Listen

I was over by Piana, up high, a day or two ago
and, lads, who did I hear but the old man of the Moriá.
And I hear the old man of the Moriá, old Thodorakis
telling his fine lads, telling them
‘Listen up, autumn’s done and bitter winter’s come.
The trees are bare, our lairs exposed,
’tis time to separate.
Split up we must, so grab your friends,
your best men.
I myself am Zákynthos bound,
to spend the winter there’.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

Photo: Chanteurs Grecs, Theodore Leblanc, coloured lithograph by Gihaut Frères, Athens, National Historical Museum, no. 10281.

Εψές προψές επέρναγα

Κολοκοτρωναίικο

Εψές προψές επέρναγα απ’ τα, μωρέ
ν-απ’ τα βουνά της Πιάνας
κι ακώ το γέ- μωρέ παιδιά, κι ακώ το γέρο του Μωριά.

Κι ακώ το γέρο του Μωριά, το γερο-Θοδωράκη
να λέει στα παλικάρια του, να λέει στα παιδιά του.
Παιδιά μ’ πήρ’ ο χινόπωρος, πήρ’ ο βαρύς χειμώνας,
πέσαν τα φύλλα απ’ τα κλαριά, γυμνώσαν τα λημέρια,
παιδιά μου να χωρίσουμε, μπουλούκια να γινούμε,
πιάστε τους φίλους τους παλιούς
και τους καλούς κουμπάρους
κι εγώ θα πα στη Ζάκυνθο, θα πα να ξεχειμάσω.

Φωτ. Chanteurs Grecs (Έλληνες τραγουδιστές) Σχ. Thedore Leblanc, λιθ. Gihaut. Επιχρωματισμένη λιθογραφία. Εθνικό Ιστορικό Μουσείο, αρ. κατ. 10281.

Information

Collaborators

  • Singer: Ilias Zarokostas
  • Informant (source of the song): Ilias Zarokostas

Albums

Recording information

Domna Samiou taped the song in Livadi district of Pera Melana, Kynouria, Arcadia, in 1972.

Member Comments

0 Comments

Post a comment


up to 2000
Login to post a comment

See also

d25_badge
Song
A Maid Decided
A maid decided to join the klephts and set fire, vr’ amán och amán, she set fire to her loom. She set fire to her loom, to...
d25_28_badge
Song
All the Castles I Have Seen
The Castle of the Beautiful Maid All the castles I have seen, not one have I not visited vr' amán amán, not one have I not visited, oh maid Frankish, maiden...
d25_21_badge
Song
Great Joy Across the Land
Joy and celebrations across the land but Náfplion, my Náfplion, why are you not joyous? Why no scenes of joy, no celebratio...
d25_07_badge
Song
How Joyous Are the Mountains
Hey, how joyous are the mountains, how joyous the mountains and proud the plains. The Virgin is celebrating today, and the...
d25_badge
Song
In the Heart of Kalávryta
In the heart of Kalávryta, beneath the great plane tree old Zaimis sat, three old men a-sitting. There were three old men t...
d25_badge
Song
On Tríkorfa Peak
’Tis on Tríkorfa, up on the peak that Kolokotronis is fighting, and ’tis on Tríkorfa, high on the ridge that the blood flo...
d25_badge
Song
On Tríkorfa Peak
On Tríkorfa1, up on its highest peak Kolokotronis yells his orders, on Tríkorfa, high up on the ridge, the blood flows in ...
d25_badge
Song
Rock of Monemvasiá
Rock, vai, rock of Monemvasiá Rock of Monemvasiá and Athens’ citadel. Hey Palamedi of Náfplion, open up and let me in. So ...
d26_24_badge
Song
The Arcadian Lass
Who saw, hail Arcadian lass, who saw the girl from Arcadia, dear Arcadian lass, decked out in klephtic garb? Twelve years ...
d25_35_badge
Song
The Captains of Trípoli
The captains of Trípoli, mana mou, the captains of Trípoli and the brave men of Moriá. In Albania they lie, in Iván they r...
d24_badge
Song
If I Had an Orchard
If I had an orchard, an orchard studded with bitter oranges. Studded with bitter oranges, bitter oranges all covered in bl...
d25_08_badge
Song
When You Dream of Brave Deeds
When you dream of brave deeds, my black-fated sons, when you dream of bravery, of taking to the hills, ask me first about...