Before this music ends

This morning the mirror reminded me: "You're fifty-plus, old man."
I just grinned at my reflection, winked, and said: "I still can.
We'll get by for a while, my friend — a month, a year, who knows.
And later? Later it doesn't matter if you're young or grey — the same bell tolls."

There, different laws apply — they judge you for your deeds and silent thoughts.
But there's still time… time to finish what my younger self had caught.
Time to sing the unsung song, to write a fairy tale about first love —
The one that turned out long and happy — like a blessing from above.

And before this music ends — before the needle lifts from the groove —
I've got time to remember everything I lived through, everything I had to prove.
To bless it all — or maybe turn my face away, ashamed.
But the past is so bright behind me now — so bright. And nothing can be reclaimed.

Don't panic, don't whine — grey hair is just silver in your beard, no big disgrace.
And that devil in your rib? He's still there, in his usual place.
He shoots his Cupid arrows, makes you turn for a passing skirt,
Whispers: "Come on, shake it up, old romantic — one more flirt."

He knows his trade, the bastard — a master of the cheap shot.
But I'm no rookie anymore — I've learned a thing or two, take my word.
It's time to harvest the fruits, to get the ship ready for its final sail.
No more women for me — long voyages and women only bring travail.

Where are you now — all of you I knew, drank with, laughed with, held so tight?
Why are you silent? What burrow have you crawled into, out of sight?
Sure, a burrow's safe and warm — but so damn boring, counting coins from dawn to dusk.
Money matters here. Up there? It won't buy you grace — it's just a fuss.

Let's sum it up, let's sum it up — and throw away the loaded deck.
The game is over — no one won. Just let the memories stretch.
A smile will bring a few more wrinkles — let them remember me smiling, not crying.
And let them remember with a smile, not with tears, when I'm gone — no denying.

Before the music ends… the needle lifts… nothing can be reclaimed…

https://rutube.ru/video/d0356d95d77b8f598dadd04d34850db1/