Πώς το τρίβουν το πιπέρι

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How do they grind, good shepherdess, how do they grind the pepper,
how do they grind the pepper, those diabolic monks?

With the knee, good shepherdess, they grind it with the knee,
with the knee they grind it, and they grind it fine.

Ho there! Arise, intrepid lads,
with swords and scimitars in hand!

With their nose they grind it, and they grind it fine.
... ... ...

With their tongue they grind it, and they grind it fine.
... ... ...

With their arse they grind it, and they grind it fine.
... ... ...

With their cock they grind it, and they grind it fine.
... ... ...

Translated by John Leatham

Πώς το τρίβουν το πιπέρι

Πώς το τρί- βλάχα μου μωρή, πώς το τρίβουν το πιπέρι,
πώς το τρίβουν το πιπέρι, του διαβόλου οι καλογέροι;

Με το γό- βλάχα μου μωρή, με το γόνατο το τρίβουν,
με το γόνατο το τρίβουν και το ψιλοκοπανίζουν.

Άντε για σ’κωθείτε παλικάρια
με σπαθιά και με χαντζάρια.

Με τη μύτη τους το τρίβουν και το ψιλοκοπανίζουν.
... ... ...

Με τη γλώσσα τους το τρίβουν και το ψιλοκοπανίζουν.
... ... ...

Με τον κώλο τους το τρίβουν και το ψιλοκοπανίζουν.
... ... ...

Με τον πούτσο τους το τρίβουν και το ψιλοκοπανίζουν.
... ... ...

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Notes

This well-known song, the hallmark of every Carnival revel, perfectly combines the magical with the comic element, provoking an abundance of laughter and high spirits. The song accompanies a slow men’s dance with three steps which alternate with imitative ceremonial movements by the group. The leader sings first and the others repeat after him. As soon as he mentions each manner of grinding the ‘pepper’, the dancers fall to the ground and make the corresponding movements with their bodies. Only the first man remains standing, supervising the dance and, with the stick or belt he holds in his hand, ‘correcting’ whomever does not obey or makes the wrong movements. The symbolism in the song is obvious. Miranda Terzopoulou (1994)

Recording information

Live recording in the taverna 'To Monastiri', in Athens, in 1994.

Watch a different version of the song by Charilaos Tsaktsiras. Live recording from the concert Carnival Songs with Domna Samiou at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, at 4/3/2003.

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