Listen

At the well of Tserítsiana,
in the heart of the land, hail fine fellows,
there were Bulubasiades watching.
There were Bulubasiades and there were Margaritiotes.
And they watched the Souliots waging war
[how children fought, and women like their menfolk],
how Tzavelas’ wife fought like the bravest levendis1
advancing all the while with bullets in her apron,
cartridges in her belt, and a child in her arms.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

1levéndis: a young man blessed with courage and physical presence

Στη βρύση στα Τσερίτσιανα

Της Τζαβέλαινας

Στη βρύση στα Τσερί -νι-τσιανα,
στη μέ- μωρέ στη μέσ’ από τη χώρα
Μπουλουμπασιά- άι γεια σας παιδιά,
Μπουλουμπασιάδες κάθουνταν.

Μπουλουμπασιάδες κάθουνταν κι όλο Μαργαριτιώτες.
Κι αγνάντιβαν τον πόλιμο που κάνουν οι Σουλιώτες
(πώς πολιμάν μικρά παιδιά, γυναίκες σαν τους άντρες),
πώς πολιμά η Τζαβέλαινα σαν άξιο παλικάρι,
σέρνει τα βόλια στην ποδιά, φυσέκια στο ζουνάρι,
και το παιδί στην αγκαλιά κι όλο μπροστά πηγαίνει.

Information

Collaborators

Albums

Notes

The song refers to Ali Pasha’s first campaign against the Souliots in June 1792, when women and children led by Moscho, Lambros Tzavelas’ wife, took part in the heroic defence of their land against numerically superior forces. They succeeded in repulsing the Albanians, albeit only temporarily. Miranda Terzopoulou (2007)

Recording information

Studio recording, 2004.

Based on Simon Karas' recording which belongs to the Association for the Dissemination of Greek National Music.

Member Comments

0 Comments

Post a comment


up to 2000
Login to post a comment

See also

d25_badge
Song
All the castles I have seen
The castle of the beautiful maid All the castles I have seen, not one have I not visited vr' amán amán, not one have I not visited, oh maid Frankish, maiden...
d25_badge
Song
Rock of Monemvasiá
Rock, vai, rock of Monemvasiá Rock of Monemvasiá and Athens’ citadel. Hey Palamedi of Náfplion, open up and let me in. So ...
d25_badge
Song
A great command
And the king did command and ’twas a great command: fleet and admiral were to quit the land. By the Lord’s command and the...
d27_badge
Song
A prince is to be wed
Evil in-laws A prince is to be wed to a dark-eyed bride whose folk sought refuge here. His bride-to-be’s from uprooted stock, little re...
d25_badge
Song
All the captains' women
All the captains’ women went and bowed down before Ali Pasha, before the vezir, but Leni, Bótsaris’ Leni, will not bow her ...
d25_badge
Song
Androútsos' mother
Androutsos’ mother is glad, Androutsos’ mother is glad and Diakos’ proud For they have warriors and captains for sons who ...
d14_badge
Song
Ballos from Alatsata
Start, sweet tongue of mine, and remember, my lips, And you poor heart, tell what you know. Of songs and commendations I ...
d27_badge
Song
Dawn glowed in the East
Spouses recognized on the emigrant's return The sun rose in the East and day broke in the West, the young man led his black mount to water. All along the way, he calle...
d14_badge
Song
Dimitroula
You dance, my spoilt one, but I don't know who are you, from your stature you seem, scampish perivolaria, to be of noble bi...
d23_badge
Song
Down on the sandy beach
Down on the sandy beach, down by the water’s edge, a girl was laundering her silver-threaded dress. After rinsing it, she l...
d17_badge
Song
Forgetful, I am truly glad
Forgetful I am truly glad, but mindful I am saddened; remembering those foreign lands, I want to set out for them. – Get up...
d27_badge
Song
Four, five, nine brothers
Four brothers five brothers nine, eighteen cousins, none destined to grow to man’s estate were by royal command to go and f...
d27_badge
Song
Giannos and Vangelio
Giannos and Vangelio went to the same school, Giannos to learn to read and write, Vangelio to sing. Giannos fell in love an...
d25_badge
Song
Great joy across the land
Great joy across the land, great joy in every village and all in the best, the best of spirits save Rhodes, poor ill-fated ...