“When we were at war“ but you are leading a cavalry charge

“When we were at war“ (Russian: Когда мы были на войне; author’s title “Song of the Hussar“) is a poem by David Samoilov, included in his collection of poems, “Voices Beyond the Hills“, in 1981–1985. It was set to music by Viktor Stolyarov, who read it in the Ogonyok magazine. The song gained popularity under the guise of an old Cossack song.