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Maria’ s gone to pick some lilac

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Lyrics
Maria’s gone to pick some lilac, a nightingale is singing,
she goes to gather lilac blossom in vineyards and in paddocks.
And as she gathers lilac blossom, with laughter and a burst of song,
she finds the nightingale that carols.
She creeps towards it on tip-toe, in fear lest she perchance disturb it,
and stop the songbird singing.
She stood a while admiring it, and it became aware of her,
but caroled to her sweety.
Translated by John Leatham
Original Lyrics
Μαρία πάει για πασχαλιές
Μαρία πάει για πασχαλιές, λάλησ’ αηδόνι μ’ λάλησι
πασχαλίτσις να μαζέψει, μες στ’ αμπέλια στα χουράφια.
Μαζώνουντας τις πασχαλιές, γελώντας τραγουδιώντας,
βρίσκ’ αηδόν’ που κελαηδούσι.
Αγάλια-αγάλια του ζυγών’ να μην του ξινουμίσει,1
να τ’ αφήσ’ να κελαηδήσει.
Έκατσι του καμάρουνι κι ’κείνου την τηρούσι
κι γλυκά την κελαηδούσι.
1ξινουμίσει: ξαφνιάσει
Information
- Region: Thrace
- Area: Evros, Karoti
- Categories: Easter song, Ritual song
- Rhythm: 6 beats
- Dance style: Zonaradikos
- Duration: 02:38
Collaborators
- Singer: Lambriana Doitsidi, Theopoula Doitsidi
- Clarinet: Nikos Philippidis
- Violin: Yiorgos Marinakis
- Constantinopolitan lute: Socrates Sinopoulos
- Lute: Kostas Philippidis
- Goblet drum: Yiorgos Gevgelis
Albums
Notes
The young girls’ ‘modest’ and xysyrtoi dances are followed on Easter Sunday in Karoti by zonaràdika dances like this one in which all the villagers take part. Zoe Margari (1998)
Recording information
Studio recording, 1997.
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