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May this Bállos last, last until morning
that the girls may dance with their mates!

Ah, my barber boy,
come, embrace my neck.1

Black eyes of mine and sweet, why are you angry?
Did perhaps your mother scold you about me?

I saw eyes and eyebrows and trusted, poor me
But I didn't know the heart and I was deceived.

I am sad when you go away and joyful when you come;
little white rose, I desire your flower.

1this sentence is in Turkish

Translated by Mania Seferiades

Μαρμαρινός καρσιλαμάς

Ας βαστάξει αυτός ο μπάλος, ας βαστάξει ως το πρωί
να χορέψουν τα κορίτσια με τα ταίρια τους μαζί.

A, μπερμπερίμ ογλάν
γκελ, μποϊνουμά ντολάν.1

Μαύρα μου μάτια και γλυκά γιατί 'στε κακιωμένα,
μήπως και σας εμάλωσε η μάνα σας για μένα.

Μάτια και φρύδια έβλεπα και πίστευα ο καημένος
μα τις καρδιές δεν ήξερα και βγήκα γελασμένος.

Κι όταν λείπεις λύπην έχω κι όταν έρθεις χαίρομαι,
άσπρο τριανταφυλλάκι τον ανθό σου 'ρέγομαι.

1A, μπερμπερίμ ογλάν γκελ, μποϊνουμά ντολάν: Αχ, μπαρμπεράκι μου, έλα, αγκάλιασε το λαιμό μου

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Notes

Recording information

Studio recording, 1984.

Domna Samiou taped the song in Neos Marmaras, Chalkidiki, sung by a group of women, in 1982.

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