Βάγιες μου, Βαγίτσες μου ⬥ Come, Holy Virgin, come along and see these women bearing palms, good women bearing palms, good souls, bend down a little way [so I may cut a sprig or two, to give to Christ our Lord]. Come, Holy Virgin, come along and see these women [...]
Εσείς βουνά του Γρεβενού ⬥ Hey, mountains of Grevena, hey, mountain pine of Metsovo, can’t you dip a little lower? Dip two rifle shots so we can see Grevena, and much-lauded Spilio, see how Ziakas is battling the Turks. The shells fall like rain and the bombs like hail, and [...]
Αφήνω γεια στη γειτονιά ⬥ Studio recording (1986). Based on Domna Samiou's 1972 field recording of the song in Ierissos, Chalkidiki, sung by Yannis Tsirigotis, Yiorgos Tzitzos, Nikos Partheniotis and Yannis Migdis. It is sung in mainland Greece and the Peloponnese at the moment when the bride leaves her family [...]
Αφήνω γεια στη γειτονιά ⬥ Studio recording (2008). Based on Domna Samiou's 1972 field recording of the song in Ierissos, Chalkidiki, sung by Yannis Tsirigotis, Yiorgos Tzitzos, Nikos Partheniotis and Yannis Migdis. It is sung in mainland Greece and the Peloponnese at the moment when the bride leaves her family [...]
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 [...]
Απ’ τα κάγκελα θα πέσω ⬥ I’ll jump from the railings, I’ll fall to my death and my love calls out “For the love of God, catch him!” You’re white as snow, red as fire, like the marbles in Agia Sophia, in Constantinople. Translated by Michael Eleftheriou
Άσπρο τραντάφυλλο φορώ ⬥ I’m wearing a white rose I am, I dearly wish to dye it and if I’m lucky with the dyes, how many hearts I’ll kindle. I’ll kindle lasses young and old, I’ll kindle stalwart laddies, I’ll kindle even a young priest, so he’ll lose the Gospel-book. [...]
Ήρθ’ ου Λάζαρους ⬥ It is the feast of Lazarus, the feast of Palms is nigh. – Where were you, Lazarus, where did you hide yourself? – Why, I was in the tomb, entombed within the earth. Give me, give me cool spring water, my mouth is full of bitter [...]
Πουλάκι είχα στο κλουβί ⬥ A little bird I had in a cage, by Saint Paraskevi a sweet-smelling creature with the sweetest nature. I fed her sugar – for you, sweet thankless maid, and I fed her honey – for you, my snow princess. And what with all the sugar, [...]
Άσπρο πουλάκι κάθεται ⬥ There sits my little white bird, my fair white bird, sitting on a green branch. A white bird sitting on a green branch grooming its plumage and its love, says, – My summer love, if only I had you for winter, too: in the summer for [...]
Στου Μαυριανού τ’ αλώνι ⬥ At Mavrianos' marble threshing floor a king and a youth are contesting throwing heavy stones, no one can throw them like Yannakis, like Yannis, Andronikos' son. The Sun and Yannakis make a wager about who'll get back to his mother first. The Sun leapt over [...]
Μουσταμπέικο ⬥ From the region of Naoussa, Macedonia, danced during the Carnival period, in "Boules" custom which, according to the old Byzantine tradition, celebrated in Macedonia during the Twelve Days of Christmas. Recorded in 1975.
Με μήνυσε η αγάπη μου ⬥ My love has sent for me, she’s my heart’s desire, to go to her and kiss her. Shine, dear moon, shine upon her, so I may go and kiss her, o brightly shining moon. But I’m a stranger, at a loss, I do not [...]
Η αγάπη μου παντρεύεται ⬥ Studio recording, 1986. Domna Samiou taped the song in Ierissos, Chalkidiki, sung by Yannis Tsirigotis, Eleni Tsirigoti, Alexandra Roumelianaki, Yiorgos Tzitzos and Yannis Migdis, in 1972.
Η αγάπη μου παντρεύεται ⬥ My love is to wed and marry my rival, but it’s not that that pains me so, it pains me that she's asked me to be their best man. Father, if you are a Christian and know anything of love take these marriage-wreathes from them, [...]
Nine villages of ours they razed amán amán, and fifteen castles. Amán, come see the body you torture. And they took Náoussa, amán amán, the head village hearabouts. Amán, morning star, why so late in rising? An apple, amán, and another, amán night's here, but where can I sleep? They took [...]
Άκουσ’ ισύ προυτουσυρτή ⬥ Now hear me, you who leads the dance and you who twists and tangles direct the dance along a course resembling reeds a-swaying. I’ll spot the girls both tall and slim, and her whom I’m in love with, and him who has her by the hand, [...]
Γι’ ακούσατε τι θα σας πω ♦ Explicit song from Macedonia. Live recording from the concert "Carnival songs with Domna Samiou", held on March 4, 2003 at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall.
Η ομορφούλα ⬥ A local dance from Florina, Macedonia, in 4/4 meter. Traditionally, it is played and danced mainly at wedding celebrations. Recorded in 1974.
