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Πώς το τρίβουν το πιπέρι
How do they grind, good shepherdess, how do they grind the pepper,
how do they grind the pepper, those diabolic monks?
With the knee, good shepherdess, they grind it with the knee,
with the knee they grind it, and they grind it fine.
Ho there! Arise, intrepid lads,
with swords and scimitars in hand!
With their nose they grind it, and they grind it fine.
… … …
With their tongue they grind it, and they grind it fine.
… … …
With their a* they grind it, and they grind it fine.
… … …
With their c* they grind it, and they grind it fine.
… … …
Translated by John Leatham
Πώς το τρί-, βλάχα μου μωρή, πώς το τρίβουν το πιπέρι,
πώς το τρίβουν το πιπέρι, του διαβόλου οι καλογέροι;
Με το γό-, βλάχα μου μωρή, με το γόνατο το τρίβουν,
με το γόνατο το τρίβουν και το ψιλοκοπανίζουν.
Άντε για σ’κωθείτε, παλληκάρια,
με σπαθιά και με χαντζάρια.
Με τη μύτη τους το τρίβουν και το ψιλοκοπανίζουν.
... ... ...
Με τη γλώσσα τους το τρίβουν και το ψιλοκοπανίζουν.
... ... ...
Με τον κ* τους το τρίβουν και το ψιλοκοπανίζουν.
... ... ...
Με τον π* τους το τρίβουν και το ψιλοκοπανίζουν.
... ... ...
This well-known song, a hallmark of every Carnival revel, blends the magical and the comic to perfection, sparking bursts of laughter and high spirits. It accompanies a slow men’s dance in three steps, which alternate with ritualistic, imitative movements performed by the group. The leader sings first, and the others repeat after him. Each time he names a new way of grinding the “pepper”, the dancers fall to the ground and mimic the action with their bodies. Only the leader remains standing, overseeing the dance and “correcting” those who disobey or make a mistake using a stick or belt he holds in his hand. The symbolism of the song is unmistakable.
Miranda Terzopoulou (1994)
Live recording from 1994 at the taverna “To Monastiri” in Athens.
Watch a different version of the song by Charilaos Tsaktsiras. Live recording from the concert Carnival Songs with Domna Samiou, held on March 3, 2003 at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall.
