What Did You Mean?

Accident

About Accident

Accident (Несча́стный слу́чай ) is one of the most original and recognizable bands on the Russian music scene. The group was formed in 1983, at the student theater of Moscow State University. It started out as a duo between mathematics student Alexey Kortnev and philosophy student Valdis Pelsh, who later became a well-known television presenter.

It’s hard to pin Neschastny Sluchai down to a single genre. Their music mixes jazz—with its rich harmonies and improvisation—rock with energetic rhythms and guitar-driven sound, chanson-style storytelling, and a strong theatrical flair that carries through both their performances and stage presence.

One of their defining traits is irony. Their lyrics are full of sarcasm, wordplay, and clever references, often hiding deeper ideas behind a light, humorous surface.

Musically, the band is known for complex arrangements, unusual rhythms, virtuosic playing, and multi-part vocal harmonies.

A fun fact: in the late 1990s, lead singer Alexey Kortnev translated international musicals into Russian. Together with the theater collective Kvartet I, the band also took part in stage productions such as Radio Day and Election Day. Kortnev has even written advertising slogans for major brands like Pepsi, Wrigley, M&M’s, Moccona, and others.

About This Song

A humorous rock track about a whirlwind relationship that spirals completely out of control. The song follows a hilariously oblivious narrator who fails to recognize one obvious hint after another.

Mixing sharp irony, absurd storytelling, and infectious rock-and-roll energy, the song playfully exaggerates a stereotypical male fear of where a serious relationship might lead.

Video Performance

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Мы познако́мились с тобо́й
Позапро́шлой весно́й.
Уже́ на сле́дущий день
Ты привела́ меня́ домо́й.
Ты говори́ла мне "сядь"
Говори́ла мне "встань,"
Пото́м наве́рное уста́ла
И легла́ на дива́н.
Я по́нял: э́то намёк,
Я всё ловлю́ на лету́,
Но непоня́тно,
Что конкре́тно ты име́ла в виду́!

Вот я не по́нял:
Что ты име́ла в виду́?
Вот я не по́нял:
Что ты име́ла в виду́?
Нет, всё поня́тно,
Что ты име́ла в виду́?
Но что конкре́тно?
Что ты име́ла в виду́?
Что ты име́ла в виду́?
Что ты име́ла...?

Ещё я то́лком не запо́мнил
твоего́ лица́,
Но мы пое́хали купи́ли
два каки́х -то кольца́.
Игра́л орга́н,
всe пи́ли вино́,
Твоя́ мама́ша почему́-то
назвала́ меня́ "сыно́к."
Я по́нял: э́то намёк,
Я всё ловлю́ на лету́,
Но непоня́тно,
Что конкре́тно ты име́ла в виду́!

Да-да́, ты ду́мала я сплю,
Но я-то ви́дел, дружо́к,
Как ты мне сы́пала в суп
Како́й-то бе́лый порошо́к.
Ой, стра́нный вкус, темне́ет в глаза́х,
И ты сказа́ла: "Оке́й, до встре́чи в небеса́х"
Я по́нял - э́то намёк,
Я всё ловлю́ на лету́
Но непоня́тно,
Что...

Что ты име́ла в виду́?
Что ты име́ла в виду́?
Что ты име́ла в виду́?
Что ты име́ла в виду́?

Хоть я живу́ без тебя́,
Прошла́ нема́я тоска́.
Всё у меня́ хорошо́,
Прекра́сно как никогда́.
Я тут лета́ю во мгле,
А ты всё там на земле́,
И чё-то ка́к-то не торо́пишься
на встре́чу ко мне.
Но ничего́, ничего́ я подожду́,
Ведь на́до всё таки узна́ть,
Чё э́то бы́ло за кольцо́
И чё за порошо́к,
И почему́ твоя́ мама́ша
Назвала меня́ "сыно́к."
Но я тут спра́шивал у на́ших -
Все отво́дят глаза́.
Они́ хоть а́нгелы коне́чно,
Но отку́да им знать?
Так что ты прилета́й,
я о́чень жду,
Хотя́ ты зна́ешь,
Хотя́ ты зна́ешь,
Мне ка́жется я на́чал понима́ть...

Что ты име́ла в виду́
Что ты име́ла
Что ты име́ла в виду́
Что ты име́ла
Что ты име́ла в виду́
Что ты име́ла
Что ты име́ла в виду́
Что ты име́ла в виду́
Что ты име́ла в виду́!

We met each other
The spring before last
The very next day
You took me home
You told me "Sit down"
You told me "Stand up"
Then you must have gotten tired
And lay down on the couch
I understood — it was a hint
I catch on to things right away
But I still can't figure out
What exactly you meant!

I just don't get it
What did you mean?
I just don't get it
What did you mean?
No, everything is clear
What did you mean?
But what exactly
What did you mean?
What did you mean?
What did you ...have?

I still couldn't really remember
Your face very well
But we went and bought
Two rings of some sort
The organ was playing,
Everyone was drinking wine
Your mother for some reason
Called me “sonny”
I understood — it was a hint
I catch on to things right away
But I still can't figure out
What exactly you meant!

I just don't get it
What did you mean?
I just don't get it
What did you mean?
No, everything is clear
What did you mean?
But what exactly
What did you mean?
What did you mean?
What did you mean?
What did you ...have?

Yeah, yeah, you thought I was asleep
But I saw it, my friend
How you were sprinkling into my soup
some kind of white powder
Oh, strange taste, everything’s going dark in my eyes
And you said: “Okay, see you in heaven”
I understood — it was a hint
I catch on to things right away
But I still can’t understand
What...

What did you mean?
What did you mean?
What did you mean?
What did you mean?

Even though I live without you
The silent longing has passed
Everything is fine with me
Better than ever before
I’m flying here in the mist
And you’re still down there on earth
And somehow you’re not in a hurry
to come meet me
But it’s okay, it’s okay — I’ll wait
After all, I still need to find out
what that ring was
and what that powder was
and why your mother
called me “son”
I asked around here among our people
but everyone just looks away
They may be angels, of course
but how would they know?
So come fly here
I’m really waiting
though you know,
though you know
I think I’m starting to understand...

What you meant
What you had
What you meant
What you had
What you meant
What you had
What you meant
What you meant
What you meant!

Stand by the River

Without Women