Ναυτόπουλο ψυχομαχεί ⬥ I heard the shouting and the cries, they filled the Cyprus straits. I thought they must be slaughtering bulls or taming some wild beasts; I thought the Turks were making war upon the Frankish foe, but they weren’t slaughtering any bulls, nor taming some wild beasts, nor [...]
Όλοι πάνε στην εκκλησά ⬥ All attend –for sake of Christ– all attend at church to exclaim that ‘Christ is Risen!’ and to hear the Word. As for me, they send me to the shore to guard some sailing vessels. I can see some sailing ships approach and boats are [...]
Δίστιχα της θάλασσας ⬥ The sea is humble and resigned, the wind disturbs its calm, a mother bears and rears her child, a stranger will embrace it. The sea waves pound upon the sand, I love you, what am I to do? The sea’s my mother, I have none other, [...]
Βαρέθηκα μανούλα μου ⬥ Dear mother, I am awfully tired of gazing out to sea, to sea, of gazing out to sea, to sea of asking the postman if I’ve got, if I’ve got a letter, a letter, and receiving no letter, no letter. Oh, how I wished you were the sea and [...]
Ντιρλαντά ⬥ Studio recording, in 1966. Released in 45 rpm disc (Fidelity 7375, 1966) supervised by Domna Samiou. Song of sponge-fishermen of Kalymnos with impromptu satiric verses.
Ο μισεμός είναι καημός ⬥ Exile is the greatest hardship, the parting so upsetting but oh, that greeting “Welcome home”, oh that Maroúli,1 is bliss. The diver’s air-pump is my mother, the winding winch my sister and on my mate upon the deck2 my very life depends. For you, I [...]
Το Μαρούλι ⬥ Exile is the greatest hardship, the parting so upsetting but oh, that greeting “Welcome home”, oh that Maroúli,1 is bliss. The diver's air-pump is my mother, the winding winch my sister and on my mate upon the deck2 my very life depends. For you, I wear the diving-suit, and [...]
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 [...]
Ηπούλησα τη βάρκα μου ⬥ In Saloniki I sold my boat but when I got home to Chios, I didn’t have a groat. Heave ho once, man the sails Heave ho twice, to the village Heave ho thrice, maid come to see my face. Off Diachori our nets we cast, [...]
Να τα ταξιδέψω θέλω ⬥ I would sail away I would, eri pali in Attaleia’s waters yea, eri pali, with the vessels from Psara, who have sailors true and fine, who have sailors fine and hearty and who port aboard the sails, leaping into fire and gales ’said to thee I’m [...]
Όλους τους μήνες τους θέλω ⬥ I want to savour all the months, I want to know them all, but oh , not March, I can’t abide the dreadful month of March. The month of March I would forget, the month of sad good-byes. It crews and rings sponge-fishing boats [...]
Σε καινούργια βάρκα μπήκα ⬥ I went aboard a boat but newly built, aboard a boat but newly built, and landed at Michalitsi. I sought the seaman, strong and bold, who’d been out fishing for a catch. – Good fishers, have you any fish, some lobsters and some squid maybe? [...]
Σε καινούργια βάρκα μπήκα ⬥ I went aboard a boat but newly built, aboard a boat but newly built, and landed at St George. I sought the seaman, strong and bold, who’d been out fishing for a catch. – Good fishers, have you any fish, some lobsters and some squid [...]
Όλους τους μήνες τους θέλω ⬥ I wish for all the months in turn, await them all with longing, but not, o not, the month of March when folks embark on travel. That month fits galleys out for sea and slips a vessel’s moorings. My husband also makes to go, [...]
Πάνω σ’ βουνί θε ν’ ανεβώ ⬥ I wish to climb, I wish to climb, to climb a mountain height Roidou, sweet Roidou, dear, to breast a marble height. Oh, gather balsam sprigs –let go!, and fragrant boughs– let go! I wish I could sweep the sea, that ships might [...]
Κακλαμάνικο ⬥ The dance is danced by Kaklamans, a pumpkin serves as drum1. In Trikeri’s old neighbourhood the Kaklamans were dancing. They sang a song: o Kaklaman, your wife has given birth. What did she have? A boy. When shall I see him? In the bow. When shall I see [...]
Καράβι καραβάκι ⬥ Little ship, where are you going shore to shore, come out so I can see you You’ve cast a spell on me and I am mad about you, your sister’s put a spell on me and I am mad about you. with red flag and golden cross, come out [...]
Ανάμεσα Τσιρίγο ⬥ Between Tsirigo and Cape Maleas, Virgin Mother, a ship is fighting for its life with all its cargo, too. Wave-buffeted and sailing to and fro, Virgin Mother, searching for a haven that isn’t to be had. Help us come through this alive, Sweet Virgin, and we’ll light [...]
Ηθέλησεν ο κυρ Βοριάς ⬥ Oh yes, indeed did Boreas, Master North Wind, truly wish, Master North Wind, truly wish indeed to blow with gale force strength. He issued urgent warnings dire to every port and haven: – Secure your warps and anchors, ships, for I desire to blow, and [...]
Η τράτα μας η κουρελού ⬥ Our fishing-boat a battered hulk, we cobbled it together, we patched it up a thousand times, it stayed a ragged sight. Our fishing-boat, an ugly tub , had neither sails nor sweeps. Cast off, cast off and pull away! Take me along with you. [...]
Η τράτα μας η κουρελού ⬥ Our battered old boat and its tattered old nets patched over and over and yet always torn. Our old boat needs sails, Our old boat needs oars If mum only knew that I worked on that boat, she’d send me my clothes and my [...]
Σελίμ ⬥ Our boat is rigged, élessa-yialéssa, and goes to cast nets, elessa-yialessa. Élli, yiamóli, yiássa, íssa, hó! Vré háide, vré hoúide, tsalapalatsíngo! We cast our nets at Kerassia*, élessa-yialéssa, and drew three thousand, élessa-yialéssa. We took them to Marmara, élessa-yialéssa, and we made money, élessa-yialéssa. *village on the Thracian [...]
Μια κόρη από την Αμοργό ⬥ She’s a girl from Amorgos, ribbon, o my ribbon! she wants to go out to sea, braided, ribbon mine! But how? She cannot go to sea, she cannot use an oar. She pays three hundred florins down, the passage costs her that, and then she gives [...]
