Almost time to turn from a long immersion in Lenin’s miracle=revolution, with its dialectic of spontaneity and organisation, operating within and without the system, and the paradox of the genuine universal of an explicit partisan freedom that abolishes the conditions for distinguishing between formal (limited) and actual (absolute) freedom. So my next focus is the fascinating topic of venerating Lenin. A complex web of factors here, such as the Orthodox superstition that the bodies of saints do not decay, Lenin’s perpetual metaphors of decay, rotting alive and disease, his concern over his health coupled with his love of (and skill in) skating, swimming, hiking, mountain climbing and cycling, the continued influence of Lunarcharsky’s God-Building after the revolution, and the clear recognition by the communists that the revolutionary leader, especially his own body, is vital.

Plenty of stuff here, such as this great song, ‘Lenin is Always With You’

Lyrics:

ЛЕНИН ВСЕГДА С ТОБОЙ

День за днем бегут года —
Зори новых поколений.
Но никто и никогда
Не забудет имя: Ленин.

   Ленин всегда живой,
   Ленин всегда с тобой
   В горе, в надежде и радости.
   Ленин в твоей весне,
   В каждом счастливом дне,
   Ленин в тебе и во мне!

В давний час, в суровой мгле,
На заре Советской власти,
Он сказал, что на земле
Мы построим людям счастье.

Мы за Партией идем,
Славя Родину делами,
И на всем пути большом
В каждом деле Ленин с нами.

   Ленин всегда живой,
   Ленин всегда с тобой
   В горе, в надежде и радости.
   Ленин в твоей весне,
   В каждом счастливом дне,
   Ленин в тебе и во мне!

1955

Translation of chorus:

Lenin is always alive
Whether you laugh or cry
Lenin is (in) your spring
He is (in) every great thing
Lenin is within thee
As he is within me
(ht sk)
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