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Ξημέρωσε η ανατολή
The sun rose in the East and day broke in the West,
the young man led his black mount to water.
All along the way, he called on God,
– Lord, if I could only find the girl,
Lord, if I could only find the girl I love awashing at the well.
If I could only give her clothes to launder
without her knowing me.
And his prayers were answered, for he found her there.
Forty pails she hauled up full, but of her eyes no glimpse
till on the forty second he saw tears in them well up.
– Maid, who has filled your eyes with tears?
– I have a husband far from home these twelve years past,
another two I’ll wait, and three more live in hope.
– Maid, I am your husband, I am your love.
– If you are my husband, if you are my love,
tell me of my home, its marks, tell me so I can believe you.
– You have a tree at your gate and a vine in your yard.
– You passed by my home and saw and know.
If you are my husband, if you are my love,
tell me of my body, its marks, tell me so I can believe you.
– You have a mole on your leg, and another in your armpit,
the star and the moon are inscribed upon your breast.
– Then you are my husband, you are my love.
Translated by Michael Eleftheriou
Ξημέ- ξημέρωσε η ανατολή και χάραξε η δύση,
παίρνει, παίρνει κι ο νιος το μαύρο του, πάει να τον ποτίσει.
Στο δρό- στο δρόμο οπού πήγαινε Θεόν παρακαλούσε:
– Αχ Θεέ, Θεέ μου να, αχ Θεέ μου να την έβρισκα,
Θεέ μου να την έβρισκα τήν αγαπώ στη βρύση,
να τσ’ έδινα να μου ’πλενε και να μη με γνωρίσει.
Έτσι που παρακάλεσε, έτσι πηγαίν’ τη βρίσκει,
σαράντα τάσια έσυρε, στα μάτια δεν την είδε
κι απάνω στα σαράντα δυο τη βλέπει δακρυσμένη.
– Κόρη μου ποιος σε βούρκωσε και είσαι δακρυσμένη;
– Έχω άντρα στην ξενιτιά τώρα δώδεκα χρόνια
ακόμα δυο τον καρτερώ και τρεις τον απαντέχω.
– Κόρη εγώ ’μαι ο άντρας σου, εγώ ’μαι κι ο καλός σου.
– Αν είσαι συ ο άντρας μου, αν είσαι κι ο καλός μου,
πες μου σημάδια του σπιτιού κι έτσι να σε πιστέψω.
– Έχεις δεντρί στην πόρτα σου και κλήμα στην αυλή σου.
– Περαστικός επέρασες τα είδες και τα ξέρεις.
Αν είσαι ’σύ ο άντρας μου, αν είσαι κι ο καλός μου,
πες μου σημάδια του κορμιού κι έτσι να σε πιστέψω.
– Έχεις ελιά στο πόδι σου κι ελιά στην αμασχάλη,
καταμεσίς στο στήθος σου τ’ άστρι και το φεγγάρι.
– Τότε εσύ ’σαι ο άντρας μου, εσύ ’σαι ο καλός μου.
Another song belonging to the large and popular category of ‘recognitions’ (see also songs A trader made his way, Three lords a-sitting, A little shorty (Meli, Erithraia, Asia Minor), A little shorty (Skiathos)). A husband returns after a prolonged absence. Rendered unrecognizable by the passage of time, he meets his unsuspecting wife and uses various gambits to confirm her fidelity and undying love. Reassured, he reveals his identity and she, uncertain still, asks for proof: the hidden marks only he could know. The longed-for recognition brings with it closure.
Academics have long debated the significant similarities between this song and the verses in the Odyssey describing Odysseus returning home and being recognized by Penelope, with some arguing that the Homeric epic was spread, recast in songs like these, by wandering bards. However, I. Th. Kakridis dates the recognition motif to a pre-Homeric poetic layer, in which case Homer and the songs alike drew on the same universal oral folk tradition. (See also the song, A maid bidding farewell). Miranda Terzopoulou (2008)
Studio recording, 2006.
Domna Samiou taped the song in Nea Moudania, Chalkidiki, sung by the 79 years old Zoe Lionti, a refugee from Katirli, near Nicomedea in Asia Minor, in 1982.
Zoe Lionti. Nea Moudania, Chalkidiki1982
© Domna Samiou Archive
Constantinopolitan lyra
Goblet drum
Zil bells
Informant (source of the song)
