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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.

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Notes

Characteristic dance from the Pogoni province of Epirus.

Recording information

Studio recording, 1989.

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