Greek Song Words
Compiled by Dick Oakes
NOTE: Pronounce th as in that.
Gaitanaki Rodou
Rhodian braiding
|
// Gaitanin ekho stom plekhti Ke tsokhan is torafti; // Gaitanaki mou plemmeno, Stin anemi tyligmeno. // Ke xenone stin xenitia, Ke kartero ton na 'rti; // Gaitanaki mou plemmeno, Katsaro ke khademeno. // Roditiko 'ne to pani, Roditiko to khteni, // // Roditisa ki i kopellia Pou kathete ke 'feni. // Gaitanaki ke brisime, Mou 'stilan apo ti Symi Gia na rapsoun i kopelles Ton andron tous tis fanelles. |
My braiding is being woven And my felting is being sewn; My little woven braid Plaited on the winder. And a beloved in a foreign land, And I wait for his coming; My little woven braid, Curly and pampered. Rhodian is the cloth, Rhodian is the loom, And Rhodian is the girl Who sits and weaves. Little braid and cording, They sent me from Symi For the girls to sew Their men's shirts. |
Gerakina
Gerakina (a girl's name)
|
Kinise, i Gerakina, yia nero, ore krio na peri,
Chorus: Drouba droum-ba drouba drouba droum-ba, Ta vrahiolia tis vrondoun. Ta vrahiolia tis vrondoun, Drouba drouba droum-ba drouba drouba droum. Ki-epese, mes sto pigathii, ke vgale, ore foni megali, Chorus Ke trexe, o kosmos olos, ke trexa, ore ke 'go ka'i'menos, Chorus Gerakina tha se vgalo, ke yine- ore yineka tha se paro, Chorus Ke rixa, hriso korthoni, ke tin e-, ore tin epias' ap ti zoni, |
Yerakina went for some water, to fetch cold water.
Chorus: Her bracelets are jingling. Her bracelets are jingling. And she fell into the well and let out a big yell. Chorus And everybody ran to save her and poor me also ran along. Chorus Yerakina, I will save you and for a wife will take you. Chorus And he threw his golden sash and he took her by the belt. |
Karagouna
Karagouna (a girl's name)
|
Ajde perase, ena kalokeri Ajde ke de mou, de moustiles hamberi. Aj Gounam, aj Gounam Aj Gounam Karagounam. Esena, su prepou, Metaksata sigounia Ajde ti hambe, hamberi na su stilo, Ajde poupyases, pyases kenourio filo. Am'posda, am'tida Tin prokopis tin ida. Am'posda, am ti da Sto parathyri s'ida. Ajde da pouli, pouliso ke ti stani, Ajde na soupa, Souparo 'na foustani. Aj Gounam, aj Gounam, Aj Gounam Karagounam. Esena, su prepou, me taksu vazi vouna. Me taksata sigounia. |
Aide, one summer has passed And you haven’t sent me any news. Ai Gouna, ai Gouna, My Karagouna, You deserve A silken embroidered vest. Aide, what news shall I send you, Aide, now that you have a new lover? Indeed, how now, I saw purpose, Indeed, how now, I saw you in the window. Aide, I will sell, I'll sell the flock of sheep, Aide, to buy, To buy you a skirt. Aj Gouna, aj Gouna, My Karagouna, You deserve A silken embroidered vest. |
Len Irthe Mais
They say spring is coming
|
/ Len irthe mais ki' aman gel aman, len irthe mais ki anixi. / / N'irthi mais, ki anixi, n'irthe, n'irthi, n'irthe to kaloukeri. / / Len anthizoun ta, aman gel aman len anthizoun ta triandafylla. / / Anthizoun ta triandfylla, ta moushou, moushou myrizmena. / / Len asprou Triandaf, aman gel aman, len aspru triandafyllo fouro. / / Aspru triandafyllo fouro, ke the Ke thelou na tou vapsou. / / Len ki' an tha tou pli aman gel aman, Len ki' an tha tou plino stin avli. / / Ki' an tha tou plino stin avli poulles, Poulles kardies tha kapsou. / |
