Η θάλασσα με δέρνει ⬥ The sea pounds me, the sea pounds me, the waves lash me. And a great fish… And a great fish is feasting on me. Alas, curly-headed basil I’ve lost my heart to you. There’s no counting the fish in the sea, and no believing the [...]
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, [...]
Μέσα στην κούνια κάθεται ⬥ The girl is sitting on the swing, no dove was ever prettier, spreads and flaps her pure white wings, and fans the air around us. Now stir yourself and bend your limbs to make your blossom scatter, to wither up your cruel heart and cause [...]
Ήρθεν η ώρα η καλή ⬥ Studio recording 2008. Based on the recordings made by Nikos Karageorgiou, in 1982, in Nea Makri, Attica, and the instructions of Domna Samiou.
Του μικρού βλαχόπουλου ⬥ Young Kostantinos and brave Alexis and the young Vlach who fought in castles the three were eating and drinking and sweetly singing all together, and had their horses tied together to the same block of wood. Kostantinos' horse ate iron, Alexis' horse ate rocks and the [...]
Σήμερα Γιώργη μ’ Πασχαλιά ⬥ Today, dear George, is Easter Day, my dearest George, my dearest George, Today’s a major holiday, my dearest George, my handsome boy. Today young men dress in their best, and join the promenade. But you, dear George, did not show up, to join the promenade. [...]
Απάνω στην τριανταφυλλιά ⬥ The partridge built her nest amàn amàn, high up upon the rose-bush And the startled partridge started, and the roses to the ground did fall. The neighbours heard the news, the fine ladies of Pàtras, picked up their baskets and went a-gathering, to make wreathes of [...]
Τραγούδι της πομπής του γάμου ⬥ Transcription of the original 78 rpm recording of 1930 by Melpo Merlier. The bride sang this song while she was led from home to church for her wedding. While singing it both she and her family used to cry.
Τ’ έχεις καημένε Παρνασσέ ⬥ What ails you, poor Parnassós, what ails you that you stand there sadly. Are your snows not deep, are your streams not fresh? ’Tis’ not my snows, for they are deep, nor my streams, for they run fresh. ’Tis Dístomo, whose folk they slaughtered, ’tis [...]
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 [...]
Σαν πας πουλί μ’ στην ξενιτιά ⬥ When you go off abroad, my love, go off to foreign places, just see you don't remain six months, and don't you linger years there. Go, gallivant around the world and with the folks that's in it, and if you find like me, [...]
Χειμώνας κι ο χινόπωρος ⬥ Winter and… winter and autumn… winter and autumn eat and drink at the same table. They called for spring to join them, but she said ‘no’. ‘Don’t be proud, flower-decked spring; The reaper will have them all, he’ll scorch the lot.’ Translated by Michael Eleftheriou
Εσείς τριανταφυλλάκια μου ⬥ You, my little roses you my little roses and you my herbs, my tormentors… ’Twas you lulled me to sleep when my love upped and left, so delicate yet so fulsome. I take to the mountains to search and ask the hills, to implore God on [...]
Τα Τσαμόπουλα ⬥ Studio recording, 1968. Released in 1968, in the LP Songs of Central Greece and Peloponnese (Fidelity 4012 PY, 1968) supervised by Domna Samiou.
Και μια φορά ’ναι η λεβεντιά ⬥ Studio recording, 1968. Released in 1968, in the LP Songs of Central Greece and Peloponnese (Fidelity 4012 PY, 1968) supervised by Domna Samiou.
