I Climbed up the Cherry Tree

Ανέβηκα στην κερασιά

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I Climbed up the Cherry-Tree

Lyrics

I climbed up the cherry tree, Marie, Maria, Marigo,
to pick a cherry — vai tzigitzela, vai tzigitzo.

The couple just now joined —
let them live together till they’re old.
Let them have twelve children,
twelve fine lads and a girl,
so the family will grow.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

Original Lyrics

Ανέβηκα στην κερασιά

Ανέβηκα στην κερασιά, Μαρί-, Μαρία, Μαριγώ,
να κόψω ένα κεράσι — βάι τζιγκιτζέλα, βάι τζιγκιτζό.

Τ’ αντρόγυνο που γίνηκε,
να ζήσει, να γεράσει.
Να κάνει δώδεκα παιδιά,
δώδεκα παλληκάρια,
να κάνει κι ένα θηλυκό,
να μη χαθεί το σόι.

Region: Ionian islands
Area: Corfu
Category: Wedding Song, Wish Well
Rhythm: 4 beats
Dance: Local dance
Duration: 02:15

Recording information

Studio recording (2005).

Credits

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Ioanna Oikonomidou

Singers

Nikos Oikonomidis
Nikos Oikonomidis

Violin

Socrates Sinopoulos
Socrates Sinopoulos

Constantinopolitan lute

Kostas Philippidis
Kostas Philippidis

Lute

Discography

The Great North Wind and Other Traditional Songs for Children
The Great North Wind and Other Traditional Songs for Children

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