Yio Mario

Γιω Μαργιώ

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Lyrics

Praise be to God, we’ve fish a-plenty, we’ re readying the nets again,
and Nikolis would shout at us, let’s have another rope.
The trawl-beam’s on the bottom now, who will cast the nets?
and Nikolis would shout at us, let’s clear out of the hold.
The skipper even of our boat would wish us all no good,
he wants us working at all hours, at morning, noon and dusk,
he wants us also at midnight and in the break of day.
The fishing skiff is drawing close and bringing loaves of bread;
if they are warm, not hard as tack, we’ll laugh until we burst.
You know, I’ve got a useless crew, they only eat the loaves;
see here, I have a hunchback cook, a bosun with no nose.

Translated by John Leatham

Original Lyrics

Γιω Μαργιώ

Εεεε γιω-γιω, γιω Μαργιώ, ε γιω-γιω, γιω Μαργιώ
ε γιω-γιω-γιω, γιω Μαργιώ
Καλάδες1 ά- γιω Μαργιώ -γιος ο Θεός, γιω Μαργιώ
ντόνα και ξα- γιω Μαργιώ -ναντόνα, γιω Μαργιώ
κι ο Νικολής μας φώναζε, ένα σκοινί ακόμα.

Η μάτσα2 πάει στο γιαλό και ποιος θα μας καλάρει3
κι ο Νικολής μας φώναζε, να βγούμ’ από τ’ αμπάρι.
Ως κι ο καραβοκύρης μας κι αυτός κακό μας θέλει
θέλει πρωί, θέλει βραδί, θέλει και μεσημέρι
θέλει και τα μεσάνυχτα, θέλει και χαρομέρι.4 
Η ψαροπούλα έρχεται και φέρνει τα καρβέλια
αν είν’ ζεστά και μαλακά, θα μπήξομε τα γέλια.
Βρε έχω μούτσοι, δεν ωφελούνε, βρε μόνο τα ψωμιά χαλούνε
βρε έχω χανατζή5 καμπούρη και πλωριό6 με δίχως μούρη.

1καλάδα: ρίξιμο διχτυών (ψαρότοποι, ομαλοί βυθοί για το σύρσιμο της τράτας)
2μάτσα: η άκρη του διχτυού που δένουν το σκοινί
3καλάρω: τραβώ τα δίχτυα
4χαρομέρι: χαράματα
5χανατζής: μάγειρας
6πλωριός: λοστρόμος

Region: Asia Minor
Area: Erythraea, Çeşme
Category: Sea and Sailors Song, Work Song
Rhythm: 4 beats
Duration: 03:43

Recording information

Studio recording, 2001.

Domna Samiou taped the song in Skiathos Island in 1976, by the 80 years old captain Nikolas Lambrinoudakis, a refugee from Cesme (Çeşme),  Asia Minor, born in 1896.

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Yio Mario

Discussion with captain Nikolas Lambrinoudakis. Skiathos 1976.

© Domna Samiou Archive


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Yio Mario

Captain Nikolas Lambrinoudakis. Skiathos 1976

© Domna Samiou Archive

In the same tape, there is also another version of the song sung by Paraschos Manikas (48 years old) and a group of men.

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Yio Mario

Paraschos Manikas and a group of men. Skiathos 1976

© Domna Samiou Archive

Watch the song by Paraschos Manikas and a group of men

Credits

Dimitris Mantzouris

Singers

Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association Choir

Choir

Nikolas Labrinoudakis

Informant (source of the song)

Paraschos Manikas

Informant (source of the song)

Discography

Songs of Dame Sea

See also

  • SongAsia MinorErythraea, ÇeşmeSea and Sailors Song, Work Song

Yio Mario

  • Γιω Μαργιώ ⬥ Net casting a-plenty, rigging and rigging again And Nikolis was shouting: ‘One more rope’. The knot of the net is off to sea and who will draw it up? And Nikolis shouting at us to come out of the hold! Even our captain wants our harm. Nets [...]
  • SongAsia MinorFable Song (Ballad)

A Maid from Evripο

  • Μια κόρη από την Εύριπου ⬥ A maid from Evripo sought to set sail, she sought to make passage. She sought to make the passage to the far shore and paid a hundred Venetian sequins, a hundred gold pieces to be taken to her homeland and four hundred and four [...]
  • SongAsia MinorErythraea, Kato PanagiaLove Song, Sea and Sailors SongCouplets

Fishermen, Have You Any Fish

  • Έχετε ψαράδες ψάρια ⬥ – Hey fishermen, have you any fish, any fish or squid or lobsters? – We’ve got sardines all golden, as golden as the maid is fair. – Mistress, I heard you have a boat and lay down nets, and have come to seek its use: for [...]
  • SongAsia MinorLullaby

Lullaby

  • Νανούρισμα ⬥ Slumber for I’ve made you gift of three lands fine and mighty Smyrni with her blossoms, Chios with her many vessels and Constantinople encrusted splendid in her pearls. Slumbers so that she’ll grow up with mother and with father, her brother᾿ll be a trader, her husband an owner [...]
  • The "Musical Travelogue"

Musical Travelogue with Domna Samiou – Asia Minor

  • An episode dedicated to the musical tradition of the Greeks from the coastal area of western Asia Minor, Smyrna and the Erithrean peninsula. The documentary includes historical recordings from the Centre for Asia Minor Studies as well as testimonies and songs by refugees now living in Thessaloniki, Athens, and Piraeus. [...]