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A maid was singing longingly inside a high-walled palace,
her voice was caught up on the breeze and carried off to seaward,
and all the ships that heard that voice at once let go their halyards.
[Save one that holds friendship most dear and knows a love-lorn sorrow;
she neither lets her halyards go, nor downs her sails completely;
instead she shortens sail at once, and steers towards the singer.]
- O maiden, change the air you sing [and sing another song, do.]
- How should I change the air I sing, and sing another song?
My song comes from a woman’s heart, it was a dirge I purposed.
My man’s abroad and far from home...

Translated by John Leatham

Κοράσιν ετραγούδαγε

Της απαρνημένης

Κοράσιν ετραγούδαγε σ’ ένα ψηλό παλάτι
κι επήρ’ αγέρας τη φωνή στα πέλαγα την πάει.
Κι όσα καράβια τ’ άκουσαν όλα πανιά μαϊνάραν.
[Κι ένα καράβι της φιλιάς, καημένο της αγάπης
ούτε μαϊνάρει τα πανιά ούτε τα παίρνει κάτου
τα μπάσο μούδο τα ’ριξε1 και στη φωνή πηγαίνει.]
- Κόρη μ’ άλλαξε το σκοπό [και πες άλλο τραγούδι.]
- Και πώς ν’ αλλάξω το σκοπό, να πω άλλο τραγούδι,
εγώ κι αν ετραγούδησα για μοιρολόι το ’πα:
έχω άντρα στην ξενιτιά...

1τα μπάσο μούδο τα ’ριξε: (όρος ναυτικός) τα ρεγουλάρισε μισοχωρίζοντάς τα

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Recording information

Studio recording, 1989.

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

Watch a different version of the song by Domna Samiou

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