Μια κόρη τ’ απεφάσισε ⬥ A maid decided to join the klephts and set fire, vr’ aman och aman, 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 [...]
Όλα τα πουλάκια ζυγά-ζυγά ⬥ All the birds, aman aman, the birds nest two by two, all the birds, two by two, the swallow with his mate. The lonesome nightingale all alone awanders the plains with the eagle. Walking, talking and singing away. – Hey you, peddler, from Missolonghi, Where [...]
Όλα τα κάστρα τα είδα ⬥ All the castles I have seen, not one have I not visited, vr’ aman aman, not one have I not visited, oh maid Frankish, maiden Greek. But like Beauty’s Castle I have seen no other, frankish maid in the Frankish gown. With silver doors [...]
Όλοι τον ήλιο τον τηρούν ⬥ All turn their gaze upon the sun that’s on the point of setting, and yet the girl who’s sore at heart is looking out to seaward. She sees some ships approach the shore, some boats that make towards it. – Good mother, look, four [...]
Το γιαλό γιαλό πηγαίνω ⬥ I’m heading along the shore – say it, little ones, to find my love – say it like I do. But I went and found her – say it, little ones, sat at a silver loom – say it like I do. I spoke to [...]
Φώτα το φεγγαράκι μου ⬥ – Come on beam, dear moon, shine, moon dear, and light the way to my love. Beam high and low, for it’s muddy and wet; beam still lower, so I can go still quicker. – So I can shine till morning comes. Wheresoever love is, [...]
Έβγα ήλιε μ' έβγα ⬥ Come out, my sun, come out, come out, my sun, come out just a little. Come out, my sun, come out just a little so we can take a turn around the garden. Skittish, skittish thing so small and playful. So I can find a [...]
Κάτω στον κάμπο τον πλατύ ⬥ Down in the open countryside – why, down there, don’t you see? down there, where all those flowers are blooming, that’s where the fair-haired –dear Irene–, that’s where the fair are gathered. That’s where the fair-haired girls are gathered to build a monastery. The doves bring in [...]
Γιώργη βαράν τα σήμαντρα ⬥ Giorgi, they’re ringing the bells. So, Giorgi, get yourself off to church get yourself off to church to take communion. – Mother, I sinned when serving as a soldier. They’d all tethered their mounts in a green meadow, but I went and tethered mine to [...]
Ούλες οι χώρες χαίρουνται ⬥ Joy and celebrations across the land but Náfplion, my Náfplion, why are you not joyous? Why no scenes of joy, no celebrations? What cause for joy have I, what grounds for celebration? The Prince pounds me from the land, Boumboulina from the sea. Náfplion, hand [...]
Τί τον(ε) ζηλεύεις Βέργω μ' ⬥ Studio recording, 2006. Domna Samiou taped the song in Livadi district of Pera Melana Kynouria, Arcadia, sung by Dimos Aneziris, in 1972.
Χαρά που το ‘χουν τα βουνά ⬥ Hey, how joyous are the mountains, how joyous the mountains and proud the plains. The Virgin is celebrating today, and the nation with her, at the sight of deacons with swords and priests with muskets, at the sight of Germanós, the bishop of [...]
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 [...]
Να ’χα νεράντζι να ’ριχνα ⬥ If I had an bitter orange, moré, I’d throw it at the window opposite. Sweet Rhodo1, I’d send that vase a-crashing. I’d smash that vase, moré the blooming vase all blossom, all blooms and sugar, sweet maid of Rhodes, all blooms and sugar and [...]
Να ‘χα νεράντζι να ‘ριχνα ⬥ If I had an bitter orange, moré, I’d throw it at the window opposite. Sweet Rhodo1, I’d send that vase a-crashing. I’d smash that vase, moré the blooming vase all blossom, all blooms and sugar, sweet maid of Rhodes, all blooms and sugar and [...]
Περιβόλι ν-είχα η πάπια ⬥ If I had an orchard, an orchard studded with bitter oranges. Studded with bitter oranges, bitter oranges all covered in blossom. And in underneath the blossom, a partridge asleep enjoying the cooling shade. Her wings drooping in the cool, her golden down. Translated by Michael [...]
