My Precious (Tzivaeri)

Τζιβαέρι

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Alas, my precious,
my fragrant flower now brings joy to a foreign land,

gently, gently and quietly.

Alack, 'twas I sent him away, my precious,
no one made me,

gently, gently, I tread the earth gently.

I curse you foreign land,
you and your prosperity,

gently, gently and quietly.

you took my child away
and made him yours.

gently, gently, I tread the earth gently.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

Τζιβαέρι

Aχ, η ξενιτιά το χαίρεται, τζιβαέρι μου,
το μοσχολούλουδό μου

σιγανά, σιγανά, σιγανά και ταπεινά.

Aχ, εγώ ήμουνα που το ’στειλα, τζιβαέρι μου,
με θέλημα δικό μου

σιγανά, σιγανά, σιγανά πατώ στη γη.

Αχ, πανάθεμά σε ξενιτιά, τζιβαέρι μου,
εσέν’ και το καλό σου

σιγανά, σιγανά, σιγανά και ταπεινά.

Αχ, που πήρες το παιδάκι μου, τζιβαέρι μου,
και το ’κανες δικό σου

σιγανά, σιγανά, σιγανά πατώ στη γη.

Region: Dodecanese
Type: Couplets
Categories: Immigration Song
Rhythm: 4 beats
Duration: 03:45

Collaborators

Singer: Domna Samiou
Violin: Nikos Oikonomidis
Lute: Kostas Philippidis

Albums

I Tread the Earth Gently

In the LP Travelling in Greece with Domna Samiou (1972), Domna Samiou noted:

This is a very popular song nowadays. It is a Dodecanese song that deals with the suffering and hardships of the Greek immigrants abroad. I remember that the first time I’ d heard it, it was sung by Amalia Papastephanou, a local singer from the Dodecanese, who had recorded a number of albums including traditional songs of her land. I had taken active part in the preparation and release of these albums at the time. The song in question was originally sung by her but I liked it so much that I also sang it myself.

See also others versions of the song: by Amalia Papastefanou (1960's), an instrumental version by Aristides Moschos (1974) and by Domna Samiou (2006).

Studio recording, 2006.

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