Βλάχα πλένει στο ποτάμι ⬥ Studio recording, 1984. After a superb introduction on the clarinet, the song is constructed around a series of questions without answers; we will never know the real reasons for the sadness of this peasant woman ‘washing by the river’.
Όλες οι καπετάνισσες ⬥ All the captains’ women went and bowed down before Ali Pasha, before the vezir, but Leni, Botsaris’ Leni, will not bow her head. – I will not bow down, Ali Pasha, not before you, vezir, I am Leni, I am Botsaris’ wife. Translated by Michael Eleftheriou [...]
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 [...]
Δεροπολίτισα ⬥ Not available. Text in French follows: Femme de Déropolis eh, femme de Déropolis, toi qu'on jalouse, Avec des cierges et des bougies, ma pauvre Incline-toi aussi pour nous,… Pour nous autres Chrétiens,… Pour que les Turcs ne nous égorgent pas,… Comme des agneaux de Pâques,…
Αφήνω γεια στις έμορφες ⬥ Studio recording, 1968. Released in 1968, in the LP Songs of Central Greece and Peloponnese (Fidelity 4012 PY, 1968) supervised by Domna Samiou. Later, in 2008, Yiorgos Tsambras included the track in the CD collection Mousiko Odiporiko 1959-1969.
Αλησμονώ και χαίρομαι ⬥ Forgetful I am truly glad but mindful I am saddened; remembering those foreign lands, I want to set out for them. "Get up, good mother, knead some dough, bake fresh rusks for my journey". Aggrieved she pours the water in, she kneads with tears a-plenty; with [...]
Αλησμονώ και χαίρομαι ⬥ Forgetful I am truly glad, but mindful I am saddened; remembering those foreign lands, I want to set out for them. – Get up, good mother, knead some dough, bake fresh rusks for my journey. Aggrieved she pours the water in, she kneads with tears a-plenty; [...]
Τα τέσσερα, τα πέντε, τα εννιάδερφα ⬥ Four brothers five brothers nine, eighteen cousins, none destined to grow to man’s estate were by royal command to go and fight twelve long years in the wars. When they whet their swords, the sea glistens, when their staffs clash, the mountains tremble. [...]
Ο Γιάννος και η Βαγγελιώ ⬥ Giannos and Vangelio went to the same school, Giannos to learn to read and write, Vangelio to sing. Giannos fell in love and would take her for his wife. – Mother, I have something, something I must share, I love Vangelio and would take [...]
Forgetful I am truly glad, but mindful I am saddened; remembering those foreign lands, I want to set out for them. – Get up, good mother, knead some dough, bake fresh rusks for my journey. Aggrieved she pours the water in, she kneads with tears a-plenty; with heavy heart she [...]
Πώς το τρίβουν το πιπέρι ⬥ How do they grind, good shepherdess, how do they grind the pepper, how do they grind the pepper, those diabolic monks? With the knee, good shepherdess, they grind it with the knee, with the knee they grind it, and they grind it fine. Ho there! Arise, intrepid lads, [...]
Πώς το τρίβουν το πιπέρι ⬥ How do they grind, good shepherdess, how do they grind the pepper, how do they grind the pepper, those diabolic monks? With the knee, good shepherdess, they grind it with the knee, with the knee they grind it, and they grind it fine. Ho [...]
Βασιλικός θα γίνω ⬥ I’ll be the basil by your window, I’ll stay unwed for your sake. Come, come to me and I’ll fill you with glee. Come to the window, not a word to your mum, mid pretend to water your marjoram. By the end of July with you [...]
Γιάννη μου το μαντίλι σου ⬥ Your kerchief, Yanni, dearest love, why is it soiled and dirty? Come, Yanno, come, Yannaki dear, come now my handsome fellow. T'was soiled while I was far from home, in distant lonely places. Come, Yanno, come, Yannaki dear, come now my handsome fellow. Five [...]
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 [...]
