Κάτω στον κάμπο τον πλατύ

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Down in the open countryside – why, down there, don’t you see?
down there, where all those flowers are blooming,
that’s where the fair-haired –dear Irene–, that’s where the fair are gathered.
That’s where the fair-haired girls are gathered to build a monastery.
The doves bring in materials, the swallows do the building.
They’ve built it now, they’ve settled in, they’re in a circle dancing.
In front the fair-haired lead the dance, the dark-eyed girls come after,
and where the line of dancers turns, there dances Zervopoula.
Oh, I’d give anything to hold the hand of Zervopoula.

Translated by John Leatham

Κάτω στον κάμπο τον πλατύ

Η Ζερβοπούλα

Κάτω στον κάμπο τον πλατύ, που ’ν’ τα, μωρέ,
που ’ν’ τα πολλά λελούδια
εκεί μαζέ- το Ρηνάκι μου, εκεί μαζεύοντ’ οι ξανθιές.

Εκεί μαζεύοντ’ οι ξανθιές να χτίσουν μοναστήρι.
Τα περιστέρια κουβαλούν, τα χελιδόνια χτίζουν
το χτίσαν, τ’ αποχτίσανε, πιάνουν χορό χορεύουν.
Μπροστά χορεύουν οι ξανθιές και πίσω οι μαυρομάτες
και μες στη δίπλα του χορού, χορεύει η Ζερβοπούλα,
πώς νά ’κανα να τό ’πιανα της Ζερβοπούλας χέρι.

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Recording information

Studio recording, 1997.

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

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