# Life Has Become Better

"Life has become better" is a widespread version of a phrase uttered by Soviet Communist Party General Secretary Joseph Stalin at the First All-Union Meeting of the Stakhanovites on 17 November 1935. The full quote from Joseph Stalin was, when translated into English,
   Living has become better, comrades. Living has become happier. And when life becomes happier, work becomes more effective. … If we lived badly, unattractive, unhappy, then there would be no Stakhanov movement in our country.

## Song

In 1936, the words were used in the chorus of a song of the same name, with music by Alexander Alexandrov and words by Vasily Lebedev-Kumach. The opening bars of the song and some sequences share a notable resemblance to those of the State Anthem of the Soviet Union, as the two songs had the same composer. Alexandrov apparently liked the opening bars of this piece. He used them again, with only minor alterations, just a few years later in the tune for the State Anthem (1944–1991). The Russian Duma officially readopted the Alexandrov's Soviet anthem as the State Anthem of the Russian Federation in December 2000, as part of a political compromise. New words were written by Sergey Mikhalkov.

### Lyrics

| Russian original | Romanization of Russian | English translation |
| Звонки, как птицы, одна за другой, Песни летят над советской страной! Припев: 𝄆 Весел напев городов и полей, Жить стало лучше, жить стало веселей! 𝄇 Дружно страна и растёт, и поёт, С песнею новое счастье куёт! Припев: 𝄆 Глянешь на солнце – и солнце светлей, Жить стало лучше, жить стало веселей! 𝄇 Знай, Ворошилов, мы все начеку, Пяди земли не уступим врагу! Припев: 𝄆 Силушка есть у отцов и детей, Жить стало лучше, жить стало веселей! Хочется всей необъятной страной, Сталину крикнуть, «Спасибо, Родной!» 𝄇 Припев: 𝄆 «Долгие годы живи, не болей!» Жить стало лучше, жить стало веселей! 𝄇 Звонки, как птицы, одна за другой, Песни летят над советской страной! Припев: 𝄆 Весел напев городов и полей, Жить стало лучше, жить стало веселей! 𝄇 | Zvonki, kak pticy, odna za drugoj, Pesni letjat nad sovetskoj stranoj! Pripev: 𝄆 Vesel napev gorodov i polej, Žitj stalo lučše, žitj stalo veselej! 𝄇 Družno strana i rastjot, i pojot, S pesneju novoje sčastje kujot! Pripev: 𝄆 Gljanešj na solnce – i solnce svetlej, Žitj stalo lučše, žitj stalo veselej! 𝄇 Znaj, Vorošilov, my vse načeku, Pjadi zemli ne ustupim vragu! Pripev: 𝄆 Siluška jestj u otcov i detej, Žitj stalo lučše, žitj stalo veselej! 𝄇 Hočetsja vsej neob’jatnoj stranoj, Stalinu kriknutj, „Spasibo, Rodnoj!“ Pripev: 𝄆 „Dolgije gody živi, ne bolej!“ Žitj stalo lučše, žitj stalo veselej! 𝄇 Zvonki, kak pticy, odna za drugoj, Pesni letjat nad sovetskoj stranoj! Pripev: 𝄆 Vesel napev gorodov i polej, Žitj stalo lučše, žitj stalo veselej! 𝄇 | Jingly, like birds, one by one, Songs fly over the Soviet land! Chorus: 𝄆 Happy is the song of cities and fields, Life's become better, life's become more joyous! 𝄇 Our friendly country grows and sings, And with their songs forge a new happiness! Chorus: 𝄆 When you look at the sun, it's brighter, Life's become better, life's become more joyous! 𝄇 Know, Voroshilov, that we're all on the alert, We'll yield not an inch of land to the enemy! Chorus: 𝄆 Fathers and sons all have heroic power, Life's become better, life's become more joyous! 𝄇 The whole vast country wants To shout to Stalin, "Thank you, Dear!" Chorus: 𝄆 "May you live for long years without illness!" Life's become better, life's become more joyous! 𝄇 Jingly, like birds, one by one, Songs fly over the Soviet land! Chorus: 𝄆 Happy is the song of cities and fields, Life's become better, life's become more joyous! 𝄇 |