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Με μήνυσε μια αρχόντισσα
A noble lady summoned me, a blue-eyed noble lady
she summoned me to go to her, her wealth in Kalamata lies
she summoned me to dine with her, and kiss her black-blue eyes.
She brought out golden cutleries, she set a table for kings
and then she brings a golden quilt -a golden quilt she brings.
And I embraced the lady and she was like a log,
she was lifeless and so cold,
Oh God, quickly make the day break, quickly this night unfold.
A poor maiden asked me to go to her, she asked me to go join her,
she asked me to go dine with her and kiss her black-blue eyes.
She laid down a dirty rag -a dirty rag she laid down to lie on it
and then she brought a shabby quilt -a shabby quilt she brought.
And I embraced this poor girl and she was so much full of warmth,
she was a piece of living gold,
Oh God, please, don’t let the daylight in, slowly this night unfold.
Translated by Olia Petidou
Mε μήνυσε μια αρχόντισσα, γαλανή γαλαζιανή,
με μήνυσε μια αρχόντισσα, κόρη Καλαματιανή,
να πάω να δειπνήσω, μαύρα μάτια να φιλήσω.
Μι στρώνει στρώσις δώδεκα κι ένα χρυσό παπλώμα,
πέφτ’ αγκαλιάζω κούτσουρο, Θε μου ξημέρωσέ με.
Mε κάλεσε και μια φτωχή να πάω να δειπνήσω.
Μι στρώνει μια παλιόψαθα κι ένα παλιό παπλώμα,
πέφτ’ αγκαλιάζω μάλαμα, Θε μου μην ξημερώσεις.
I first heard that song at the time I worked for the Greek Radio in Athens. We received a tape from Thessaloniki with this song for broadcasting. It is a Macedonian syrtos dance, sung by Dimitris Vagias, an Epirot singer (Domna Samiou, 1972).
Studio recording, 1972.
Singers
