An Orange Joined the Dance

Έπιασε πάλι τον χορό

00:00

Lyrics

The beautiful orange
joined the dance once more,
and its one side smelt just as sweet as the other.
The beautiful cypress joined the dance once more,
and its branches stretched out to East and West.
Basil up ahead, violet behind
and on the breeze the scent of jasmine.
Apple-cheeked girl with the dimple in your chin,
just one look from you leaves my head in a spin.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

Original Lyrics

Έπιασε πάλι τον χορό

Έπια- μα έπιασε πάλι στον χορό
έπιασε πάλι στον χορό τ’ όμορφο πορτοκάλι
και μύρισε κι η μια μεριά και μύρισε κι η άλλη.
Έπιασε πάλι στον χορό τ’ όμορφο κυπαρίσσι,
ν-όπου κρατούν οι κλώνοι του σ’ Ανατολή και Δύση.
Ομπρός ομπρός βασιλικός και παραπίσω βιόλα
και παραπίσω γιασεμί άπου μυρίζει απ’ όλα.
Στρογγυλομηλοπρόσωπη, λακουβοπιγουνάτη,
την πέτρα σκίζεις κάνεις δυο με το δεξί σου μάτι.

Region: Ionian islands
Area: Kythira, Livadi
Type: Couplets
Category: Love Song
Rhythm: 2 beats
Dance: Local dance
Duration: 02:50

Recording information

Studio recording (2005). Based on Domna Samiou’s field recording in 1975, in Livadi, Kythira, sung by the sisters Christina and Kyparisoula Kasimati.

Credits

Katerina Papadopoulou

Singers

Nikos Oikonomidis

Violin

Kostas Philippidis

Lute

Kyparissoula Kasimati

Informant (source of the song)

Christina Kasimati

Informant (source of the song)

Discography

The Great North Wind and Other Traditional Songs for Children

See also

  • SongAsia MinorErythraea, MeliLove SongCouplets

The Water of Life

(Olmaz)

  • Από τα γλυκά σου μάτια ⬥ The water of Life flows from your sweet eyes. I asked you for a little but you didn’t give me any to drink. Impossible, my duck, impossible, you are doing your best to kill me. I told you not to tempt me and leave [...]
  • SongAsia MinorErythraea, AlatsataLove SongCouplets

Yatzilariani

  • Γιατζιλαριανή ⬥ I brought you a Good Evening, give me a Good Night I had no business here, I came only for you. Come out that I may see you and be comforted. Your eyes have burnt me, yet they are my joy and pride, if I don’t see them [...]
  • SongPropontisBithynia, MichalitsiLove SongCouplets

Roumbalia – Carnation

  • Ρουμπαλιά, γαρουφαλιά ⬥ Who has seen a love-sick youth and a thief of love? Roumbalia,1 carnation, birds circle around you. He wakes up with sighs and lies down with moans. My Roumbalia from Chios, I saw you yesterday and languished. Although I make bed and lie, your eyes prevent my [...]
  • SongAsia MinorErythraea, AlatsataLove SongCouplets

Yioryitsa

  • Γιωργίτσα ⬥ I intended to love you, my Yioryítsa, and nobody to know of it. Now our own people learn of it, my Yioryítsa, strangers too learned of it. Come, Yiúla, Yiúla, Yiúla, come, take me, open your tow arms, put me inside. The jasmine at your door has blossomed [...]
  • SongAsia MinorErythraea, MeliLove SongCouplets

Dimitroula

  • Δημητρούλα ⬥ You dance, my spoilt one, but I don't know who are you, from your stature you seem, scampish perivolaria, to be of noble birth. Go on, yiála, yiála, Dimitroúla! You didn't do well to shame me again in this neighbourhood. You dance, my spoilt one, and your father [...]