They Say that Here in the Donbass
Description: This popular song about conditions in the mining region of Donbass laughs over rumors of the poor quality of life in the region – conditions that were commonplace, and led to the deep discontent of the miners, families and neighbors.
Incident at the Mine Shaft
Description: Much of Vladimir Vysotsky’s guitar songs from the 1960s are sung in the voice of an ex-convict. This song features an ex-con in third person, but the acerbic cynicism bred by prison camps, or for that matter, by the hard life of the Donbass miner, shines through.