Dark Is the Night (Soviet song)

Dark Is the Night (Russian: Тёмная ночь, romanized: Tiomnaya noch, lit. 'Dark Night') is a famous Soviet song associated with the Great Patriotic War. It was originally performed by Mark Bernes in the 1943 war film Two Soldiers.

The song was written by composer Nikita Bogoslovsky and lyricist Vladimir Agatov in the 1943 war film Two Soldiers.

The song was written by composer Nikita Bogoslovsky (1913-2004) and poet Vladimir Agatov who wrote text on his music. The song was made specifically for the film Two Soldiers. Leonid Utyosov, without knowledge and without permission of authors and film unit, recorded the song, thus becoming the first to do so, but it was Bernes' performance in the film that popularised the song. In the film, Bernes played a soldier who recalls his wife and baby while singing the song at night.

The official experts were keen to accuse Bogoslovsky of propagating "Philistine" sentimental tunes. Though ostracized by the authorities, the song became a symbol of the war years for millions of Soviet people.

Due to its popularity, the song was subsequently recorded for the RCA Victor label (#26-5037) by the vocalist Sidor Belarsky in collaboration with the orchestral accordionist John Serry and the Mischa Borr Orchestra in 1946.

Dark Is the Night has been described as "a gentle lyrical song imbued with a feeling of homesickness and expressing devotion to one's beloved" which helped "reveal the personal side of army life, indiscernable in the roar of warfare". It contrasted sharply with the prevalent type of war song, which was either a field marching song or a civil patriotic one.