I Was Far Away, but Now I’m Back

Ξένος ήμαν κι ήρθα τώρα

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I Tread the Earth Gently

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».

«Τι 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
Category: Love Song
Rhythm: Free rythm
Duration: 03:23

Recording information

Studio recording (2006). Based on Domna Samiou’s 1976 field recording of the song in Nea Vyssa, Evros, sung by father Dimitris Godosis.

Credits

See also

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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
(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.