Rashid Behbudov (Ra-SHID BEH-bu-dov) was one of Azerbaijan’s greatest singers.
Rashid is remembered for his love songs – his melodic, lyrical love songs. He even managed to mesmerize officials so much with his beautiful rich tenor voice that they didn’t pressure him to sing contrived songs to glorify the Soviet system or heroes like Stalin and Lenin. Maybe it was because officials, too, had their own love lives. Is it possible to prohibit love?

Konlum senin esirin, qelbim senindin yar, qelbim senindir,
Insaf eyle xosh sozle, meni gel dindir yar, meni gel dindir,
Soyle nedir bu edaler, bu ishve, bu naz,
Geder bir gun bu gozellik sene de qalmaz,

Yalqizam yalqiz, yalqizam yalqiz,
Gel meni mohnete oda salan vefasiz,

Soyle nedir bu edaler, bu ishve, bu naz,
Geder bir gun bu gozellik sene de qalmaz.

Daglar bashi dumandir, yene dumandir yar, yene dumandir,
Ayriliqin olumden, mene yamandir yar, mene yamandir,

Soyle nedir bu edaler, bu ishve, bu naz,
Geder bir gun bu gozellik sene de qalmaz.
Yalgizam yalqiz, yalqizam yalqiz,
Gel meni mohnete oda salan vefasiz,

Soyle nedir bu edaler, bu ishve, bu naz,
Geder bir gun bu gozellik sene de qalmaz