A Young Lad

A Soldier and a Tree

Στρατιώτης και δεντρί

00:00

Lyrics

A young man, a fine young lad
went off in search of a castle, Greek lass of mine.
And though he found no castles and no villages to stay in,
he found a tree, Greek lass of mine.
– Oh, tree of mine, dear cypress so tall,
where am I to stay, where am I to spend the night?
– Here’s my root to tether your steed,
here are my branches, hang up your arms,
and here’s my shadow.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

Original Lyrics

Ένας άγουρος

Ν-ένας άγουρος κι έν’ άξιον παλληκάρι
κάστρα γύ- κάστρα γύριβι, Ρωμιοπού- Ρωμιοπούλα μου.
Κάστρα κι αν δεν βρει, χουριά να πάει να μείνει,
βρίσκ' ένα, βρίσκ' ένα δεντρί, Ρωμιοπού- Ρωμιοπούλα μου.
– Ν-αχ δεντρίτσι μου, ψηλό μου κυπαρίσσι,
πού να μείνω ιγώ και πού να ξιβραδιάσω;
– Να κι η ρίζα μου κι δέσι τ' άλογό σου,
να κι οι κλώνοι μου, σκάλωσι τ' άρματά σου,
να κι ο ίσκιος μου.

Region: Thrace
Category: Acritic Song
Rhythm: 6 beats
Dance: Zonaradikos
Duration: 02:28

Recording information

Based on Domna Samiou’s field recording in 1976 in Paliouri, Evros, along with others she made for Greek State Television, as part of the programme Musical Travelogue with Domna Samiou – Thrace, Evros.

Credits

See also