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about
"Bez Vas" means "Without You" in Ukrainian.
One year after the invasion, I created this resistance song in both Ukrainian and English in order to reach more people about the on-going war in my country of birth. In addition to Russia’s countless war crimes, missiles are purposely fired at energy facilities to wear down the citizens. While I'm based in Toronto, Canada, my family is living in cold and darkness this winter. However, the resilience and spirit of the people can be summed up by a statement made by the president, addressed to Russia, back in the fall: “Without light? Heat? Or without you? Without you.” “Do you still think you can break us into submission? Cold, hunger, and darkness aren’t as deadly to us as your ‘friendship and brotherhood’.”
The song was produced by Rob Christian (Larnell Lewis Band) with drums by Isaiah Gibbons. The verses of this song were written by a refugee, Oksana Gurska, seeking safety in Toronto, Canada, who also doesn't know the fate of her family back home.
Look out for the video by VH Video
lyrics
Intro:
Бажаю здоров’я шановні українці
Поступово повертаємо електрику, тепло
Водопостачання, і зв’язок
Україна об’єднана
Не просто опинились без світла
Не просто опинились без світла
І допомагаючи один одному, Слава Україні
Verse:
Снігом нас затрусило
Землю навколо вкрило
Без тепла, але без вас!
В вікнах темно повсюди
Палять свічки всі люди
Хоч без світла, та без вас!
Знищені всі мережі
Терпіння вже на межі
Без зв'язку, але без вас!
Життя кипить у місті
Ми співаємo пісні
Голосно аби без вас!
Chorus:
Without light or without you? Without you
Without heat or without you? Without you
Краще ніколи знов не бути around you
Rather be without heat but be free without you
Without you
Breakdown
Chorus
Verse repeat
--
TRANSLATION:
Intro:
I wish you health, dear Ukrainians
Gradually, we restore our electricity, heat,
Water supply, and communication
Ukraine is united
We didn’t just find ourselves without light
We didn’t just find ourselves without light
By helping each other, Glory to Ukraine
Verse:
We’re completely snowed in
The earth around is covered
We’re without heat, but without you
Darkness in all windows
Everybody burns candles
We’re without light, but without you
All the networks are damaged
Our patience at its limit
There’s no connection, but no you
Life still goes on in the city
And we sing our songs loud
As long as we are without you
Chorus:
Без світла чи без тебе? Без вас
Без тепла чи без тебе? Без вас
Better to never again be навколо вас
Краще бути без тепла, але вільним, і без вас
Без вас
Ukraïna ob’iednana
Ne prosto opynylys’ bez svitla
Ne prosto opynylys’ bez svitla
I dopomahaiuchy odyn odnomu, Slava Ukraïni
Verse:
Snihom nas zatrusylo
Zemliu navkolo vkrylo
Bez tepla, ale bez vas!
V viknakh temno povsiudy
Paliat′ svichky vsi li͡udy
Khoch bez svitla, ta bez vas!
Znyshcheni vsi merezhi
Terpinnia vzhe na mezhi
Bez zv'iazku, ale bez vas!
ZHytiia kypyt′ u misti
My spivaiemo pisni
Holosno aby bez vas!
Chorus:
Without light or without you? Without you
Without heat or without you? Without you
Krashche nikoly znov ne buty around you
Rather be without heat but be free without you
Without you
Breakdown
Chorus
Verse repeat
credits
released February 17, 2023
Nastasia Y (music, lyrics)
Rob Christian (production, mix, master, synths)
Oksana Gurska (poetry)
Isaiah Gibbons (drums)
Thank you Juana & Lulaworld Records, Wasteman Gio, and VH Video
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