Ένα καράβι κρητικό ⬥ – A Cretan ship, nor large nor small, just two and forty cubits long, brought me to strange and unknown lands. – O alien, exiled far from home, you walk in strange and unknown lands. – T’was here what I did take to wife a Frankish [...]
Κόρη ξανθή τραγούδησε ⬥ A fair maid did sing upon a rope bridge, but the bridge collapsed, and the river stood still. And the river spirit came to her and asked: – Girl, if you are still a maid, may you never know a man, and if you’ve children and [...]
Μια κόρη Τρικεριώτισσα ⬥ A fair Trikeriotissa, a comely Trikeri girl, is mistress of a silver loom that has an ivory heddle. As she spooled threads on reels of reed and softly sang a ballad, her goodman rode up to her door astride a coal-black stallion. – A greeting to [...]
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 [...]
Μια μάνα έχει ένα γιο ⬥ A mother has a son, the apple of her eye, and the neighbourhood would have him, ’tis a wonder the very mountains do not crumble, and Roula, a priest’s daughter, desired him, too. His mother would have him, the bitch that nursed him would [...]
Αρχοντογιός παντρεύεται ⬥ A prince is to be wed to a dark-eyed bride whose folk sought refuge here. His bride-to-be’s from uprooted stock, little refugee I weep for thee. When his mother heard the news she uprooted trees, dearest dark-eyed maid, she uprooted trees, uprooted maid I weep for thee. [...]
Γραμματικός ηκάθουνταν ⬥ A teacher seated himself down upon a block of marble and started writing with his pen, and knocked his ink-well over, the ink could not but stain his clothes, which were gold-thread embroidered. The waters of nine rivers failed to wash away the blotches. Why, open up, [...]
Σεργιάνι 'ναι στη Σεργιανή ⬥ Studio recording (1986). Based on Simon Karas' recording which belongs to the Association for the Dissemination of Greek National Music.
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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, [...]
Ακούς τους μύλους ⬥ D’you hear the water-mills that pound, and how the waters roar? We two do love each other well, so let the people clamour. I come to meet you by the wall, but do not find you waiting there. What’s up with you, my pretty dove, your [...]