Vasily Ivanovich Lebedev-Kumach was a prominent Soviet poet and lyricist, born on August 5, 1898, in Moscow, Russia. He was the son of a shoemaker and pursued his education at Moscow State University. Lebedev-Kumach began his career working in the printing department of the Revolutionary Military Council and later at ROSTO. He adopted the pen name "Kumach," inspired by a type of red cloth symbolizing revolution, which he eventually incorporated into his surname.

Lebedev-Kumach gained popularity through his satirical verses published in various Soviet newspapers such as Rabochaia gazeta, Krest’ianskaia gazeta, Gudok, and Krokodil. His work as a lyricist is well-remembered, particularly for his collaboration with composer Isaak Dunayevsky. Among his most famous songs are "The Sacred War" (Священная война), "A Song About the Motherland" (Песня о Родине), "Hymn of the Bolshevik Party," and "Such a lot of nice girls!" (Как много девушек хороших), the latter of which became famous as the Argentine Tango song "Serdtse" (Сердце-Heart) performed by Pyotr Leshchenko.

Lebedev-Kumach also contributed to the Soviet film industry, writing songs for the 1936 film "Late for a Date." His influence extended into popular culture, as he was one of the first to use the term "blat" (блат) in print, with his poem "Blat-not" published in Krokodil. Composer Lyubov Streicher used his text for the song "A Simple Soviet Man," recorded by pianist Maria Yudina in 1937.

Vasily Lebedev-Kumach passed away on February 20, 1949, in Moscow, Soviet Union, leaving behind a legacy as a significant figure in Soviet poetry and music.