Όλα τα πουλάκια ζυγά-ζυγά

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All the birds, amàn amàn,
the birds nest two by two,
all the birds two by two,
the swallow with his mate.

The lonesome nightingale all alone
awanders the plains with the eagle.
Walking, talking and singing away.
– Hey you, peddler, from Missolόnghi,
Where did you happen on that maiden,
her from Pàtras with the golden locks?
– I was passing through her neighbouhood
on my way from Constantinople.
There she was watering her basil,
tending to her marjoram.
She cut me a sprig and gave it me
and her words flooded my heart with joy:
Send matchmakers to my mother’s house,
your uncle to mine to seek my hand.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

Όλα τα πουλάκια ζυγά-ζυγά

Όλα τα πουλάκια, κι αμάν-αμάν,
όλα τα πουλάκια ζυγά-ζυγά,
όλα τα πουλάκια ζυγά-ζυγά,
τα χελιδονάκια ζευγαρωτά.

Το ’ρημο τ’ αηδόνι το μοναχό
περπατεί στους κάμπους με τον αϊτό.
Περπατεί και λέει και κελαηδεί.
– Βρε Μεσολογγίτη πραματευτή,
πού τηνε διαλέχτεις αυτήν τη νιά,
την ξανθομαλλούσα, την Πατρινιά.
– Απ’ την Πόλη ερχόμουν κι απ’ τα νησιά
κι απ’ τη γειτονιά της επέρασα.
Τα βασιλικά της επότιζε
και τις μαντζουράνες εδρόσιζε.
Μου ’κοψε κλωνάρι και μου ’δωσε,
μου ’πε κι ένα λόγο που μ’ άρεσε:
στείλε προξενήτρες στη μάνα μου
και προξενητάδες στο μπάρμπα μου.

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Recording information

Studio recording, 2005.

Watch a different version of the song by Domna Samiou

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