In a Fine Orchard

Μέσα σ’ ώριο περιβόλι

00:00

Lyrics

In a fine orchard, laurel and myrtle quarrel.
And myrtle, amàn-amàn, myrtle says to laurel…

And myrtle says to laurel, -You stole my branch.
– No, by Saint John, I did not steal your branch!
And if I did, let the river take me and unmake me,
sweep me West upon a swell to the pasha’s well.

The maid goes for water, the aga bends to kiss her.
– Mind your cloak maid, for your apron I’m afraid.
– What care you aga, if my apron gets muddy?
– I care, he said, though we quarrel ’tis you I will wed.
– Better a snake bite you than your wish come true.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

Original Lyrics

Μέσα σ' ώριο περιβόλι

Μέσα σ’ ώριο περιβόλι δάφνη και μυρτιά μαλώνει
κι η μυρτιά, βρ’ αμάν-αμάν,
κι η μυρτιά ’λεγε της δάφνης...

Κι η μυρτιά ’λεγε της δάφνης: συ μου πήρες το κλωνάρι.
[– Όχι μα τον Αϊ-Γιάννη, δε σου πήρα γω κλωνάρι]
κι αν σου πήρα γω κλωνάρι, να με πάρει το ποτάμι
να με πάει τη δύση-δύση κάτω στου πασά τη βρύση.
Πάει η κόρη να γεμίσει, σκύβει ο αγάς να τη φιλήσει.
[– Σήκωσ’, κόρη, το σαγιά1 σου μη λερώσεις την ποδιά σου.
– Τι σε κόφτ’ εσένα, αγά μου, κι αν λερώσω την ποδιά μου.
– Κόφτει με και κοσπετάρω2 και γυναίκα θα σε πάρω.
– Κάλλιο να σε φάει το φίδι παρ’ αυτό που θες να γίνει.]

1σαγιάς: χοντρό μάλινο ύφασμα, κάπα
2κοσπετάρω: φιλονικώ

Region: Cyclades
Area: Paros
Category: Love Song
Rhythm: 3 beats
Duration: 03:20

Recording information

Studio recording, 2005.

Based on Simon Karas' recording which belongs to the Association for the Dissemination of Greek National Music.

Credits

Katerina Papadopoulou

Singers

Nikos Oikonomidis

Violin

Socrates Sinopoulos

Constantinopolitan lute

Ourania Lambropoulou

Santur

Kostas Papaprokopiou

Lute

Vangelis Karipis

Bendir (frame drum)

Discography

Of Nature and of Love

See also

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If I Had an Orchard

  • Περιβόλι ν-είχα η πάπια ⬥ If I had an orchard, an orchard studded with bitter oranges. Studded with bitter oranges, bitter oranges all covered in blossom. And in underneath the blossom, a partridge asleep enjoying the cooling shade. Her wings drooping in the cool, her golden down. Translated by Michael [...]
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Ploughed Garden of Mine

  • Περιβόλι μ’ οργωμένο ⬥ Orchard, my orchard, orchard ploughed all pruned and daisy-strewed. You’ve flower beds all around, and marjoram in the ground, an apple tree dead centre, its trunk fit to splinter. A youth some apples filched, and its leaves they did wilt and the apple tree sighed, at [...]
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Behold the Beautiful Orchard

  • Για δες περβόλιν όμορφο ⬥ Studio recording, 1980. Domna Samiou taped the song in Lakkoi, Chania, sung by Haridimos Manarolis, in 1965.
  • SongCycladesKythnos, DryopidaLove Song, Spring SongCouplets

May Is Come

  • Ήρχεν ο Μάης ⬥ May is come and bids me reap but for his sake I shall not go and darken in the sun. May, dear May with the flowers and songs too many to count. The corn flowers are in bloom and the men will soon be away. With [...]
  • Collaborators

Socrates Sinopoulos

Socrates Sinopoulos was born in Athens in 1974. At the age of fourteen he met Ross Daly and began to study the Constantinopolitan lyre and the lute. One year later he joined the music group ‘Labyrinthos’, participating in numerous concerts and recordings over the next six years. Simultaneously he […]