The Ship Is My House

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Lyrics

The ship is my house, the sea my courtyard
and the waves of the north wind, are my comfort.

A little stranger is dying at the ships prow,
he hasnt got a mother to weep for him, a father to grieve,
nor brother nor sister nor any friend or relative.

Translated by Mania Seferiades

Original Lyrics

Καράβι ένι το σπίτι μου

Καράβι ένι1 το σπίτι μου, θάλασσα η αυλή μου
και του βοριά τα κύματα είναι παρηγοριά μου.

Ξενούτσικος ψυχομαχεί στου καραβιού την πλώρη,
δεν έχει μάνα να τον κλαίει, κύρη να τον λυπάται,
ούτ’ αδερφό, ούτ’ αδερφή, ούτε κανένα φίλο,
ούτε κανένα συγγενή.

1ένι: είναι

Region: Pontus
Area: Inepolis
Category: Immigration Song, Sea and Sailors Song
Rhythm: 4 beats
Duration: 02:36

Recording information

Studio recording, 1984. 

Domna Samiou taped the song in Nea Ionia, Attiki, sung by Yiorgos Kambourianidis, in 1982.

Credits

Yiorgos Kambouriannidis

Singers

Yiorgos Kambouriannidis

Informant (source of the song)

Discography

Songs of Asia Minor 1
Songs οf Asia Minor

See also

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I Want to Savour All the Months

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  • SongPropontisSea and Sailors Song

I Wish for All the Months in Turn

  • Όλους τους μήνες τους θέλω ⬥ I wish for all the months in turn, await them all with longing, but not, o not, the month of March when folks embark on travel. That month fits galleys out for sea and slips a vessel’s moorings. My husband also makes to go, [...]
  • SongPropontisMarmaraSea and Sailors Song, Work Song

Selim

  • Σελίμ ⬥ Our boat is rigged, élessa-yialéssa, and goes to cast nets, elessa-yialessa. Élli, yiamóli, yiássa, íssa, hó! Vré háide, vré hoúide, tsalapalatsíngo! We cast our nets at Kerassia*, élessa-yialéssa, and drew three thousand, élessa-yialéssa. We took them to Marmara, élessa-yialéssa, and we made money, élessa-yialéssa. *village on the Thracian [...]
  • SongPropontisMarmaraParty SongCouplets, Table Song

Well Met

  • Καλώς ανταμωθήκαμε ⬥ Well met to all of us who love each other, who are joyful for a while and of a glad heart. Vré, off the beach I’m chasing little fish. Welcome to the clouds that brought back a fair wind, they brought back the men of Marmara who [...]
  • SongPropontisFable Song (Ballad), Immigration SongTable Song

A Maid Was Singing Longingly

  • Κοράσιν ετραγούδαγε ⬥ A maid was singing longingly inside a high-walled palace, her voice was caught up on the breeze and carried off to seaward, and all the ships that heard that voice at once let go their halyards. [Save one that holds friendship most dear and knows a love-lorn [...]