Σην γέφυραν, σην γέφυραν (Της Τρίχας το γεφύρι)

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At the bridge, at the bridge,
at Trichas’ bridge.
A thousand builders hard at work,
and ten thousand apprentices.
They’d build all day long
and find it undone in the morning.
– What will you give me, master builder
to make your bridge stand firm?
– If I give you my father
no father will I have,
if I give you my mother
no mother I will have,
if I give you my wife
I will find one better.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

Σην γέφυραν, σην γέφυραν

Της Τρίχας το γεφύρι

Σην γέφυραν, σην γέφυραν, έλα Δάφνε1 μ’ ποταμέ,
ση Τρίχας το γεφύρι, ε Δάφνε μ’ και μυριγμένε,
ση Τρίχας το γεφύρι, ε Δάφνε μ’ και μυριγμένε,
χίλιοι μαστόροι έχτιζαν, έλα Δάφνε μ’ ποταμέ,
και μύριοι μαθητάδες, ε Δάφνε μ’ και μυριγμένε.

Όλεν την μέραν έχτιζαν το βράδον εχαλάουτον.
– Ντο δεις με πρωτομάστορα να στένω το γεφύρι σ’;
– Αν δίγω σε τον κύρην μου, άλλον κύρην πα κι έχω,
αν δίγω σε την μάναν μου, άλλον μάναν πα κι έχω,
αν δίγω σε την κάλη μου καλύτερον ευρίκω.

1Δάφνις: Ο Πυξίτης ποταμός

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Notes

In this variant from the Pontos region, the bridge being built is Tricha’s bridge, which links the song to the legend of the narrow, ethereal bridge which souls must cross on their way to the Underworld; fall, and they will be lost for ever. The linking of this ultimate ordeal with the ordeal of ritual human sacrifice, the song’s main theme, is a stroke of genius, seeing that both contain the idea of imaginary, terrifying contact with the unknown realm of the dead. Miranda Terzopoulou (2008)

Recording information

Studio recording, 2006.

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