"Червона Рута" (Chervona Ruta) is a song written by Володи́мир Миха́йлович Івасю́ (Volodymyr Mykhailovych Ivasyuk) in 1968.

This version by Cov Kozaks was originally released on the 'Put Your Faith in the Sword And the Sword in the Polka' EP in March 2022

It is named after a mythological flower, the Chervona Ruta, which, although blossoming yellow, if found turning a red colour by a girl was meant to bring happiness in love.

The song was written at a time when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, and although the song can be literally translated as a love song, it is widely accepted that the song is written as a coded song about love for Ukraine, which was not permissible under the Soviet regime. The songs cult status was confirmed when Ivasyuk was found dead in mysterious circumstances in 1979 aged just 30, and it is believed that this was in fact a murder orchestrated by the KGB due to the Soviets' displeasure at a song deliberately promoting Ukrainian nationalism.

Ivasyuk is now revered as one of the most important figures in Ukrainian history, and his song has become some what of a national anthem sung by hundreds of artists in many different variations. The song lives on, and now, just as many times in Ukraine’s troubled past, it carries with it a meaning that cannot be put into words.

The song has never formally been copyrighted and due to its popularity and meaning to Ukrainian people is now considered a modern Ukrainian folk song. There are hundreds of "covers" of this masterpiece and the song can be heard everywhere, from the charts, karaoke bars, weddings, schools and even football terraces.

Cov Kozaks have recorded their version, trying to capture the emotions they feel when singing this song using the original lyrics and arranging the music to reflect their style.

"What I particularly enjoyed was the complex interplay of less familiar instruments & those which although better known to the UK, nevertheless serve musical structures of a culture we hear too little of. All tracks exhibit this rich tapestry approach & consequently although the overall effect of each individual song impacts immediately upon you, you can also return repeatedly to enjoy different nuances & textures each time..

You can, should you choose, decide to buy ‘Put Your Faith in the Sword and the Sword in the Polka' because you feel you'd like to make a gesture of support to Ukraine & her people (all proceeds by the way are going to relief charities). You may feel now is a good time to immerse yourself in Ukrainian culture. Both are admirable reasons for doing so & I guess many people will wish to do so. However, aside from the meaning this EP has gained in the past weeks, it is great music in its own right & worthy of your time regardless of more sombre considerations. I greatly enjoyed listening to it & if my route to it came via deplorable actions of others, then that is sad, but this is a band whose culture and music will endure once these times are resolved & one whom I'd love to hear & see live.

There is an almost unbearable sadness about listening today to ‘Put Your Faith in the Sword and the Sword in the Polka' , yet within it, I seem to perceive the defiance of a proud & resilient culture who have been brought to bad places before but have endured & are determined to endure again: the sense of timelessness is that palpable." ("Hot Music Live")

To learn more about Cov Kozaks, please visit:

www.facebook.com/CovKozaks