I Come and You Are Asleep

Έρχομαι κι εσύ κοιμάσαι

00:00

Lyrics

I come and you are asleep amid the white jasmine,
wake up wherever you might live and be, my bushy lemon tree.

My partridge from Livíssi,
I am entangled in your nets.

The keys of my heart take them and open,
there are rose gardens within, enter and walk about.

Come and don’t think troublesome
the road to come and find me.

Translated by Mania Seferiades

Original Lyrics

Έρχομαι κι εσύ κοιμάσαι

Έρχομαι κι εσύ κοιμάσι μέσα στ’ άσπρα γιασιμιά,
ξύπνα που να ζεις κι να ’σι, φουντουτή μου λιμουνιά.

Λιβισιανή μου πέρδικα
στα δίχτυα σου μπερδεύτηκα.

Της καρτιάς μου τα κλειδάκια πάρι τα κι άνοιξι
κι έχει μέσα γκιούλ μπαξέδους κι έμπα κι σιργιάνισι.

Έλα κι μην τη βαριθείς
τη στράτα να ’ρτεις να μι βρεις.

1γκιούλ μπαξέδους: πληθυντικός του γκιούλ μπαξές: τριανταφυλλόκηπος (από το τουρκικό gül bahçe)

Region: Asia Minor
Area: Makri - Levissi
Type: Couplets, Processional Tune
Category: Love Song
Rhythm: 4 beats
Duration: 04:11

Recording information

Studio recording, 1984. 

Nikos Karageorgiou collected the song in Nea Makri, Attiki, in 1982.

Watch the video of the song

Credits

Group from Nea Makri (Attiki)

Choir

Stathis Koukoularis

Violin

Joanna Andrews

Oud

Mathios Balabanis

Goblet drum

Nikos Karageorgiou

Informant (source of the song)

Discography

Songs of Asia Minor 1
Songs οf Asia Minor

See also

  • AlbumDigital release2022Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association

My Old Torments

Songs of Asia Minor by Domna Samiou. Live recording from the concert ‘Songs of Asia Minor with Domna Samiou’ at the Megaron, the Athens Concert Hall, on 8/3/2005. Traditional songs from the western coasts of Asia Minor, Propontis, Constantinople, Pontus and Cappadocia.
  • SongAsia MinorMakri - LevissiLove Song, Wedding SongCouplets, Processional Tune

Wake up My Black Eyed One

(The Grasses of the Earth)

  • Ξύπνα μαυροματούσα μου ⬥ Wake up my black eyed one I’ve come to your neighbourhood, I have brought you a golden tress to plait your hair. Your black eyes and your white neck will make me lose my mind. Black eyed one of the neighbourhood bear this in mind; I [...]
  • SongAsia MinorMakri - LevissiLove SongCouplets, Processional Tune

I Will Sing Tonight

  • Απόψε θε να τραγουδώ ⬥ I will sing tonight with the singers, my little duckling, with the singers, save your love for me. With the lads of Livissi, with those revellers, my duck, my goose with those revellers, on your head be it. Tonight I will sing until first light, [...]
  • SongAsia MinorMakri - LevissiWedding SongTable Song

Golden Table, Silver Plates

  • Για δέστε τράπεζα χρυσή ⬥ Studio recording, 2008. Nikos Karageorgiou taped the song in Nea Makri, Attiki, in 1982.
  • 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 [...]