Μια κόρη τ’ απεφάσισε ⬥ A maid decided to join the klephts and set fire, vr’ amán och amán, she set fire to her loom. She set fire to her loom, to her ivory comb, armed herself and joined the klephts. Twelve years she led them and no man ever [...]
Όλες οι καπετάνισσες ⬥ All the captains’ women went and bowed down before Ali Pasha, before the vezir, but Leni, Bótsaris’ Leni, will not bow her head. ‘I will not bow down, Ali Pasha, not before you vezir, I am Leni, I am Bótsaris’ wife’. Translated by Michael Eleftheriou Photo: [...]
Τ’ Αντρούτσου η μάνα ⬥ Androutsos’ mother is glad, Androutsos’ mother is glad and Diakos’ proud For they have warriors and captains for sons who set the Turks to flight, spahis1 and janissaries,2 one at the Inn of Graviá, the other at Alamana. Translated by Michael Eleftheriou 1spahis: a cavalryman [...]
Στη βρύση στα Τσερίτσιανα ⬥ At the well of Tserítsiana, in the heart of the land, hail fine fellows, there were Bulubasiades watching. There were Bulubasiades and there were Margaritiotes. And they watched the Souliots waging war [how children fought, and women like their menfolk], how Tzavelas’ wife fought like [...]
Σαράντα κλέφτες είμαστε ⬥ Forty klephts are we, forty brave young lads and we swore an oath upon the Cross. And we swore an oath upon the Cross and another before the Virgin, if one of us should e’er fall sick, we would all stay at his side. No sooner [...]
Θρήνος μεγάλος έγινε ⬥ Great sorrow was expressed in Mesolonghi town; for they are taking Markos to the church, my lads. They’re taking Markos to the church for burial; sixty priests walk on ahead. A wind disturbs the branches of the broad-leaved trees. Good Lord preserve from harm Greek children [...]
Εσείς βουνά του Γρεβενού ⬥ Hey mountains of Grevená, hey mountain pine of Métsovo, can’t you dip a little lower. Dip two rifle shots so we can see Grevená, and much-lauded Spílio, see how Ziakas is battling the Turks. The shells fall like rain and the bombs like hail, and [...]
Εψές προψές επέρναγα ⬥ I was over by Piana, up high, a day or two ago and, lads, who did I hear but the old man of the Moriá. And I hear the old man of the Moriá, old Thodorakis telling his fine lads, telling them ‘Listen up, autumn’s done [...]
Με γέλασαν μια χαραυγή ⬥ Studio recording, 1968. Released in 1968, in the LP Songs of Central Greece and Peloponnese (Fidelity 4012 PY, 1968) supervised by Domna Samiou.
Κατσαντώνης ⬥ Hail, high mountains and you, low hills, hail dear Katsantonis and you, low-lying hills, my captain hail. And you Tzoumerka and Ágrafa, brave warriors’ lairs. Ne’er say they captured me, for ’twas by treachery and guile they found me, laid out sick and unarmed upon my bed. Translated [...]
Κατσαντώνης ⬥ Hail, high mountains and you, low hills, hail dear Katsantónis and you, low-lying hills, my captain hail. And you Tzoumérka and Ágrafa, brave warriors' lairs. Ne'er say they captured me, for 'twas by treachery and guile they found me, laid out sick and unarmed upon my bed. Translated [...]
Του Κίτσου η μάνα ⬥ Kitsos’ mother sat on the river bank scolding the river. Scolding the river and pelting it with stones. ‘River flow less, river turn back so I can cross you, cross to the klepht villages where the klephts are meeting, every captain there’. They’ve caught Kitsos, [...]
Στα Τρίκορφα μες στην κορφή ⬥ ’Tis on Tríkorfa, up on the peak that Kolokotronis is fighting, and ’tis on Tríkorfa, high on the ridge that the blood flows in rivers. Kolokotronis yelled and the whole world trembled, he shouts to Nikitarás and strikes fear in Turkish hearts. Translated by [...]
Στα Τρίκορφα μες στην κορφή ⬥ On Tríkorfa1, up on its highest peak Kolokotronis yells his orders, on Tríkorfa, high up on the ridge, the blood flows in rivers. Kolokotronis yelled and the whole world trembled, Thodorís yells, and his troops obey. Where are you Nikitarás, with the wings upon [...]
Σαμαρίνα ⬥ Hey, you young klephts, you sons of Samarina, if you go up to the mountains, the Samarina way [don’t fire off shots, don’t belt out songs]. And if my mum and cunning sister ask you don’t tell them I got killed and that I am dead, just tell [...]
Αρκαδιανή ⬥ Who saw, hail Arcadian lass, who saw the girl from Arcadia, dear Arcadian lass, decked out in klephtic garb? Twelve years she fought with the klephts. Not one of them knew she was a girl till one Easter, one feasting Sunday, the klephts came to the dance and tossed [...]
Λάμπουν τα χιόνια στα βουνά ⬥ The snow, moré, the snow shines white on the mountain tops and the sun shines in the gullies. That’s how, moré, that’s how our brave klephts shine. The Kolokotronis clan, moré, who ne’er deign to set foot upon the ground. They eat their bread astride their steeds, [...]
Τ’ έχεις καημένε πλάτανε ⬥ What ails you, poor plane-tree? Your roots draw water, amán, your roots draw well, yet you stand there limp, your roots drink their fill, yet your leaves hang lifeless. My children, you have asked so I shall tell. Ali Pasha passed this way with eighteen [...]
Τ' έχεις καημένε πλάτανε ⬥ What ails you, poor plane-tree? Your roots draw water, amán, your roots draw well, yet you stand there limp, your roots drink their fill, yet your leaves hang lifeless. My children, you have asked so I shall tell. Ali Pasha passed this way with eighteen [...]
Παιδιά μ’ σαν θέλτε λεβεντιά ⬥ When you dream of brave deeds, my black-fated sons, when you dream of bravery, of taking to the hills, ask me first about a klepht’s hard life. For a captain I was o’er twelve long years. And ’twas battles all day and watch all [...]
