I wrote Oftat și Rugă (Sigh and Prayer) on December 22, 1999, with deep sad thoughts about the souls lost ten years back, in 1989... I re-recorded the song in a moment of serenity and reflection in late December 2021, and now it is offered without limits to all people, and to future generations, for eternity.

If anyone would like to translate the lyrics into any language - in these moments when we again wish humanity would be wiser -, humbly and with respect and hope for the entire world, I offer the music composition for collaboration and re-recording of vocals in other languages.

I sigh and I pray, from my tiny spot on this planet...

---

Download the instrumental stem, translate into your own language, record your vocals and publish as your song version: 

https://nelulazar.bandcamp.com/track/instrumental-stem-oftat-i-rug-sigh-and-prayer

---

Here is a version of the English translation of the lyrics, that constitute a base for further translations and vocals recording in other languages:

SIGH AND PRAYER

hey, eagle deities,
hey, raise high up if you please

unwanted veils of hatred, the curtains made of fire,
it’s like a piteous gamble here,
I once again remember
that I forgot the words, and now
and now they hurt…

hey, eagle deities,
hey, raise high up if you please

the color of the sunsets
and try the thieves on fire,
and let the people be all gods,
I once again remember
that I forgot the words, and now
and now they hurt…

(English translation by Nelu Lazar, with a kick-start by Elena Gabor)

---

The original lyrics:

OFTAT ȘI RUGĂ

hei, vulturilor zei,
hei, ‘nalță pân’ la ei

perdelele de ură, cortinele de foc,
e ca într-un biet joc de noroc,
mi-aduc din nou aminte
că am uitat cuvintele
și-acum mă dor…

hei, vulturilor zei,
hei, ‘nalță pân’ la ei

culoarea de amurguri
și pune hoții-n ruguri,
iar oamenii să fie zei,
mi-aduc din nou aminte
că am uitat cuvintele
și-acum mă dor…

---

CHORDS
Dm C Dm
C Dm
C A Dm

(recorded with the guitar tuned full step down D G C F A D)

---

Download the instrumental stem, translate into your own language, record your vocals and publish as your song version: 

https://nelulazar.bandcamp.com/track/instrumental-stem-oftat-i-rug-sigh-and-prayer

---

Lyrics and music: Nelu Lazăr (December 22, 1999, praising heroes defending humanity ten years back)

Performed and produced by Nelu Lazăr in 2021.
Acoustic guitar: Martin StreetMaster GPC15ME
Bass: Jay Turser
Romanian Shepherd's Flute (Fluier)
Percussions: Cajon LP, Shakers
Vocals: Rode NTK & Samson C02

Audio, photography & video production: Nelu Lazăr

℗ Nelu Lazar

Released on December 22, 2021 

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

Nelu Lazar - Oftat și Rugă (Sigh and Prayer) - the original version of this song

This song was Nelu's very first composition ever, 25 years ago, back in the year of 1997...

Read the song's story at: https://nelulazar.com/music

Stream this song starting with March 25, 2022 on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Bandcamp etc.

Originally written and arranged by Nelu Lazar in 1997.
Performed and produced by Nelu Lazar (vocals, drums, bass, acoustic and electric guitars).
Released on March 25, 2022.

1997
by Nelu Lazar

I know, if I'm trying
I could reach, reach the sky
I know, if I'm trying
I could take you by my side
oh, I know, if I'm trying
too hard, all can get gone
I know, if I'm trying
I'll be looking for the sun

and I don't care what'll happen
because then I'll be gone
and I don't care what'll happen
because then all goes sour

I was trying to tell you
things you didn't understand
I was trying to tell you
that I'm not at your command
oh, I was trying to tell you
what I feel deep down inside
and I am trying to fool me
that you feel the same inside

you know I've been waiting
for so long to be with you
you know I've been fighting
for my dreams to come true
oh, you know that I'm trying
not to push these things too hard
but I know, if I'll lose you
that will crush, crush my heart

1997

Nelu Lazar - 1997

"Hug" premiered on April 22, 2022, on all streaming platforms and online music stores.