The month of May is coming, And with the month of May, summer is almost here. They say that the roses are blooming, The roses are blooming and the blossoms so well. They say that I am wearing a white rose, And this white rose I want to dye it. And if I dye on my courtyard, I will hurt many hearts of suitors. |
Misirlou
Misiri (an Egyptian girl's name)
|
Misirlou mu i glika su i matya Flogha m'ekhi anapsi mes tin kardia. Akh yakhabibi, akh ya leleli akh Ta dyo su khili stazune meli oyme. Ah, Misirlou, mayiki, soviki, omorfia. Trela tha murthi, den ipofero pia Akh na se klepso mesa apo tin arapi. Misirlou mavromata mu treli Flogha m'ekhi anapsi ena su fili. Akh yakhabibi ena filaki ya. Ap to glikok su to stomataki oyme. Akh Misirlou, mayiki soviki omorfia. Trela tha murthi, then ipofero pia Akh na se klepso mes ap tin arapia. |
Misirlu, your sweet glance, Has lit a flame in my heart. Akh yakhabibi, akh ya leleli, akh, Your lips trickle of honey, oyme! Ah, Misirlu, magical, enchanting, beauty! Craze will come to me, I can endure no longer. Akh! that I might steal you from Arabia. My Misirlu, crazy, black-eyed. One of your kisses lights a flame in me. Akh yakhabibi, one little kiss From your sweet mouth, oyme! Ah, Misirlu, magical, enchanting beauty! Craze will come to me, I can endure no longer. Akh! that I might steal you from Arabia. |
Miteritsa
Little mother
|
/ Miteritsa mou glikia, thelo mia 'gapitikia / / Mavramatia ke megala, zimomena me to gala. / / Ithela na'rtho to vradi, m'epiase psili vrohi / / To Theo parakalousa, yia na se vro monahi. / |
Sweet mother, I want a loved one, With eyes dark and large and beautiful skin. I wanted to come to you last night. A light rain caught me. I asked God to let you be alone when I found you. |
Nina Na'i' Na'i' (Syrtos)
Nina nai nai (Leading dance)
|
Siko khorepse koukli mou, Na se tho na se kharo, / Tsiftetelli tourkiko, Nina na'i yavroum, nina na'i na'i. / Chorus: Hopa nina nina na'i, nina na'i na'i, Nina na'i, yavroum, nina na'i na'i./ Tha su traghudhiso pali Ton asikiko khava. / Kuna ligho to kormi su, Nina na'i, yavroum, nina na'i na'i. / Chorus Mia fora monakha zoume, Mes' ton pseftiko dounia, / Prepi ligho na kharoume, Nina na'i, yavroum, nina na'i na'i. / Chorus |
Get up and dance, darling So I can see you and rejoice in you. Turkish tsifteteli Nina nai, yavrum, nina nai nai. Chorus: Hopa nina nina nai, nina nai nai, Nina nai, yavroum, nina nai nai. I shall sing for you again That robust melody. Shake your body a little, Nina nai, yavrum, nina nai nai. Chorus We live but once In this false world. We ought to enjoy ourselves a little Nina nai, yavrum, nina nai nai. Chorus |
Samiotisa (Kalamatianos)
Girl from Samos (Kalamata leading dance)
|
Samiotisa, Samiotisa, Pote tha pao sti samos. / Rodha pa rixa sto yialo Samiotisa Trian da fila stin amo. / Kie me ti varka pou tha pas Hrisa pania tha valo. / Malamatenia ta kupia Samiotisa Ya na rtho na se paro. / Smiotisa me tis elies Kie me ta mavra matia. / Mou kanes stin ardhoula mou Samiotisa sarandadhio komatia. / Samiotisa, o erotas, Den theli parakilia / Ekhi ky'ala portokalies, Samiotisa, Pu kanoun portokalia. / |
Girl from Samos, When I get to Samos, I'll throw roses on the seashore, Roses on the sand. And in the barque in which you go, Golden sails I'll put, Golden oars, Samiotisa, So I can come and take you. Girl from Samos with the black beauty marks (olives) And the black eyes, You've broken my heart, Samiotisa Into forty-two pieces. Samiotisa, passion Doesn’t need begging. There are other orange trees, Samiotisa, That produce oranges. |
