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What Ails You, Poor Plane-Tree?

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Lyrics
What ails you, poor plane-tree?
Your roots draw water, amán,
your roots draw well, yet you stand there limp,
your roots drink their fill, yet your leaves hang lifeless.
My children, you have asked so I shall tell.
Ali Pasha passed this way with eighteen thousand men.
They all lay in my shadow, they all rested in my shade,
they all took aim and shot me.
They lopped off my branches and my heart shrivelled up,
that old Ali Pasha put a bullet in my heart.
When spring comes and summer,
when Holy Easter is upon us and Christ is risen
then I’ll put forth leaves and branches.
Translated by Michael Eleftheriou
Original Lyrics
Τ' έχεις καημένε πλάτανε
Τ’ έχεις καημέ- καημένε πλάτανε και στέκεις μαραμένος
με τις ριζού- ριζούλες στο νερό, αμάν,
με τις ριζού- ριζούλες στο νερό,
με τις ριζούλες στο νερό και πάλι μαραμένος;
Παιδιά μ’ σαν με ρωτήσατε, να σας το μολογήσω.
Αλή πασάς επέρασε με δεκοχτώ χιλιάδες.
Κι όλοι στον ίσκιο μ’ έκατσαν, εκάτσαν στη δροσιά μου
κι όλοι σημάδι μ’ έβαλαν, κι όλοι με τουφεκίσαν.
Μου κόψαν τα κλωνάρια μου, μαράθηκ’ η καρδιά μου
κι αυτός ο γερ’-Αλή πασάς μου ρίχνει στην καρδιά μου.
Ταχιά σαν έρθ’ η άνοιξη, σαν έρθ’ το καλοκαίρι,
σαν έρθ’ η άγια Πασχαλιά με το Χριστός Ανέστη
θα βγάλω φύλλα και κλωνιά.
Information
- Region: Central Greece
- Categories: Klephtic Song
- Rhythm: 7 beats
- Dance style: Syrtos
- Duration: 03:25
Collaborators
- Choir: Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association Choir
- Clarinet: Thodoris Georgopoulos
- Violin: Nikos Oikonomidis
- Constantinopolitan lute: Socrates Sinopoulos
- Santur: Ourania Lambropoulou
- Lute: Kostas Philippidis
- Goblet drum: Andreas Pappas
Albums
Recording information
Studio recording, 2004.
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See also

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Androútsos' Mother

Song
I Passed by One Saturday

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What Ails You, Poor Parnassós

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What Ails You, Poor Plane-Tree?

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Song
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Song
The Captains of Trípoli

Song
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