Life Has Become Better

"Life has become better" (Russian: Жить стало лучше; Zhit' stalo luchshe,) is a widespread version of a phrase uttered by former Soviet Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin at the First All-Union Meeting of the Stakhanovites on November 17, 1935. The full quote from Joseph Stalin was, when translated into English, "Life has become better, comrades. Life has become more cheerful. And when life becomes more cheerful, work becomes more effective. ... If we lived badly, unattractive, unhappy, then there would be no Stakhanov movement in our country"

In approximately 1936 the words were fixed to the chorus of a song of the same name, with music by Alexander Alexandrov and words by Vasily Lebedev-Kumach. The opening bars of the song share a notable resemblance to those of the State Anthem of the Soviet Union, as the song had the same composer.

Песни летят над Советской страной.

Pesni letyat nad Sovyetskoy stranoy.

Songs fly over the Soviet land.

Весел напев городов и полей -

"Жить стало лучше,

Жить стало веселей!"

(Дважды)

Vesel napev gorodov i poley -

"Zhit' stalo luchshe,

Zhit' stalo veseley!"

(Dvazhdy)

Beautiful is the melody of towns and fields -

"Life has become better,

Life has become more cheerful!"

(Repeat)

...
Wikipedia