Sta Dhio
In both
|
Dhem boro, manula, dhem boro. / Akh sire na feris, to yatro. / Ipe tha min pethano i mavri ke khatho. Agapisa, mana, agapisa. / Pikra i mavri, to metanyosa / Akh, manula mu dhen, s'akusa. Par to yumi ke ela Litsa Na to yemisome, na to yemisome Mes sti vrisi, sto mesokhori Na simfonizome, na simfonizome. Litsa, Litsa, Vangelitsa, Mi farmakonese, mi farmakonese. Kiriaki proi se perno, S' eleftheronese, s’ eleftheronese. Litsa, Litsa, Vangelitsa, Tha fero ke violia tus adhelfus Khalkya Na glendiso olos kozmos Me kefi me khara, me kefi me khara. |
I am not well, Mother, I am not well. Ach, go fetch the doctor. He said I won’t die, I the poor one, and won’t fade away. I have loved, mother, I have loved. Bitterly, I the miserable one have regretted it, Ach, mother, I didn’t listen to you. Bring the decanter and come, Litsa To fill it, to fill it From the fountain in the middle of town, So we can come to an understanding, to agree. Litsa, Litsa, Vangelitsa, Don't poison yourself, don't poison yourself. Sunday morning I’ll take you, You’ll be free, you’ll be free. Litsa, Litsa, Vangelitsa, I'll bring also violins of the Khalkya brothers So that everyone can have a good time With joy and gladness. |
Ta Mavra Rukha (Kritikos Syrtos)
The black clothes (Leading dance from Crete)
|
Akh, oso varun ta sidhera, aman aman, Oso varun ta mavra rukha. Akh, etsi ta foresa k'egho, aman aman, Ya mya aghapi pu 'kha. Akh ikhya ke isterithika, aman aman, Thimume ke stenazo. Akh, anikse yis mesa na vo, aman aman, Kosmo na min kitazo. |
Ach, as much as the irons ring, wow wow, So do the black clothes. Ach, thus, I also wore them, wow wow, For a love I once had. Ach, I had and I lost, wow wow, I remember and I sigh. Ach, open up, earth, so that I may enter, wow wow, So that I do not see the world. |
Trava Trava
Go on, move on
|
Trava, trava, trava, karotseri trava, / Ke sto kalamaki, kpose yia ouzaki. E, vre thounia. / Trava, trava, trava, sti glyfatha trava, / Yia kalo krasaki, ke yia barbounaki. E, vre thounia. / Yirna piso trava, stin athina trava, / Y'akou bouzoukaki, apo to yianaki. E, vre thounia. / |
Pull, pull, little carriage, pull And at Kalamaki, cut off for a little ouzo. What a world! Pull, pull, pull to Glyfada For good wine and barbounaki. What a world! Go back, towards Athens, go, And listen to Yiannaki play bouzouki. What a world! |
Tsakonikos
Tsakonian (a dance from the region of Tsakonia)
|
/ Su ipa, mana, kale mana Su ipa mana, pandrepse me / / Su ipa, mana, pandrepse me spitonikokirepseme. / / Yeron andra, kale mana yeron andra mi mu dhosis, / / Yeron andra mi mu dhosis, yati tha to metaniosis. / / Yati o yeros, kale mana yati o yeros ta 'ksetazi / / Yiati oyeros ta 'ksetazi, sto psilo ta loghariazi. / |
I told you, mother to marry me to someone, to marry me to someone, so that I would become a housewife. But on no account marry me to an old man, marry me to an old man, because you’ll regret it. Because an old man is always examining everything, is always examining everything, and has nothing but words. |
Zonaradikos (Macedonia Syrto)
Belt (Macedonian leading dance)
|
Vangelitsa, Vangelio thelo kati na su po.
Thelo ya na su miliso ke na se glikorotiso. M'ekhis kani palavo. Vangelitsa, s'agapo. |
Vangelitsa, Vangela, I have something to tell you.
I want to talk to you and ask you questions in a sweet way. You’ve made me crazy. Vangelitsa, I love you. |