Armenia has given the world many famous figures, and one of them was composer Arno Babajanian. He wrote numerous works, including songs for Soviet pop music (for example, “The Best City in the World” and “The Queen of Beauty,” performed by Muslim Magomayev). But there’s one melody of his that I’ve always loved, even though I didn’t know its author for a long time.
It’s simply called “Nocturne.” Originally, Arno Babajanian composed it as a musical piece that didn’t need any lyrics. This happened in 1980. According to the composer’s son, Joseph Kobzon had asked Babajanian for permission to have lyrics written for this beautiful melody, turning it into a song, but Arno Harutyunovich wanted to keep it purely as music.
At the same time, he reportedly “bequeathed” the idea, saying, “After my death, do whatever you want.” And when the composer passed away in 1983, Joseph Kobzon again pursued the idea of creating a song, this time turning to one of Arno Babajanian’s frequent collaborators, lyricist Robert Rozhdestvensky. Thus, the music gained lyrics. Moreover, Robert Rozhdestvensky managed to capture the melancholy of the melody perfectly in the text.
The first performer of the song version was Joseph Kobzon, who originally proposed the idea. Later, the song was also performed by the second “regular” interpreter of Arno Babajanian’s compositions—Muslim Magomayev.
I still enjoy listening to both the purely instrumental version of the piece and the song with its wonderful lyrics.
Here’s the original instrumental piece, performed by Arno Babajanian himself, as he intended it to be:
Muslim Magomayev had an incredible voice, and he performed the song superbly:
However, the most heartfelt rendition came from Joseph Kobzon:
However, the version that found a permanent place in my playlist is the one performed by the band Respublika, which includes fragments of Joseph Kobzon’s rendition:
Here are the lyrics to the song (direct translation to English):
Between you and me lies the echo of oblivion,
The seas of stars,
The hidden seas.
How are you living now, my springtime one,
My gentle one,
My strange one?
If you wish, if you can—think of me,
Think of me,
Think of me.
Even by chance, even just once, think of me,
My long-lasting love.
And between you and me lie centuries,
Moments and years,
Dreams and clouds.
I command them to fly to you now,
For I love you even more deeply.
How are you living now, my springtime one,
My gentle one,
My strange one?
I wish you happiness, my kind-hearted one,
My enduring love.
I will come to your aid—just call for me,
Simply call for me,
Softly call for me.
May the light of my love always be with you,
The call of my love,
The pain of my love!
But please, remain as you are—live tenderly,
Live brightly,
Live joyfully!
Whatever happens, please, live on,
Live happily, always.
And between you and me lie centuries,
Moments and years,
Dreams and clouds.
I command them to fly to you now,
For I love you even more deeply.
May the light of my love always be with you,
The call of my love,
The pain of my love!
Whatever happens, please, live on.
Live happily, always.
