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At the casement of the house, where the priest’s wife lives,
at the casement of her home two black eyebrows sit.
They gaze upon the sailing-ships that come from Egypt’s shores;
cosmetics are their merchandise, the best cosmetic rouge
for girls to paint their lips and cheeks.
– Tell me, o master of this ship, how much cosmetics cost.
– It’s five piastres for a dram of rouge, the best there is,
or of the finest powder made,
such as wives and maidens use and girls that are betrothed.

Translated by John Leatham

Στ’ς παπαδιάς τα παραθύρια

Στ’ς παπαδιάς, στ’ς παπαδιάς τα παραθύρια
στ’ς παπαδιάς τα παραθύρια, κάθουντι δυo μαύρα φρύδια

κι αγναντεύουν τα καράβια που ’ρχουντι ’πού του Μισίρι,
φουρτουμένα μι φκιασίδι, μι φκιασίδ’, μι κουκκινάδι,
για να βάζουν τα κουρίτσια.
– Γκιμιτζή1 μ’ καραβουκύρη, πόσα δίνεις του φκιασίδι;
– Πέντι γρόσα έχ’ του δράμι, του καλό του κουκκινάδι
κι του πιο καλό ξασπράδι2
που του βάνουν παντριμένις, λεύτιρις κι σιβασμένις3.

1γκιμιτζής: ναυτικός
2ξασπράδι: πούδρα
3σιβασμένις: αρραβωνιασμένες

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Recording information

Studio recording, 2000.

Domna Samiou taped the song, in Asproneri, Evros, sung by the gaida (bagpipe) player Yiorgos Demertzis, in 1976.

Watch the version of the song by Yiorgos Demerdjis

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