# Antoshka

"Antoshka" is a famous Soviet children's song from the 1969 cartoon almanac "Vesyolaya Karusel", with music by Vladimir Shainsky and words by Yuri Entin, about a freckled boy who happily dodges his chores.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Russia |
| Sung in | Russian |
| Words by | Yuri Entin |
| First known | 1969 |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | playful, traditional |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/antoshka/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (ru)

Антошка, Антошка,
пойдём копать картошку!
Антошка, Антошка,
пойдём копать картошку!
Тили-тили, трали-вали,
это мы не проходили,
это нам не задавали!
Парам-пам-пам, парам-пам-пам!

### English translation (en)

Antoshka, Antoshka,
let's go dig potatoes!
Antoshka, Antoshka,
let's go dig potatoes!
Tili-tili, trali-vali,
"we haven't studied that,
that wasn't set for us!"
Param-pam-pam, param-pam-pam!

## Common questions

**What is "Antoshka" about?**

A cheerfully lazy boy. Everyone calls "Antoshka, Antoshka, let's go dig potatoes!" — and he wriggles out of it with the excuse "we haven't covered that, that wasn't set for us". But when it is time to get out a big spoon for lunch, Antoshka is suddenly very willing. It is a gentle, funny poke at dodging work.

**Where does "Antoshka" come from?**

From Soviet animation. It appeared in 1969 in the first issue of the cartoon almanac "Vesyolaya Karusel" (Merry-Go-Round), made at the Soyuzmultfilm studio, in a short directed by Leonid Nosyrev. The music is by Vladimir Shainsky and the words by Yuri Entin.

**What do the nonsense lines mean?**

"Tili-tili, trali-vali" are playful nonsense syllables, like "fiddle-dee-dee". They fill the refrain with a sing-song, silly lilt while Antoshka makes his lazy excuses — part of what made the song an instant favourite.

## Sources

- [Wikipedia — Happy Merry-Go-Round (Vesyolaya Karusel)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Merry-Go-Round)