Listen

Your kerchief, Yanni, dearest love, why is it soiled and dirty?

Come, Yanni, come, Yannaki dear,
come now my handsome fellow.

T’was soiled while I was far from home, in distant lonely places.

O mother dear, they stole my heart,
they stole my heart quite away.

Five rivers tried to wash it clean, all five took on its colour...

Come, Yanni, come, Yannaki dear,
come now my handsome fellow.

...and they in turn did dye the sea and all the ships that sailed it.

Come, Yanni, come, Yannaki dear,
come now my handsome fellow.

Translated by John Leatham

Γιάννη μου το μαντίλι σου

Γιάννη μου το μαντίλι σου τι το ’χεις λερωμένο;

βρε Γιάννη, Γιαννάκη μου
βρε παλικαράκι μου.

Το λέρωσε η ξενιτιά, τα έρημα τα ξένα

βρε μανούλα μου
κάψαν την καρδούλα μου.

Πέντε ποτάμια το ’πλυναν κι έβαψαν και τα πέντε

βρε Γιάννο, Γιαννάκη μου
βρε παλικαράκι μου.

Κι έβαψαν και τη θάλασσα με όλα τα καράβια

βρε Γιάννο, Γιαννάκη μου
βρε παλικαράκι μου.

Information

Collaborators

Albums

Notes

Characteristic dance from the Pogoni province of Epirus.

Recording information

Studio recording, 1989.

Member Comments

0 Comments

Post a comment


up to 2000
Login to post a comment

See also

d08_badge
Song
John Dear Your Handkerchif
Your kerchief, Yanni, dearest love, why is it soiled and dirty? Come, Yanno, come, Yannaki dear, come now my handsome fello...
795_843_badge_rmp45_040_2
Song
My Emigrated Bird
My love-bird far away from home, my love who's broken-hearted,                                                              ...
d17_badge
Song
My Love-Bird Far Away from Home
My Emigrated Bird My love-bird far away from home, my love who’s broken-hearted, - o, absent love of mine, those foreign lands greet you with...
d05_badge
Song
The Lady Turtle-Dove
There in the sky that you fly, my lady turtle-dove, when from these hights you're looking down, did you by chance see my lo...
d25_badge
Song
At Tserítsiana’s Well
At the well of Tserítsiana, in the heart of the land, hail fine fellows, there were Bulubasiades watching. There were Bulu...
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
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
Katsantónis
Hail, high mountains and you, low hills, hail dear Katsantonis and you, low-lying hills, my captain hail. And you Tzoumerk...