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When you dream of brave deeds,
my black-fated sons,
when you dream of bravery,
of taking to the hills,
ask me first about a klepht’s hard life.
For a captain I was o’er twelve long years.
And ’twas battles all day and watch all night,
no hot bread to eat, no sweet wine to drink.
My arm for a pillow, my sword for a mattress.
My solitary musket
a young maid in my arms.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

Photo: Le Giaour, painted by Théodore Géricault, lithograph (chez Gihaut), Athens, National Historical Museum, no. 14794.

Παιδιά μ’ σαν θέλτε λεβεντιά

Πιδιά μ’ σαν θέ- μαύρα πιδιά,
πιδιά μ’ σαν θέλτι λιβιντιά
πιδιά μ’ σαν θέλτι λιβιντιά κι κλέφτις να γινείτι,

ιμένα να ρουτήσιτι του τι τραβούν οι κλέφτις.
Δώδικα χρόνους έκανα στους κλέφτις καπιτάνιους.
ν-Όλη μιρούλα πόλιμου, του βράδυ καραούλι.1
Ζιστό ψουμί δεν έφαγα, γλυκό κρασί δεν ήπια.
[Το χέρι μου προυσκέφαλου κι του σπαθί μου στρώμα,
του έρημου καριόφιλου κόρη στην αγκαλιά μου.]

1καραούλι: παρατηρητήριο κλεφτών (πολεμιστών επί Τουρκοκρατίας)

Φωτ. Le Giaour, έργο εμπνευσμένο απο τον «Γκιαούρ» του Λόρδου Βύρωνα. Λιθογραφία Σχ. Théodore Géricault,
(chez Gihaut). Αθήνα, Εθνικό Ιστορικό Μουσείο, αρ. κατ. 14794.

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Studio recording, 2004.

Based on Simon Karas' recording which belongs to the Association for the Dissemination of Greek National Music.

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