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Βασίλω Καλαματιανή
Hey there, Vassilo, o lass from Kalamata, ah…
Vasso, my dear Vassilo,
hey there, o lass from Mikromani.
Oh tut, my dear Vassilo,
hey there, o lass from Mikromani.
Hey there, they are not one, they are not two,
hey there, in my dreams, dear Vasso, don’t let me see you.
Hey there, you’ve driven all the youngsters mad,
ah… Vasso, my dear Vassilo,
hey there, and me, the orphan lad as well.
Oh tut, my dear Vassilo,
hey there, and me, the orphan lad as well.
Hey there, in the river where you bathe,
hey there, dear Vasso, you become a little dove.
Hey there, it was in Kalamata I fell ill, oh…
Vasso, dear Vassilo,
hey there, it’s on the island I’ll get better.
Oh tut, my dear Vassilo,
hey there, it’s on the island I’ll get better.
Hey there, they are not one, they are not two,
hey there, in my dreams, dear Vasso, may I not see you.
Hey there, in wretched Philiatra, oh…
Vasso, dear Vassilo,
hey there, I’ll drop down dead.
Oh tut, my dear Vassilo,
hey there, I’ll drop down dead.
Hey there, in the river where you bathe,
hey there, dear Vasso, you become a little dove.
Translated by John Leatham
Ωρέ, Βασίλω Καλαματιανή, αχ, Βάσω, Βασίλω μου,
ωρέ, κι από τη Μικρομάνη, αχ, μπω-μπω Βασίλω μου,
ωρέ, κι από τη Μικρομάνη.
Ωρέ, δεν είναι μια δεν είναι δυο,
ωρέ, στον ύπνο μου, Βάσω μ’, να μη σε δω.
Ωρέ, ν-ετρέλανες όλους τους νιους, αχ, Βάσω, Βασίλω μου,
ωρέ, κι εμένα τον αρφάνη, αχ, μπω-μπω Βασίλω μου,
ωρέ, κι εμένα τον αρφάνη.
Ωρέ, στον ποταμό ’που πλένεσαι,
ωρέ, περιστεράκι, Βάσω μ’, γένεσαι.
Ωρέ, στην Καλαμάτα αρρώστησα, ωχ, Βάσω, Βασίλω μου,
ωρέ, και στο Νησί* θα γιάνω, αχ, μπω-μπω Βασίλω μου,
ωρέ, και στο Νησί θα γιάνω.
Ωρέ, δεν είναι μια, δεν είναι δυο,
ωρέ, στον ύπνο μου, Βάσω μ’, να μη σε δω.
Ωρέ, και στα καημένα Φιλιατρά, ωχ, Βάσω, Βασίλω μου,
ωρέ, θα πέσω να πεθάνω, αχ, μπω-μπω Βασίλω μου,
ωρέ, θα πέσω να πεθάνω.
Ωρέ, στον ποταμό ’που πλένεσαι,
ωρέ, περιστεράκι, Βάσω μ’, γένεσαι.
*Νησί: Μεσσήνη
Though it makes reference to Kalamata and its neighbouring town of Philiatra, this song is unknown in the area. I heard it many years ago, sung by my teacher Simon Karas, and did not hear it again. I included it in this collection because I believed it is one of those rare songs in 7/8 rhythm, of great interest and unusual melody, originating in the Peloponnese.
Domna Samiou (1995)
Studio recording (1995). Based on Simon Karas’ recording which belongs to the Association for the Dissemination of Greek National Music.
