rock. The song's anti-war message resonates deeply in the post-Soviet cultural space, where the memory of war is a constant historical backdrop. It is frequently cited by fans as the entry point into the band's discography, proving that Stanislav Shklyarsky has developed a distinct voice that honors his musical heritage while standing on its own merits.

The lyrics are dense with atmospheric symbolism that builds a sense of foreboding:

• Poplar Fluff (Пух): Represents the lightness and insignificance of daily worries, but also the passage of seasons (early summer). It contrasts with the heavy "lead" mentioned later.
• Heads Bowed Like Flowers: A simile for resignation, sorrow, or perhaps the physical act of looking down to avoid seeing the horror ahead. It evokes imagery of a funeral or a wilting garden.
• Birds Disturbing the Nest: A metaphor for war or calamity disrupting the safety of home. Birds are usually symbols of freedom, but here they are agents of chaos.
• Crimson Sky / Red Snake: "The sky turns crimson" is a classic omen of bloodshed or fire. The "red snake crawling through veins" could represent the physical sensation of adrenaline/fear or the literal blood of a wound.
• Grey Canvases (Серые холсты): The sky being covered in "grey canvases" suggests a loss of hope, the closing in of a gloomy reality, or perhaps the smoke of battle obscuring the sun.
• Mown Grass: A symbol of mortality—life that was vibrant and growing is suddenly cut down. The lingering smell represents memory and the bittersweet nature of loss.

The phrase "Говорили долго" (Talked for a long time) is the central motif. It anchors the song, reminding the listener that amidst all the metaphysical and physical threats, the human element—connection through speech—remains central, even if futile. Another recurring motif is the sky (pale day, crimson sky, grey canvases), which acts as a mood ring for the song, changing colors to reflect the escalating danger. The plea "Liish by v nashe vremya ne bylo voyny" (If only there were no war in our time) is the emotional hook, repeated to emphasize the desperation behind the thought.