Written in between the collapse of the Berlin Wall (1989) and the collapse of the Soviet Union (1991), "My October Symphony" is from the perspective of someone living in the Soviet Union as it is crumbling, excited to see their country finally brought into the modern world ("...change the dedication from revolution to revelation"), apprehension at the dire economic straits Russia was experiencing at the time ("how to smile behind a frown? It's hard to settle down..."), and confusion over Russia's evolving image in the West ("we marched each October, now they say we were never even saved...we must be brave").
I imagine the line, "so we're all drinking, as leaves fall to the ground" is intended as a joke.
Written in between the collapse of the Berlin Wall (1989) and the collapse of the Soviet Union (1991), "My October Symphony" is from the perspective of someone living in the Soviet Union as it is crumbling, excited to see their country finally brought into the modern world ("...change the dedication from revolution to revelation"), apprehension at the dire economic straits Russia was experiencing at the time ("how to smile behind a frown? It's hard to settle down..."), and confusion over Russia's evolving image in the West ("we marched each October, now they say we were never even saved...we must be brave").
I imagine the line, "so we're all drinking, as leaves fall to the ground" is intended as a joke.