"Dark Eyes" (Russian: Очи чёрные, Ochi chyornye; English translation: Black Eyes; French translation: Les yeux noirs) is probably the most famous Russian romance.
The lyrics of the song were written by the Ukrainian poet and writer Yevhen Hrebinka. The first publication of the poem was in Literaturnaya gazeta on 17 January 1843.
The words were subsequently set to Florian Hermann's Valse Hommage (in an arrangement by S. Gerdel') and published on 7 March 1884.
Although often characterised as a Russian-Romani song, the words and music were written respectively by a Ukrainian poet Evheniy Grebenka ( Евге́ний Па́влович Гребёнка ) and a composer Florian German. Feodor Chaliapin popularised the song abroad in a version amended by himself.
Read more about Ochi Chyornye: Poem (original Version By Hrebinka), Lyrics (Chaliapin Version), Popular Culture