Listen

Hey mountains of Grevená,
hey mountain pine of Métsovo,
can’t you dip a little lower.
Dip two rifle shots so we can see Grevená,
and much-lauded Spílio,
see how Ziakas is battling the Turks.
The shells fall like rain and the bombs like hail,
and rifles here and there like raindrops.
Keep fighting, poor Thódoros,
keep the shots ringing out, have no fear of Abdi Pasha’s shots.
How can I keep on, boys, how can I fight,
my cartridge belt is empty, I’ve not one bullet left,
and I’ve a thousand women and children
hanging round my neck.
Keep fighting, poor Thódoros.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

Εσείς βουνά του Γρεβενού

Του Ζιάκα

ν-Εσείς βουνά, βουνά του Γρεβενού
και πεύκα του Μετσόβου, λίγο για χα- για χαμηλώσετε.

Λίγο για χαμηλώσετε δυο ντουφεκιές του βάθους
για να φανούν τα Γρεβενά, το παινεμένο Σπήλιο,
πώς πολεμάει Τζιάκας με την Τουρκιά.
Πέφτουν τα τόπια1 σα βροχή κι οι μπόμπες σα χαλάζι,
κι αυτά τα λιανοντούφεκα σα σιγαλή ψιχάλα.
Βάστα καημένε Θόδωρε, βαστάξου στο ντουφέκι,
μη σε φοβίζουν τίποτε τ’ Αβδή πασά τα τόπια.
Πώς να βαστάξω βρε παιδιά και πώς να πολεμήσω,
ο τζιπχανές2 εσώθηκε, δεν έμεινε ένα βόλι,
και χίλια γυναικόπαιδα κρέμονται στο λαιμό μου.
Βάστα καημένε Θόδωρε.

1τόπια: τα βόλια των κανονιών
2τζιπχανές: πυρομαχικά

Information

Collaborators

Albums

Notes

A song about Thódoros Ziakas, a member of the famed family of armatoloi from Makrynoros, Grevená. Ziakas continued to fight the Turks after the founding of the modern Greek state and met his death near the village of Spίlio in 1854, taking part in a local uprising. 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_18_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...
d25_badge
Song
Nine Villages They Razed
Nine villages of ours they razed amán amán, and fifteen castles. Amán, come see the body you torture. And they took Náouss...
d25_08_badge
Song
When You Dream of Brave Deeds
When you dream of brave deeds, my black-fated sons, when you dream of bravery, of taking to the hills, ask me first about...
d25_badge
Song
A Maid Decided
A maid decided to join the klephts and set fire, vr’ amán och amán, she set fire to her loom. She set fire to her loom, to...
d05_badge
Song
A Noble Lady Summoned Me
A noble lady summoned me, a blue-eyed noble lady she summoned me to go to her, her wealth in Kalamata lies she summoned me ...
d32_badge--3
Song
Mavrianos' Threshing Floor
The Wager of Giannis and the Sun At Mavrianos' marble threshing floor a king and a youth are contesting throwing heavy stones, no one can throw them like Gi...
d25_badge
Song
On Tríkorfa Peak
On Tríkorfa1, up on its highest peak Kolokotronis yells his orders, on Tríkorfa, high up on the ridge, the blood flows in ...
d25_32_badge
Song
Up Siátista Way
Up Siátista way, just up from Kastoriá, will you not weep mothers, mothers and children? They killed Pavlos, Pavlos Melás ...
d25_badge
Song
What Ails You, Poor Parnassós
What ails you, poor Parnassós, what ails you that you stand there sadly. Are your snows not deep, are your streams not fre...