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Το Μάη λαλούν οι πέρδικες
It’s in May the partridge sings,
in May the nightingale bursts into song,
’tis in May the turtledove takes to the wing
and to the brook flies down.
Dearest May with your flowers,
with your gaiety and your songs.
I was born in May and have no fear of magic,
unless the spell is cast as I’m asleep in bed.
Dearest May, with your tender shoots,
how you beguile the striplings.
May has the name and April the flowers,
’tis youth and beauty songs should praise.
I’ve lost my mind to a May bloom.
She stole my mind and was gone.
Translated by Michael Eleftheriou
Το Μάη λαλούν οι πέ-, οι πέρδικες,
το Μάη λαλούν, το Μάη λαλούν τ’ αηδόνια,
το Μάη κατεβαί-, κατεβαίνουνε
στις βρύσες τα, στις βρύσες τα τρυγόνια.
Μάη μου, με τα λουλούδια,
με χαρές και με τραγούδια.
Το Μάη ν-εγεννήθηκα και μάγια δε φοβούμαι,
εξόν και μου τα ρίξουνε στην κλίνην που κοιμούμαι.
Μάη μου, με τα χορτάρια
που πλανάς τα παλληκάρια.
Ο Μάης έχει τ’ όνομα κι Απρίλης τα λουλούδια,
στα νιάτα και στην εμορφιά αξίζουν τα τραγούδια.
Το γαρίφαλο του Μάη
μου πήρε το νου και πάει.
Studio recording (2006). Based on Domna Samiou’s 1974 field recording of the song in Skyros, sung by Efrosyni Tsakami.
Efrosyni Tsakami. Skyros 1974
© Domna Samiou Archive
In the same tape there is another song from Skyros, the Song of May, sung by Yiorgos Daphnoulis.
Yiorgos Daphnoulis. Skyros 1974
© Domna Samiou Archive
In the Domna Samiou’s Archive there is a third recording of the song, sung by Skyrian Faltaina Alexandrou, born in 1921. It is not known when and by whom the recording was made.
Faltaina Alexandrou. Skyros 1980s
© Domna Samiou Archive
Singers
Constantinopolitan lyra
Constantinopolitan lute
Bendir (frame drum)
Informant (source of the song)
Informant (source of the song)
Informant (source of the song)
