The Old Bolshevik

When I was a lad in '96
I joined a band of Bolsheviks
I read the Manifesto and Kapital
I even learnt to sing the Internationa-le
(Oh he even learnt to sing the Internationa-le)
Oh I sang that song with a ring so true
That now I'm in the prisons of the GPU
(Oh he sang that song with a ring so true
That now he's in the prisons of the GPU)

When Lenin the insurrection made
I found myself on the barricade
On Kerensky's troops I trained my gun
And I didn't stop shooting till the Reds had won
(Oh he didn't stop shooting till the Reds had won)
I fired my gun with an aim so true
That now I'm in the prisons of the GPU
(Oh he fired his gun with an aim so true
That now he's in the prisons of the GPU)

In '24 when Lenin died
I found myself on Trotsky's side
All went well till '28
When I was forced to capitulate
(Oh then he was forced to capitulate)
My capitulation had a ring so true
That now I'm in the prisons of the GPU
(His capitulation had a ring so true
That now he's in the prisons of the GPU)

From then till now I've had no peace
My steps have been haunted by secret police
I denounced the opposition time and again
I denounced the opposition with tongue and pen
(He denounced the opposition with tongue and pen)
And my denunciation had a ring so true
That now I'm in the prisons of the GPU
(Oh his denunciation had a ring so true
That now he's in the prisons of the GPU)

So diversionists wherever you may be
Come and take a tip from me
Confess to revision and espionage
To wrecking railroads and sabotage
(To wrecking railroads and sabotage)
Adhere to the line that Lenin drew
Or you'll end up in the prisons of the GPU
(Adhere to the line that Lenin drew
Or you'll end up in the prisons of the GPU)