The music of this patriotic song was composed by Matvey Blanter while its lyrics were written by Mikhail Isakovsky, in 1938, just on the verge of World War II.
Before being adopted as the name of the dreadful Stalin’s Organs, the multiple rocket launchers which emitted ear-piercing sound, used by the Red Army against German troops, Katyusha was initially the name of a virtuous young lady who faithfully waited for her beloved one to return from the front.
Separated because the soldier had gone to defend the country at the borders, the two love birds kept the flame of love burning between them only by exchanging passionate letters while waiting for the day they would be together again.
Below are lyrics in French and English, followed by those in Russian rendered in the Latin and Cyrillic alphabets.
Apple trees and pear trees were a-flower,
mist was rising over the river,
Katyusha went out to the banks,
to the high and steep river banks.
While she walked she sang a song
about a grey eagle of the steppe,
about him whom she loved,
about him whose letters she held in her hand.
Oh, you song, you little song of a girl,
follow the bright sun and fly
to the warrior in the far foreign country,
and bring him greetings from Katyusha.
He shall remember his dear girl,
he shall hear how she sings,
he shall defend their home,
and Katyusha will preserve their love.
Apple and pear trees have lost their blossoms,
the river mists have vanished.
Katyusha left the river banks
and took her little song back home.
Katyusha Russe romanisé
Rastsvetali yabloni i grushi,
Poplyli tumani nad rekoy
Vyhodila na bereg Katyusha
Na vysokij bereg, na krutoy
Vyhodila, pesnyu zavodila
Pro stepnovo sizovo orla
Pro tovo kotorovo lyubila
Pro tovo ch'i pis'ma beregla.
Oy, ty pesnya, pesenka devich'ya,
Ty leti za yasnym solntsem vslyed
I boytsu na dal'nem pogranich'e
Ot Katyushi pyereday privyet
Pust' on vspomnit devushku prostuyu
Pust' uslyshit' kak ona poyot.
Pust' on zemlyu berezhyot rodnuyu
A lyubov' Katyusha sbyerezhyot.
Rastsvetali yabloni i grushi,
Poplyli tumani nad rekoy
Vyhodila na bereg Katyusha
Na vysokij bereg, na krutoy
КАТЮША Russe cyrillique
Расцветали яблони и груши,
Поплыли туманы над рекой.
Выходила на берег Катюша,
На высокий берег на крутой.
Выходила, песню заводила
Про степного, сизого орла,
Про того, которого любила,
Про того, чьи письма берегла.
Он ты, песня, песенка девичья,
Ты лети за ясным солнцем вслед.
И бойцу на дальнем пограничье
От Катюши передай привет.
Пусть он вспомнит девушку простую,
Пусть услышит, как она поет,
Пусть он землю бережет родную,
А любовь Катюша сбережет.
Расцветали яблони и груши,
Поплыли туманы над рекой.
Выходила на берег Катюша,
На высокий берег на крутой.
Katiouchka 
