Nursery RhymesThe Cossack Lullaby
The Cossack Lullaby lyricsThe Cossack Lullaby lyrics
With Elena · A lullaby from Russia

Spi, Mladenets Moy Prekrasny The Cossack Lullaby

Key: A minor~63 BPMGuitar & Piano chordsWords by M. Lermontov (1838) · Russia

The Cossack Lullaby Lyrics. “Spi, Mladenets Moy Prekrasny” is a traditional Russian song rooted in Cossack culture, sung to comfort children with themes of protection and love. Here you will find the lyrics, English translation, meaning, and chords.

Sing & play

Lyrics & chords

The words in easy Latin letters (transliteration), with guitar & piano chords above each line.

First verse

Am             Dm
Spi, mladenets moy prekrasnyy,
E        Am
bayushki-bayu.
Am           Dm
Tikho smotrit mesyats yasnyy
E          Am
v kolybel’ tvoyu.
C               G
Stanu skazyvat’ ya skazki,
Am      E
pesenku spoyu;
Am            Dm
ty zh dremli, zakryvshi glazki,
E        Am
bayushki-bayu.
In Cyrillic

The original Russian words

Спи, младенец мой прекрасный,
баюшки-баю.
Тихо смотрит месяц ясный
в колыбель твою.
Стану сказывать я сказки,
песенку спою;
ты ж дремли, закрывши глазки,
баюшки-баю.
In English

What the words mean

“Sleep, my beautiful baby, hushaby. The bright moon looks quietly down into your cradle. I will tell you fairy tales and sing you little songs — you just drift into dreams with your eyes closed, hushaby.”
Play it

Chords — guitar & piano

Am
×
Guitar
CEA
Piano
C
×
Guitar
CEG
Piano
Dm
××
Guitar
DFA
Piano
E
Guitar
EB
Piano
G
Guitar
DGB
Piano
Free printable chord sheet
The Cossack Lullaby (Spi, Mladenets Moy Prekrasny) — guitar & piano chords

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Good to know

What “The Cossack Lullaby” Means

Here the great poetry of Russia meets the folk cradle. The words are by Mikhail Lermontov — his Cossack Lullaby of 1838 — and over time they melted into the oral tradition until the song belonged to everyone. A mother sings by the cradle while the clear moon keeps watch: fairy tales are promised, a song is offered, and the whole world seems to hold its breath under the starry sky. It remains one of the most loved lullabies in the Russian language.
Vocal coach tip. Aim for a perfect legato. The voice should flow like a slow river, never forcing the transitions, staying in a warm middle-low register that feels like protection.

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