I Was Far Away, but Now I’m Back

Ξένος ήμαν κι ήρθα τώρα

00:00

Lyrics

I was far away,
but now I'm back from foreign lands
with diamonds and fresh-struck gold
and silver coins for you.

– What use is gold to me, what good is silver,
when my heart is locked tight shut two and forty times.
Money won't open it, gold is not the key.
Brave young men and blue eyes alone
can unlock my heart and let love it.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

Original Lyrics

Ξένος ήμαν κι ήρθα τώρα

Ξένος ήμαν κι ήρθα τώρα από μέσα απ’ τη Φραγκιά
σου ’φερα καινούργια γρόσια και διαμάντια και φλουριά.

– Tι τα θέλω εγώ τα γρόσια, τι τα θέλω τα φλουριά,
’χω καρδιά μου κλειδωμένη με σαράντα δυο κλειδιά,
δεν ανοίγει με παράδες, δεν ανοίγει με φλουριά
μόν’ ανοίγει με λεβέντες και με μάτια γαλανά.

Region: Thrace
Area: Evros, Ambelakia
Type: Table Song
Category: Love Song
Rhythm: Free rythm
Duration: 03:23

Recording information

Studio recording, 2006.

Domna Samiou taped the song, in Nea Vyssa, Evros, sung by father Dimitris Godosis,  in 1976.

Credits

Domna Samiou

Singers

Discography

I Tread the Earth Gently

See also

  • The "Musical Travelogue"

Musical Travelogue with Domna Samiou – Thrace, Evros

  • An episode dedicated to the musical tradition of Thrace and specifically that of the Evros district. An ancient legend has it that Orpheus taught music throughout Thrace and finally found a tragic death in the river Evros. As the crossroad to the East, Thrace received many influences, but still maintains [...]
  • Collaborators

Christos Zafiroudis

Christos Zafiroudis lived in Paliouri, Didymoteicho. Domna Samiou met him in 1976 during the taping of the TV series Musical Travelogue with Domna Samiou – Thrace, Evros, and, together with his son, Yannis Zafiroudis, they sang for her local songs. Domna Samiou included the table song In Constantinople I […]
  • Collaborators

Christos Kanakidis (Zachardelas)

Musician from Chandras, Orestiada. He played the clarinet and the flute. He worked with Dora Stratou and Karyofyllis Doitsidis. Domna Samiou met him in 1976 during shooting of the TV program Musical Travelogue with Domna Samiou – Thrace Evros (ΕΡΤ – 1977) where he accompanied Yannis Zafiroudis with his flute in […]
  • Collaborators

Yannis Zafiroudis

A farmer and amateur musician from Paliouri, Didymoteicho. Domna Samiou met him in 1976 during shooting of the TV program Musical Travelogue with Domna Samiou – Thrace, Evros together with his father Christos Zafiroudis they sang local songs for her. In the following video excerpt from the program, Zafiroudis sings […]
  • Collaborators

Yiorgos Demerdjis

(1928-2013). Gaida-player from Asproneri in Didymoteicho, Evros. He played the gaida and sang in weddings and feasts. Domna Samiou met him in 1976 during shooting of the TV program Musical Travelogue with Domna Samiou – Thrace, Evros (ΕΡΤ – 1977), where he played local tunes.