Well if you're sure you aren't going to decide to get the balalaika into shape and play it, that would be fantastic, Phil. But if you sing Russian songs maybe you should think better of the offer and get it back into shape to accompany them. That Balalaika School site I linked to might make you decide to do that.

It's a great site - below I paste the translation of it given in it I linked to, together with the Russian words in Latin script, which is convenient. Lovely song. And aren't the pictures great too? (I found a site somewhere that called Kai Kracht who wrote Balalaika School, the German equivalent of Abbie Hoffman. That wasn't meant as a compliment by the writer, but I would see it very much as one.)

Sleep, good boy, my beautiful,
bayushki bayu,
quietly the moon is looking
into your cradle.
        
Stanu skazývat' ya skazki,
pyesenki spayu,
tý-zh dremli, zakrývshi glazki,
bayushki bayu.

I will tell you fairy tales
and sing you little songs,
but you must slumber, with your little eyes closed,
bayushki bayu.
        
Sim uznayesh, budit vremya,
branoye zhityo,
smyelo vdyenish nogu f stremya
i vazmyosh ruzhyo.

The time will come, then you will learn
the pugnacious life,
boldly you'll stem your foot into the stirrup
and take the gun.

Ya sedeltse boyevoye
sholkom razoshyu.
Spi, ditya mayo radnoye,
bayushki bayu.

The saddle-cloth for your battle horse
I will sew you from silk.
Sleep now, my dear little child,
bayushki bayu.
        
Bogatýr tý budish s vidu
i kazak dushoi.
Pravazhat' tibya ya výdu,
tý makhnyosh rukoi.

You will look like a hero
and be a cossack deep in your heart.
I will hurry to accompany you,
you will just wave your hand.
        
Skolko gorkikh slyoz ukradkoi
ya f tu notsh pralyu!
Spi, moi angel, tikho, sladko,
bayushki bayu.

How many secrete bitter tears
will I shed that night!
Sleep, my angel, calmly, sweetly,
bayushki bayu.

Stanu ya toskoi tomit'sya,
byesutyeshno zhdat',
stanu tselý dyen' molit'sya,
po notsham gadat'.

I will die from longing,
I will wait inconsolably,
I will pray the whole day long,
and at night I'll tell fortunes.

Stanu dumat', shto skutshayesh
tý f tshuzhom krayu.
Spi-zh, paka zabot nye znayesh,
bayushki bayu.

I will think that you are in trouble
far away in a foreign land.
Sleep now, as long as you don't know sorrows,
bayushki bayu.
        
Dam tibye ya na darogu
obrazok svyatoi,
tý yevo, molyasya bogu,
stav pyered saboi.

I will give you on your way
a small holy icon,
and when you pray to God, you'll
put it right in front of you.
        
Da, gotovyas v boi apasný, ,
pomni mat' svayu.
Spi, mladyenets, moi prekrasný,
bayushki bayu.

When preparing yourself for the dangerous fight
please remember your mother.
Sleep, good boy, my beautiful,
bayushki bayu.