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Lyrics
Tricked I was, tricked by the birds,
tricked by the nightingales of spring.
They tricked me and told me I would never die.
And I built my home up higher than the rest
with seven, eight floors and three score windows,
at one of which I sit and look out over the plains.
I see the fields of green, the mountains blue
and Charon1 approaching astride his mount.
[– Charon, left me be,
give me two or three days’ grace,
one to eat and drink, the next to sing.
Then, on the third, the gall-bitter third,
I shall come to you unsummoned.]
Translated by Michael Eleftheriou
1Charon : Death
Original Lyrics
Με γέλασαν τα πουλιά
Με γέλασαν, με γέλασαν(ε) τα πουλιά
με γέλασαν(ε) τα πουλιά, της άνοιξης τ’ αηδόνια.
Με γέλασαν και μου είπανε πουτές δε θα πιθάνω.
Κι έχτισα το σπιτάκι μου ψηλότερο ’πού τ’ άλλα
μ’ εφτά οχτώ πατώματα κι εξήντα παραθύρια.
Στο παραθύρι κάθουμι, τους κάμπους αγναντεύω,
βλέπω τους κάμπους πράσινους και τα βουνά γαλάζια,
βλέπω το Χάρο να ’ρχεται καβάλα στ’ άλογό του.
[– Άφ'σε με Χάρε να χαρώ κάνα δυο τρεις ημέρες
τη μια να φάω και να πιω, την άλλ' να τραγουδήσω
την τρίτη τη φαρμακερή θα έρθω μοναχός μου.]
Information
- Region: Thrace
- Area: Evros, Ambelakia
- Categories: Charon's Song
- Rhythm: 9 beats
- Dance style: Sygkathistos
- Duration: 05:00
Collaborators
- Singer: Vangelis Dimoudis
- Gaida (bagpipe): Yiorgos Makris
- Daouli (davul): Vangelis Karipis
- Informant (source of the song): Father Panagiotis Nikidis
Albums
Recording information
Studio recording, 2005.
Domna Samiou taped the song in Ambelakia, Orestiada, Evros, sung by the priest Panagiotis Nikides, in 1976.
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