The Water of Life

Olmaz

Από τα γλυκά σου μάτια

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Lyrics

The water of Life flows from your sweet eyes.
I asked you for a little but you didn’t give me any to drink.

Impossible, my duck, impossible,
you are doing your best to kill me.

I told you not to tempt me and leave me in my misery
You have taken my reason from my head.

Come, let us go where you say,
there, where birds build their nests.

Translated by Mania Seferiades

Original Lyrics

Από τα γλυκά σου μάτια

Από τα γλυκά σου μάτια τρέχει αθάνατο νερό, σεβντίμ1 αμάν
και σου γύρεψα λιγάκι και δε μου ’δωσες να πιω.

Ολμάζ2 πιπίνι3 μου, ολμάζ
να με πεθάνεις πολεμάς.

Είπα σου μη με πειράζεις κι άσε με στο χάλι μου, σεβντίμ, αμάν
και το νου μου τον επήρες από το κεφάλι μου.

Έλα να πάμ’ εκεί που λες
που κάνουν τα πουλιά φωλιές.

1σεβντίμ: αγάπησα (από το τουρκικό sevdim)
2ολμάζ: δε γίνεται (από το τουρκικό olmaz)
3πιπίνι: πιτσούνι, όμορφη κοπέλα

Region: Asia Minor
Area: Erythraea, Meli
Type: Couplets
Category: Love Song
Rhythm: 9 beats
Dance: Antikristos
Duration: 03:48

Recording information

Studio recording, 1991.

Watch a different version of the song

Domna Samiou learned the song this from refugees from the village of Meli in the province of Karabournou in Asia Minor, settled in Meli settlement of Megara, Attica, in 1980.

Ioannis Nik. Zikas made also a recording of the song in 1980 and handed it over to Domna Samiou.

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The Water of Life

Maria Karablaka, Irini Kamitsi, Marianthi Passali, Stella Kallipozi, and Lemonia Pantazi. Recorded by Ioannis Nik. Zikas. Meli, Megara Attica, 1980

© Domna Samiou Archive

Credits

Domna Samiou

Singers

Petros Athanasopoulos-Kalyvas

Clarinet

Nikos Oikonomidis

Violin

Agnes Agopian

Kanun

Joanna Andrews

Oud

Kostas Philippidis

Lute

Andreas Pappas

Goblet drum

Yannis Zikas

Informant (source of the song)

Discography

Songs of Asia Minor 2
Songs οf Asia Minor

See also

  • SongAsia MinorErythraea, AlatsataLove SongCouplets

Yatzilariani

  • Γιατζιλαριανή ⬥ I brought you a Good Evening, give me a Good Night I had no business here, I came only for you. Come out that I may see you and be comforted. Your eyes have burnt me, yet they are my joy and pride, if I don’t see them [...]
  • SongAsia MinorErythraea, AlatsataLove SongCouplets

Yioryitsa

  • Γιωργίτσα ⬥ I intended to love you, my Yioryítsa, and nobody to know of it. Now our own people learn of it, my Yioryítsa, strangers too learned of it. Come, Yiúla, Yiúla, Yiúla, come, take me, open your tow arms, put me inside. The jasmine at your door has blossomed [...]
  • SongAsia MinorErythraea, MeliLove SongCouplets

Dimitroula

  • Δημητρούλα ⬥ You dance, my spoilt one, but I don't know who are you, from your stature you seem, scampish perivolaria, to be of noble birth. Go on, yiála, yiála, Dimitroúla! You didn't do well to shame me again in this neighbourhood. You dance, my spoilt one, and your father [...]
  • SongAsia MinorErythraea, MeliLove Song, Wedding SongCouplets

The Young Meliots

  • Τα Μελιωτάκια ⬥ Two young Meliots got up to dance the syrtos, they will ask us for songs and commendations. Come, let us go over there and make merry, let us sing songs from Meli! How beautifully paired you are, you two of one height, like the cypress trees1 that [...]
  • SongAsia MinorErythraea, AlatsataLove SongCouplets

Ataris

  • Άταρης ⬥ I vowed to the Holy Virgin not to sing again. Ataris! But for your sake I will break the vow. Four! Once again four black eyes got up to dance. Ataris! Four eyebrows like silken cords, two cool, fresh bodies. Four! Translated by Mania Seferiades