Червонец (chervonets) refers to a historical Russian gold coin, originally worth ten rubles. It's a fascinating word that evokes a sense of history and a specific cultural context, making it less common than everyday currency terms.
In the song, the line "Хоть за червонец, хоть за сто" (Whether for a chervonets, or for a hundred) is used to emphasize the impossibility of buying flowers in the sky, regardless of the price. It highlights the protagonist's regret and the unique circumstances of his journey.
Yurii Loza sings about a brief homecoming — a traveler back after being away too long, telling her to set the bad news aside: "Мы наконец-то снова вместе" ("We're finally together again"). The title comes from the promise he repeats through the chorus, "Я прилетел часов на сто" ("I arrived for about a hundred hours") — he only has a hundred hours before he has to leave again, so he wants her to shake off her tiredness and stay up with him: "Скорей сними мою усталость, сегодня долго не уснем" ("Quickly relieve my fatigue, we won't sleep for a long time tonight").
By the final verse the mood turns wistful — another hard, long journey is already waiting for him, "Меня ждет путь нелегкий дальний" ("A difficult, long journey awaits me") — but he insists she'll see him again: "Но знаю, ты дождешься встречи" ("But I know you'll wait until we meet").
Yurii Loza built his early career playing with rock bands like "Integral" and "Zodchiye" in the 1970s, before he became a solo artist in Russia.
He is widely known for his song "Plot" (Raft). His solo music often features his guitar playing and direct lyrics.