Vanya’s Privateers 

Oh the year was nineteen thirty-and-nine-
How I wish I was in Vyborg now!
The Secretary sent his letter of Marque
To a boat who’d never set sail so far-

 Hells take them all
I was told
We’d stalk the waves and take their gold
We’d scoff at death, show no fears-
Now I’m alone, still fighting at Taganrog Pier,
The last of Vanya’s Privateers.

Oh Vanya Burov cried the town
How I wish I was in Vyborg now!
For twenty brave souls all fisherfolk who
Would make for him the Nadezhda’s crew.

Hells take them all
I was told
We’d stalk the waves and take their gold
We’d scoff at death, show no fears-
Now I’m alone, still fighting at Taganrog Pier,
The last of Vanya’s Privateers.

The Nedezhda’s deck was built for flight.
How I wish I was in Vyborg now!
She’d cut the waves at twenty-one knots;
We’d storm their boats and fire no shots.

 Hells take them all
I was told
We’d stalk the waves and take their gold
We’d scoff at death, show no fears-
Now I’m alone, still fighting at Taganrog Pier,
The last of Vanya’s Privateers.

 On eight November we put to sea.
How I wish I was in Vyborg now!
We sailed for Norwich as we left the bay,
Eager like madmen to make affray.

 Hells take them all
I was told
We’d stalk the waves and take their gold
We’d scoff at death, show no fears-
Now I’m alone, still fighting at Taganrog Pier,
The last of Vanya’s Privateers.

 From there to Eire we brought the fight
How I wish I was in Vyborg now
When a bloody great vessel hove in sight
We raised our cannons and made to fight.

 Hells take them all
I was told
We’d stalk the waves and take their gold
We’d scoff at death, show no fears-
Now I’m alone, still fighting at Taganrog Pier,
The last of Vanya’s Privateers.

 The other dropped like a stone in flight-
How I wish I was in Vyborg now!
A volley of shells glanced off her bow
but their fiery beam ripped our hull in two.

 Hells take them all
I was told
We’d stalk the waves and take their gold
We’d scoff at death, show no fears-
Now I’m alone, still fighting at Taganrog Pier,
The last of Vanya’s Privateers.

 As Nedezhda broke I found the air
How I wish I was in Vyborg now!
I punched and tore into crazed marines
And they sent me away with a radiant beam-

 Hells take them all
I was told
We’d stalk the waves and take their gold
We’d scoff at death, show no fears-
Now I’m alone, still fighting at Taganrog Pier,
The last of Vanya’s Privateers.

 I fell from the sky to a world unknown-
How I wish I was in Vyborg now!
Buildings like mountainous pillars of stone
But men still need heroes who’ll stand alone.

 Hells take them all
I was told
We’d stalk the waves and take their gold
We’d scoff at death, show no fears-
Now I’m alone, still fighting at Taganrog Pier,
The last of Vanya’s Privateers.

 So here I am in an alien world
How I wish I was in Vyborg now!
From East to West I’ve brought the fight
Standing ‘gainst evils with all my might!

 Hells take them all
I was told
We’d stalk the waves and take their gold
We’d scoff at death, show no fears-
Now I’m alone, still fighting at Taganrog Pier,
The last of Vanya’s Privateers.

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Okay, first of all, this is to the tune of the late, great Stan Rogers's Barrett's Privateers.  I tried to stick to the pattern rhythmically, and the rhyme scheme is pretty close, but I was working fast, so this may not be the best homage I've ever done.  If not, I apologize.

I was struck by how, melodically, old sea shanties often closely resemble some of the structures found in traditional Russian folk music, so this worked out well in that regard.

The story is that, in this version of Olga's world, Terran technology never advanced beyond sail-powered boats.  Russia, having the fourth largest coastline in the world, was a major player in naval engagements and, throughout both World War I and World War II, Russia's naval and privateer fleets were considered some of the best in the world.  Olga Yezhov, a farmer's daughter with grandiose ambitions, volunteered to serve the General Secretary; she was made a part of their super soldier program, but was let go when the program failed to produce any successful subjects.  On her own and without a commission, Olga made her way across the country to the port of Vyborg, where she signed on with the Privateer Captain Vanya Burov, who commanded the ill-fated frigate Nedezhda.  The story of that ship's destruction, Olga's discovery of her powers, and her subsequent exile to a foreign dimension are the subject of the song, above.

Olga Yezhov/Soviet Superwoman belong to .

Soviet Superwoman is mainly found defending her adopted home of , although occasionally these odd tangents occur.