The Great North Wind Blew

Ο κυρ Βοριάς εφύσηξε

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Lyrics

The Great North Wind blew throughout the land
and all those, kalé, all those ships that heard him
made it safely into shore.

But one, kalé, one fine ship
didn’t make it into harbor.
– I fear you not, Great North Wind,
you can blow and blow and blow.
I’ve bronze masts and steel spars
and a cabin boy who can spot the weather.
Hey boy, get aloft and see what wind’s a-blowing.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

Original Lyrics

Ο κυρ Βοριάς εφύσηξε

Ο κυρ- ο κυρ Βοριάς εφύσηξε σ’ όλα τα βιλαέτια
κι όσα, καλέ, κι όσα καρά- καράβια τ’ ά- καράβια τ’ άκουσαν

κι όσα καράβια τ’ άκουσαν, όλα λιμάνι πιάσαν.
Κι ένα καράβι από σκαρί1 δε φτάνει σε λιμάνι.
− Δε σε φοβάμαι κυρ Βοριά όσο κι αν θέλεις φύσα.
Έχω κατάρτια μπρούτζινα κι αντένες ατσαλένιες,
έχω κι ένα μουτζόπουλο2 που τους καιρούς γνωρίζει.
Γι’ ανέβα βρε μουτζόπουλο να δεις τι αέρα βγάζει.

1από σκαρί: καινούριο
2μουτζόπουλο: ναυτόπουλο, μούτσος

Region: Sporades
Area: Skiathos
Category: Sea and Sailors Song
Rhythm: 2 beats
Dance: Local dance
Duration: 03:45

Recording information

Studio recording, 2005.

Domna Samiou taped the song in Skiathos sung by Eleni Mergia and Argyro Fragaki, in 1975, and in Athens sung by Yannis Parisis, in 1997.

[I:4175]

Credits

Domna Samiou

Singers

Nikos Oikonomidis

Violin

Kostas Philippidis

Lute

Vangelis Karipis

Goblet drum

Argyro Fragaki

Informant (source of the song)

Eleni Mergia

Informant (source of the song)

Yannis Parisis

Informant (source of the song)

Discography

The Great North Wind and Other Traditional Songs for Children

See also

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