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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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