# Pust' Begut Neuklyuzhe

Known as Gena the Crocodile's birthday song, "Pust' begut neuklyuzhe" comes from the 1971 Soviet cartoon "Cheburashka"; with music by Vladimir Shainsky and words by Aleksandr Timofeyevsky, it is one of Russia's most beloved songs.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Russia |
| Sung in | Russian |
| Words by | Aleksandr Timofeyevsky |
| First known | 1971 |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | playful, traditional |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/pust-begut-neuklyuzhe/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (ru)

Пусть бегут неуклюже
пешеходы по лужам,
а вода по асфальту рекой.
И неясно прохожим
в этот день непогожий,
почему я весёлый такой.

### English translation (en)

Let the pedestrians
run clumsily through the puddles,
and the water run like a river over the asphalt.
And it's a mystery to the passers-by,
on this foul-weather day,
why I'm so cheerful.

## Common questions

**What is "Pust' Begut Neuklyuzhe", and what is it about?**

It is the "Song of Gena the Crocodile" — sung by the crocodile Gena on his own birthday. As pedestrians splash clumsily through the puddles and rain runs down the street, he wonders why, on such a miserable grey day, he feels so happy. Its famous later lines dream of a wizard arriving in a blue helicopter to show free films.

**Where does "Pust' Begut Neuklyuzhe" come from?**

From the 1971 Soviet animated film "Cheburashka" (Soyuzmultfilm). The music is by Vladimir Shainsky and the words by Aleksandr Timofeyevsky; in the film it was sung by Vladimir Ferapontov. It has been a birthday standard in the Russian-speaking world ever since.

**Is there a story behind the words?**

Yes. Timofeyevsky, a studio editor known for a wistful, minor-key mood, was asked to write it. His first attempt was too sad for the composer Shainsky, and it was his second version that produced the bittersweet-but-cheerful "Pust' begut neuklyuzhe".

## Sources

- [Deti-online — Песенка крокодила Гены (Пусть бегут неуклюже)](https://deti-online.com/pesni/iz-multfilmov/cheburashka/pesenka-krokodila-geny/)
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q22774542