Maxi-Single "Hug" includes the following songs:
1. Hug
2. Îmbrățișare

---

Listen "Hug" 🎧: https://song.link/nelu-lazar-hug

---

Listen more Nelu Lazar: https://artist.link/nelulazar

---

Galactic Folk (genre) = folk music mixed and produced in Dolby Atmos & Spatial Audio format, a genre imagined by Nelu Lazar...

HUG
Only for you
Deep inside me
There’s one big heart
Waiting for thee

It is a gift to you for all my life
Wanna be meeting you at last
It is a gift to you for all my life
Maybe you’ll come to me at last

So you’ll leap into those
Hugging arms of me
That will never
Tell “No” to thee

Waiting for you all of my lifetime
Maybe you’ll come to me at some time
(All my heart)
It is a gift to you for all my life
Surely you’ll come to me at last

Only for you
Deep inside me
There’s one big heart
Waiting for thee

---

Originally written and arranged by Nelu Lazar in 1999.

Performed and produced by Nelu Lazar in 2022:
Vocals - Shure SM7B
Acoustic guitar - Martin StreetMaster GPC15ME
Percussions - Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit

Mixed by Nelu Lazar in Dolby Atmos for 5.1/7.1 audio systems and spatial audio on Apple Music.

℗© Nelu Lazar

Nelu Lazar - Hug

"Îmbrățișare" a fost lansat în 22 Aprilie 2022, pe toate platformele de streaming și în magazinele online de muzică.

Maxi-Single "Hug" conține următoarele piese:
1. Hug
2. Îmbrățișare

---

Ascultă "Îmbrățișare" 🎧: https://song.link/nelu-lazar-imbratisare

---

Mai multe despre Nelu Lazăr: https://artist.link/nelulazar

---

Galactic Folk (gen muzical) = muzică folk mixată în format Dolby Atmos & Spatial Audio, un gen muzical în imaginația lui Nelu Lazăr...

ÎMBRĂȚIȘARE
Pentru tine este-n mine
O inimă ce te-așteaptă

Ți-o dăruiesc pe viața toată
Vreau să te întâlnesc odată
Ți-o dăruiesc pe viața toată
Poate că vei veni odată

Să îmi sari tu-n cele brațe
Ce nu-ți vor spune "Nu" vreodată

Am să te-aștept în viața toată
Poate că vei veni odată
Ți-o dăruiesc pe viața toată
Sigur că vei veni odată

Pentru tine este-n mine
O inimă ce te-așteaptă

---

Scris și aranjat de Nelu Lazar în 1999.

Produs și interpretat de Nelu Lazar în 2022:
Voce - Shure SM7B
Chitară acustică - Martin StreetMaster GPC15ME
Percuție - Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit

Mixat de Nelu Lazar în Dolby Atmos pentru sisteme audio 5.1/7.1 și pentru spatial audio pe Apple Music.

℗© Nelu Lazar

Nelu Lazar - Îmbrățișare

I wrote Oftat și Rugă (Sigh and Prayer) on December 22, 1999, with deep sad thoughts about the souls lost ten years back, in 1989... I re-recorded the song in a moment of serenity and reflection in late December 2021, and now it is offered without limits to all people, and to future generations, for eternity.

If anyone would like to translate the lyrics into any language - in these moments when we again wish humanity would be wiser -, humbly and with respect and hope for the entire world, I offer the music composition for collaboration and re-recording of vocals in other languages.

I sigh and I pray, from my tiny spot on this planet...

---

Download the instrumental stem, translate into your own language, record your vocals and publish as your song version: 

https://nelulazar.bandcamp.com/track/instrumental-stem-oftat-i-rug-sigh-and-prayer

---

Here is a version of the English translation of the lyrics, that constitute a base for further translations and vocals recording in other languages:

SIGH AND PRAYER

hey, eagle deities,
hey, raise high up if you please

unwanted veils of hatred, the curtains made of fire,
it’s like a piteous gamble here,
I once again remember
that I forgot the words, and now
and now they hurt…

hey, eagle deities,
hey, raise high up if you please

the color of the sunsets
and try the thieves on fire,
and let the people be all gods,
I once again remember
that I forgot the words, and now
and now they hurt…

(English translation by Nelu Lazar, with a kick-start by Elena Gabor)

---

The original lyrics:

