Russian lyrics are uber confusing to me

[Jan]

OK, let me just add some stuff here myself:

Я себя не пойму
I do not understand myself

Ты откуда взялась
Where did you come from?

Literally: You- where from- appeared?
"Откуда" means "where from? from what direction?"
Взяться -взялась(past tense, female gender)-"to appear, to show up". It is actually made of the verb "взять"-"to take", and a literal meaning would be "to take oneself", however it is used to describe an unexpected appearance, and has a bit of a childish playfulness in it.

Почему, почему?
Why, why?
На тебя повелась- that is a bit of a slang- повелась is a present tense, female gender of the verb повестись- "to allow oneself to be lead", (derived from the verb вести- "to lead")
However in this case she is saying that she allowed herself to get caught up with, to get involved with тебя- "you"
повестись НА кого то- to get caught up/involved WITH someone
повелась на ТЕБЯ- (female speaking) -to get caught up/involved with YOU.

This two verses are part of one sentence:Почему на тебя повелась?- Why was I caught up with you?

Выключается свет
"Light's turned off"
(Вылючается doesn't imply BY WHO- just the fact, that it has been turned off. In Russian you could also say it in a way that will enable to understand WHO did it-выключаю- (I am) turning it off выключаешь-(you are) turning it off выключают- (they are) turning it off )

Я куда-то лечу
"I am flying somewhere/someplace"- generally means that she is flying, but doesn't know where she'll land.
Без тебя меня нет
"Without you I do not exist"- mentioned above already.
Ничего не хочу
"Do not want anything" (ничего=nothing)

Это медленный яд
"It's a slow poison"
Это сводит с ума
"It is driving (me) crazy"(сходить с ума- lit."to go off mind"- to go crazy сводить с ума-lit."to lead off mind"- to drive (smn) crazy)
In fact, she doesn't say WHO's been "driven crazy"- "me"'s being added to "smooth out" the translation.
А они говорят - виновата сама
And they say -it is my fault (as above)

[FadingAway]

Thank you so much Jan! It amazes me how much intricacy there is in each of these lines. I, as a simpleton, learn Russian in hopes that it will be some kind of direct coorelation I can wrap my mind around, yet I love the flexibility of the language. It's just blows me away that there is more that can be said for then just the words alone. Thanks again Jan! Your name is gonna be in lights when the page is finished

[QueenBee]

Hmm.. since I dont know any russian, is there anything online that can help me? cause I know I need someone to teach me (to learn it properly) but heck, I dont even know how to pronounce letters etc.
Any online resources?

[FadingAway]

MUST visit:
http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/...age/index.html
http://www.masterrussian.com/

Pronounciation:
http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/.../pronounc.html
http://www.friends-partners.org/oldf...-alphabet.html
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark...unciation.html
http://www.funet.fi/pub/culture/russ...n1/rusalf.html

If you live in Boston come to Russian classes with me starting April 21 at The Boston Language Institute

[QueenBee]

FadingAway, thank you!!!
I wish I lived in Boston

[prostrel]

very interesting! I have been learning Russian about 5 years now and I am addicted to it. Please continue this thread!

[Jan]

We will,prostrel, no prob.

[Charles]

How important is the pronunciation of palatized versus non-palatized consonants? Some texts I've seen advice ignoring this since you will still be understood anyway. Other texts say its very important.

[Jan]

You will be understood- for sure. It all depends, how well do you want to be understood.
I say- don't worry about it too much, you'll get there as your skills will progress. Listen how Russian people pronounce them, it'll help.

[Charles]

Thanks Jan, or спасибо!