Has anyone seen or heard from my friend Maxim ?
I often wonder about in Russia what might have been
Now it has gone done a bloody path once more
History repeating itself the blood and guts of war 

In the closing days of the Soviet Union
Behind the iron curtain I did dwell
From December 1990 for four years in all
Listen up I have a Russian tale to tell
I worked as a manager in a 4 star hotel in Moscow 
A joint venture Western standard affair
Staff were hired and trained to deliver satisfaction 
There was a softer side to the russian bear

My colleague was Maxim Bashinsky from the Ukraine
Our staff hailed from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia and more
A complete melting pot of races and beliefs
Together we worked as a team with successful candour
In December 1991 we saw the birth of the Russian Federation
The hammer and sickle faded and the tricolour reigned supreme
Business expanded and free enterprise boomed
Even after coups in 1991 and 1993 we maintained our self esteem

In the balmy summers we would be dacha bound
We would sing and dance and vodka would be downed 
On Shaslik and kartoshka we would dine
The sap of the birch tree we drank like wine
Fast forward to the year 2024 and the landscape has changed
Young Russian men are sent like lambs to the slaughter
Invading a country that they are culturally intertwined with
Killing indiscriminately Father's mothers sons and daughters

Has anyone seen or heard from my friend Maxim ?
I often wonder about in Russia what might have been
Now it has gone done a bloody path once more
History repeating itself the blood and guts of war