The Apple Tree’s Complaint

Το παράπονο της μηλιάς

00:00

Lyrics

In Konstantinos’ gardens a brook welled up,
because of which I planted an orchard
with apples and quinces, with laurels and cypress
and roses, red set amidst white.
And one apple tree, ‘twas a golden apple tree,
grew scorched and withered,
and another spoke to her and said:
– Apple tree, your apples weigh heavy,
are you bowed under their weight,
does the gardener leave you unwatered?
– My apples are not heavy,
I am not bowed under their weight,
the gardener does not leave me parched.
A young couple passed this way, handsome and proud,
slept in my shade and ate of my fruit;
my branches I bowed before their beauty.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

Original Lyrics

Το παράπονο της μηλιάς

Στου Κωσταντίνου τις αυλές πηάιν εξετρέχει
συνάφορμα1 του πηαδιού περβόλιν εφυτέψα
έχει μηλιές και κυωνιές, δάφνες και κυπαρίσσια
και κόκκινες τριανταφυλλιές εμάι2 με τις άσπρες.
Και μια μηλιά, χρυσομηλιά, εψήθη κ’ εμαράθη
κι άλλη μηλιά τής εμιλεί κι άλλη μηλιά τής λέει:
– Μηλιά, τα μήλα σε βαρού μη ο καρπός σε κλίνει3
μη ο περιβολάρης σου απότιστη σ’ αφήνει.
– Μη’έ τα μήλα με βαρού, μη ο καρπός με κλίνει
μη ο περιβολάρης μου απότιστη μ’ αφήνει.
Ανδρόυνον επέρασεν ωριοκαμαρωμένο
στον ίσκιο μου κοιμήθηκε κ’ ήφαγε τουν καρπό μου
κι από τις ομορφάες του εκλίνα τα κλωνιά μου.

1συνάφορμα: εξ αφορμής
2εμάι: μαζί
3κλίνει: γέρνει

Region: Dodecanese
Area: Karpathos, Olympos
Category: Love Song
Rhythm: 2 beats, 4 beats, 6 beats
Duration: 06:18

Recording information

Studio recording, 2004.

Credits

Kostas Antimissiaris

Singers

Yannis Tsambanakis

Tsambouna

Nikos Nikolaou

Dodecanesian lyra

Kostas Protopapas

Lute

Discography

Of Nature and of Love

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