Forgetful, I Am Truly Glad

Αλησμονώ και χαίρομαι

00:00

Lyrics

Forgetful I am truly glad but mindful I am saddened;
remembering those foreign lands, I want to set out for them.
"Get up, good mother, knead some dough, bake fresh rusks for my journey".
Aggrieved she pours the water in, she kneads with tears a-plenty;
with a heavy heart, she lights the fire to heat the baking oven.
"O oven, bide your time to heat, and you, o loaf, to finish;
just let the caravaneer go past, my son must then remain here".

Translated by John Leatham

Original Lyrics

Αλησμονώ και χαίρομαι

Aλησμονώ και χαίρομαι, θυμάμαι και λυπάμαι,
θυμήθηκα την ξενιτιά και θέλω να πηγαίνω.
Σήκω μάνα μ’ και ζύμωσε καθάριο παξιμάδι.
Mε πόνους βάζει το νερό, με δάκρυα το ζυμώνει
και με πολύ παράπονο βάζει φωτιά στο φούρνο.
"Άργησε φούρνε να καείς και συ ψωμί να γένεις
για να περάσει ο κερατζής1 κι ο γιός μου ν’ απομείνει".

1κερατζής: οδηγός καραβανιού

Region: Epirus
Type: Polyphonic
Category: Immigration Song
Duration: 02:31

Recording information

Studio recording, 1961. Released in extended play 45 rpm disc (Philips 8433, 1961) supervised by Domna Samiou (Recordings in 45 RPM), in 1961 in the LP Songs of the Sea and of the Highlands (Philips 600506 PR, 1961), in 1969, in the LP Songs and Tunes from all Around Greece (Fidelity 0320 PL, 1969). Later, in 2008, Yiorgos Tsambras included the track in the CD collection Mousiko Odiporiko 1959-1969 (Universal Music, 2008).

Credits

Polyphonic Group K. Mpatsidis & Ch. Papadopoulos

Singers

Discography

Songs and Tunes from all Around Greece
Songs of the Sea and of the Highlands
Recordings in 45 RPM
Mousiko Odiporiko 1959-1969

See also

  • SongEpirusImmigration SongPolyphonic

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(My Emigrated Bird)

  • Ξενιτεμένο μου πουλί ⬥ My love-bird far away from home, my love who’s broken-hearted, – o, absent love of mine, those foreign lands greet you with joy, while I am pining for you. What should I send you, absent love, to you so far from home now. I send an apple [...]
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  • Τρυγόνα ⬥ High up upon your way, moré turtledove, down low as you pass by, sweet beautiful turtledove, might you have caught sight of my beloved, moré turtledove, by sweetheart, my dearest man? – Last night we saw him or the night before laid out upon the plane. Black birds were eating him, white [...]
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John Dear Your Handkerchif

  • Γιάννη μου το μαντίλι σου ⬥ Your kerchief, Yanni, dearest love, why is it soiled and dirty? Come, Yanno, come, Yannaki dear, come now my handsome fellow. T'was soiled while I was far from home, in distant lonely places. Come, Yanno, come, Yannaki dear, come now my handsome fellow. Five [...]