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They sent me a carnation plant, Roumbaliá, Roumbaliá,
from the land of the Franks,

and the pot is made of marble, Roumbaliá, Roumbaliá,
the carnations are golden.

Night fell and the stars are out and they will kill me.
Ask intercessors to plead for me, my light, perhaps they will save me.

My Marigó, my lady, my young girl from Meli,
I want to draw your picture on my tobacco pouch.

Translated by Mania Seferiades

Ρουμπαλιά

Μια γαρουφαλιά μου στείλαν, Ρουμπαλιά, Ρουμπαλιά1
ν-από μέσ’ απ’ τη Φραγκιά

κι είν’ η γλάστρα μαρμαρένια, Ρουμπαλιά, Ρουμπαλιά
τα γαρούφαλα χρυσά.

Νύχτιωσε και βγήκαν τ’ άστρα και θα με σκοτώσουνε,
βάλε, φως μου, ριτζατζήδες2 ίσως με γλυτώσουνε.

Μαριγώ μου και ντουντού3 μου και Μελιωτοπούλα μου,
να σε ζωγραφίσω θέλω στην καπνοσακκούλα μου.

1Ρουμπαλιά: γυναικείο όνομα
2ριτζατζήδες: μεσολαβητές (από το τουρκικό ricacı)
3ντουντού: προσωνυμία που δινότανε στις γυναίκες

Information

Collaborators

  • Singer: Maria Karamblaka
  • Choir: Women's Group from Meli (Megara, Attiki)
  • Informant (source of the song): Maria Karamblaka

Albums

Recording information

Studio recording, 1984.

Domna Samiou taped the song in Meli, near Megara, Attiki, sung by Maria Karablaka and a group of women, in 1981.

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