Damn You Oh Smyrna

Ανάθεμά σε Σμύρνη

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Original Lyrics

Ανάθεμά σε Σμύρνη

Ανάθεμά σε Σμύρνη, τη σκάλα π’ άνοιξες
που ήλθε το πουλί μου και με τ’ αφάνισες
Ο ξένος απ’ τα ξένα, ποτέ δε γύρισε
βασιλικός π’ ανθίζει, κανείς δε μύρισε

Θεέ δε με λυπάσαι, καρδιά που ράγισε
το Χάρο στείλε μού τον, την πόρτα σφράγισε
Γράφω χαρτί σε στέλνω, με αίμα γράφω το
και με τα φυλλοκάρδια, το κλειώ και μάθε το

Region: Asia Minor
Area: Smyrna
Rhythm: 9 beats
Dance: Karsilamas

Recording information

Studio recording, 2002. Collected in Smyrna by Nikólaos B. Phardýs, at the end of the 19th century (Markos Ph. Dragoumis, 85 Demotic Melodies from the manuscripts of Nikólaos Phardýs, Music Folklore Archive, Athens 1991, no 79, p. 103).

Credits

Thanassis Moraitis

Singers

Socrates Sinopoulos

Constantinopolitan lyra

Panos Dimitrakopoulos

Kanun

Socrates Sinopoulos

Constantinopolitan lute

Kyriakos Tapakis

Lute

Kostas Meretakis

Goblet drum

Kostas Meretakis

Bendir (frame drum)

Discography

In the Middle of the Sea

See also

  • SongAsia MinorLove SongCouplets

Like the Marble of the City (Constantinople)

  • Σαν τα μάρμαρα της Πόλης ⬥ Like the marble slabs that stand in St. Sophia so well-matched and symmetrical are your eyebrows, eyes and hair. I have decided to become a dome in St. Sophia for fair girls and for dark ones to come and worship there. Translated by Mania Seferiades
  • SongCappadocia / KonyaKonya, SilleInstrumental

Karsilamas Dance – Tsift

  • Αντικρυστός χορός – Τσιφτ ⬥ The tune is known also as 'tsift'. The kanun master Nikos Stefanidis taught this tune to Domna Samiou and her musicians. Recorded in 1991.
  • 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 [...]
  • 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 [...]