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Nine villages of ours they razed
amán amán, and fifteen castles.
Amán, come see the body you torture.
And they took Náoussa, amán amán,
the head village hearabouts.
Amán, morning star, why so late in rising?
An apple, amán, and another, amán
night's here, but where can I sleep?
They took mothers with children,
daughters with mothers-in-law,
Krinítsa, my love, my heart ashes for you.
They took the sapphire bride, just three days wed,
come lay eyes upon the heart you will have suffer so.
An apple, amán, and another,
night's here, but where can I sleep.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

Μας χάλασαν εννιά χωριά

Μας χάλασαν κι αϊμάν αϊμάν
εννιά χωριά και δεκαπέντε κάστρα,
πρόβαλε να δεις, αμάν, κορμί που τυραννείς.

Μας πάτησαν, κι αϊμάν αϊμάν
τη Νιάουστα που ήταν κεφαλοχώρι,
άστρο της αυγής, αμάν, γιατι άργησες να βγεις;

Ένα μήλο αμάν, κι άλλο μήλο αμάν,
βράδιασε και πού θα μείνω.

Πήραν μανούλες με παιδιά και πεθερές με νύφες,
μαρ’ Κρινίτσα μου, καημό πο ’χει η καρδίτσα μου.

Πήραν τη ζαφειρόνυφη, τριών ημερών νυφούλα,
πρόβαλε να δεις, αμάν, καρδιά που τυραννείς.

Ένα μήλο αμάν, κι άλλο μήλο αμάν,
βράδιασε και πού θα μείνω.

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Notes

The song tells of the destruction of Náoussa by Turkish forces on April 6, 1822, after a lengthy siege. It dwells on the tragic fate suffered by women, whom the popular consciousness treats here and elsewhere as paradigms of courage and heroism. Miranda Terzopoulou (2007)

Recording information

Studio recording, 2004.

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