OFTAT ȘI RUGĂ

hei, vulturilor zei,
hei, ‘nalță pân’ la ei

perdelele de ură, cortinele de foc,
e ca într-un biet joc de noroc,
mi-aduc din nou aminte
că am uitat cuvintele
și-acum mă dor…

hei, vulturilor zei,
hei, ‘nalță pân’ la ei

culoarea de amurguri
și pune hoții-n ruguri,
iar oamenii să fie zei,
mi-aduc din nou aminte
că am uitat cuvintele
și-acum mă dor…

---

CHORDS
Dm C Dm
C Dm
C A Dm

(recorded with the guitar tuned full step down D G C F A D)

---

Download the instrumental stem, translate into your own language, record your vocals and publish as your song version: 

https://nelulazar.bandcamp.com/track/instrumental-stem-oftat-i-rug-sigh-and-prayer

---

Lyrics and music: Nelu Lazăr (December 22, 1999, praising heroes defending humanity ten years back)

Performed and produced by Nelu Lazăr in 2021.
Acoustic guitar: Martin StreetMaster GPC15ME
Bass: Jay Turser
Romanian Shepherd's Flute (Fluier)
Percussions: Cajon LP, Shakers
Vocals: Rode NTK & Samson C02

Audio, photography & video production: Nelu Lazăr

℗ Nelu Lazar

Originally released on December 22, 2021 

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

Nelu Lazar - Sigh and Prayer (English version of Oftat și Rugă)

Am vrut să nemuresc primul cântec pe care l-am cântat în ziua în care am încercat să învăț să cânt la cobză - 9 Septembrie 2022... Am înregistrat ad-hoc, pe un iPhone, și asta e încercarea cu numărul #3… Mai am de învățat, mai studiez... ;)

O cobză aparent seculară… fără de gură să-mi povestească pe unde-a doinit odinioară 🎵🎶… descoperită online hăt peste câteva apusuri si răsărituri, mai mult sau mai puțin întâmplător… n-am stat pe gânduri… îi voiu purta de grijă până când poate se va reîntoarce în patrimoniul românesc vreodată…

---

Am scris "Oftat și Rugă" în 22 Decembrie 1999, cu gânduri triste la sufletele din urmă cu zece ani, din 1989... Am reînregistrat piesa într-un moment de liniște și reflecție în Decembrie 2021, și acum este oferită fără limite întregii lumi, și generațiilor viitoare, pentru eternitate.

Dacă cineva ar dori să traducă versurile în orice limbă - în aceste momente în care ne dorim din nou ca umanitatea să fie mai înțeleaptă - cu umilință, respect și speranță pentru întreaga lume, ofer linia melodică pentru colaborare și reînregistrare a liniei vocale în alte limbi.

Oftez și mă rog, din locul meu minuscul de pe această planetă...

---

Here is a version of the English translation of the lyrics, that constitutes a base for further translations and vocals recording in other languages:

SIGH AND PRAYER

hey, eagle deities,
hey, raise high up if you please

unwanted veils of hatred, the curtains made of fire,
it’s like a piteous gamble here,
I once again remember
that I forgot the words, and now
and now they hurt…

hey, eagle deities,
hey, raise high up if you please

the color of the sunsets
and try the thieves on fire,
and let the people be all gods,
I once again remember
that I forgot the words, and now
and now they hurt…

(English translation by Nelu Lazar, with a kick-start by Elena Gabor)

---

TRANSLATIONS

Ukrainian translation:
https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkx7EpSuPUT91FcaFpdL_yaGJGT8YBDxzS0

—-

Versurile originale:

OFTAT ȘI RUGĂ

hei, vulturilor zei,
hei, ‘nalță pân’ la ei

perdelele de ură, cortinele de foc,
e ca într-un biet joc de noroc,
mi-aduc din nou aminte
că am uitat cuvintele
și-acum mă dor…

hei, vulturilor zei,
hei, ‘nalță pân’ la ei

culoarea de amurguri
și pune hoții-n ruguri,
iar oamenii să fie zei,
mi-aduc din nou aminte
că am uitat cuvintele
și-acum mă dor…

---

ACORDURI CHITARĂ
Dm C Dm
C Dm
C A Dm
(chitara acordată Full Step Down D G C F A D)

ACORDURI COBZĂ
La momentul acestei înregistrări, am restaurat cobza cu 10 chei temporar cu doar 8 corzi (de chitară acustică cu douăsprezece corzi) acordate în octave: eE aA dD gG

Muzica și versurile: Nelu Lazăr (22 Decembrie 1999, cu gândul la eroii care apărau umanitatea în urmă cu zece ani)

Interpretat la cobză de Nelu Lazăr în 9 Septembrie 2022.
Nelu Lazăr a învățat să cânte la cobză în 9 Septembrie 2022.

