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The word’s gone round: the lads from Crete, the lads who hail from Crete,
those brave and comely Cretan lads, have now cast anchor here.

The comely and attractive ones and those who are betrothed,
they’ve fitted out of sailing ship to sail the open seas,
they’ve stepped the masts of burnished bronze and raised the silver yards,
they’ve bent on silken sails and rigged the shrouds of silver wire.
Their vessel is a handsome sight, the rigger’s handsome too.
Good vessel, if you sail for Chios and to Saloniki,
then tell the girl with black eyes that I’m in love with her.

Translated by John Leatham

Ήρθαν τα Κρητικά παιδιά

ν-Ήρθαν, μα λεν , ήρθαν τα Κρητικά, Κρητικά παιδιά
ν-ήρθαν τα Κρητικά-να παιδιά, τα ’μορφοπαλικά-να-ρια,

τα ’μορφα και τα νόστιμα και τ’ αρραβωνιασμένα.
Καράβιν ισκαρώσανε καταμεσού πελάγου,
βάζουν κατάρτια μπρούτζινα κι αντένες ασημένιες
και τα πανιά μεταξωτά και ξάρτια συρματένια,
κι είν’ ’μορφο το καράβι τους κι ο νιος που τ’ αρμενίζει.
Καράβι μου κι αν πας στη Χιο κι αν πας στη Σαλονίκη,
χαιρέτα μου την αγαπώ, πο ’χει τα μαύρα μάτια.

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Recording information

Studio recording, 2001.

Domna Samiou taped the song in Ierissos, Chalkidiki, sung by Yiorgos and Roula Tzitzos, in 1972.

The Word’s Gone Round: The Lads From Crete
Yiorgos Tzitzos, Roula Tzitzos. Ierissos, Chalkidiki 1972. © Domna Samiou Archive

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