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Nine villages of ours they razed,
aman aman, and fifteen castles.
Aman, come see the body you torture.
And they took Naoussa, aman aman,
the head village hearabouts.
Aman, morning star, why so late in rising?
An apple, aman, and another, aman,
night’s here, but where can I sleep?
They took mothers with children,
daughters with mothers-in-law,
Krinitsa, my love, my heart ashes for you.
They took the sapphire bride, just three days wed,
come lay eyes upon the heart you will have suffer so.
An apple, aman, and another,
night’s here, but where can I sleep?
Translated by Michael Eleftheriou
Μας χάλασαν, κι αϊμάν αϊμάν,
εννιά χωριά και δεκαπέντε κάστρα,
πρόβαλε να δεις, αμάν, κορμί που τυραννείς.
Μας πάτησαν, κι αϊμάν αϊμάν,
τη Νιάουστα που ήταν κεφαλοχώρι,
άστρο της αυγής, αμάν, γιατί άργησες να βγεις;
Ένα μήλο, αμάν, κι άλλο μήλο, αμάν,
βράδιασε και πού θα μείνω;
Πήραν μανούλες με παιδιά και πεθερές με νύφες,
μαρ’ Κρινίτσα μου, καημό πο ’χει η καρδίτσα μου.
Πήραν τη ζαφειρόνυφη, τριών ημερών νυφούλα,
πρόβαλε να δεις, αμάν, καρδιά που τυραννείς.
Ένα μήλο, αμάν, κι άλλο μήλο, αμάν,
βράδιασε και πού θα μείνω;
The song recounts the destruction of Naoussa by Turkish forces on 6 April 1822, following a lengthy siege. It focuses on the tragic fate of women, whom popular consciousness here and elsewhere regards as paragons of courage and heroism.
Miranda Terzopoulou (2007)
Studio recording (2004).