Producție audio și video: Nelu Lazăr

℗ Nelu Lazar

Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

Nelu Lazar - Oftat și Rugă (first version on Romanian Cobza)

Time permitting, Nelu Lazar is a singer-songwriter, producer, co-founder of acoustic & rock bands, prosodic book writer, author of “The Seasons’ Journey: A serendipitous rock opera.”

---

Good morning! Due to our inability to get together enough, on some random Sundays I thought I’d invite you to an audio coffee, when I will reveal the arts and music that I created ages ago, or perhaps some that I created in more recent times. I will bring up a few tales although I’m not a storyteller, I’ll be playing live acoustic although I’m not a professional musician, I will unveil the universe of other artistic creations of mine although I am only a hobbyist creator. I’m starting with ~10 minutes on a Sunday early morning, and we’ll see where this experiment will take all of us. Hugs! -Nelu Lazar

---

Also watch the video podcasts recorded live on:
- Facebook https://facebook.com/watch/396993715834970
- YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa-UoXzgp6lsS4ShC49-xinhwHKa8Xzbb

00:00 Why yet another show? Why Live?
01:20 Introduction Nelu Lazar
01:30 Few tales about artistic and music life of Nelu Lazar
02:48 An old cassette tape with first acoustic compositions for "The Seasons' Journey: A Serendipitous Rock Opera" https://album.link/theseasonsjourney
03:40 More tales about Nelu's music projects along the years
05:00 Introduction for the song "Hug" from the maxi-single "Hug" by Nelu Lazar
05:56 Live acoustic "Hug" (sample) https://album.link/nelu-lazar-hug

---

https://nelulazar.com/terms

nelulazar.com

Live Podcast Ep.1 - Introduction to Nelu Lazar's Arts & Music Universe

Time permitting, Nelu Lazar is a singer-songwriter, producer, co-founder of acoustic & rock bands, prosodic book writer, author of “The Seasons’ Journey: A serendipitous rock opera.”

---

Good morning! Due to our inability to get together enough, on some random Sundays I thought I’d invite you to an audio coffee, when I will reveal the arts and music that I created ages ago, or perhaps some that I created in more recent times. I will bring up a few tales although I’m not a storyteller, I’ll be playing live acoustic although I’m not a professional musician, I will unveil the universe of other artistic creations of mine although I am only a hobbyist creator. I’m starting with ~10 minutes on a Sunday early morning, and we’ll see where this experiment will take all of us. Hugs! -Nelu Lazar

---

Also watch the video podcasts recorded live on:
- Facebook https://facebook.com/watch/396993715834970
- YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa-UoXzgp6lsS4ShC49-xinhwHKa8Xzbb

00:00 Today is about the rock opera “The Seasons’ Journey” by Nelu Lazar
00:43 Some of the poems that Nelu wrote in the ‘90s came together as a story…
01:26 The eBook “The Seasons’ Journey” was published in 2020 store.bookbaby.com/book/theseasonsjourney
02:09 The songs of the rock opera were composed on an acoustic guitar
02:39 Hear the original first song of the rock opera - “intro” - played from the tape cassette recorded in 1999. That acoustic version is also available exclusively on Nelu’s Backstage on Bandcamp: nelulazar.bandcamp.com/backstage
04:44 Make sure you publish your own creations, for the world and for the generations to come…
05:30 Since 2020, the songs of the rock opera “The Seasons’ Journey” started getting produced and re-recorded, and published as singles one by one theseasonsjourney.com
07:31 Hear the story of how the first song of the rock opera - “intro” - has been orchestrated and produced album.link/theseasonsjourney
09:18 “are you, people, prepared to defend a broken sword who’s challenging your thoughts to a gentle, unequal fight?”
09:28 Thanks, and until next time!

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https://nelulazar.com/terms