Με τη θεια μου την Κοντύλω

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Together with my aunt Kontýlo I made towards the mill one day,
biyirné-biyirné-biyi-biyi-biyirné.

I elbow her, she elbows me; the good Lord wills it so: she falls,
I on top and she below.

– Oh auntie, would you were no kin – imagine what might happen then.
– Just you get on with it, my son, for I will ever be your aunt!
See, yonder, uncle strides our way and cleaves the air with his great knife.
– Why, nephew, you accursed boy, what’s that you’re wrestling with, my lad?
– A fever, uncle, struck her down. To cure her I am laying her.
– Lay her good and proper, lad, you’ve got my blessing on it, boy.

Translated by John Leatham

Με τη θεια μου την Κοντύλω

Με τη θεια μου την Κοντύλω επηγαίναμε στο μύλο,
μπιγιρνέ-μπιγιρνέ-μπίγι-μπίγι-μπιγιρνέ.

Κούντα1 γω και κούντα κείνη, δίν’ ο Θιός και πέφτ’ εκείνη,
πάνω γω, ’πό κάτω εκείνη.

– Άχου, θεια, και να ’σουν ξένη, και το τι ’θελε να γένει!
– Κάμε, γιε μου, τη δουλειά σου κι εγώ είμαι πάλι θεια σου!
Να κι ο μπάρμπας από πέρα, τράκα τρούκα τη μαχαίρα:
– Βρ’ ανιψιέ, καταραμένε, κι ίντα πολεμάς, καημένε;
Ίντα κάνεις βρε τση θειας σου κι είν' τα πόδiα της στ' αυτιά σου;
– Μπάρμπα, θερμασιά2 την πιάνει και την πλάκωσα να γιάνει!
– Πλάκωσ’ την καλά, παιδί μου, όπου να ’χεις την ευχή μου!

1κούντα: σκούντα
2θερμασιά: ρίγος, πυρετός

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Notes

Despite the total absence of indecent words, this song is exceptionally daring, for not only does it touch on the extreme taboo against incest, it merrily subverts it. The subject is not uncommon in popular songs, though in every case either divine or social justice brings about expiation. The subversive spirit of Carnival and the revealing comic speech let loose truths to which everyday morals turn a blind eye. The easy deception of the uncle perhaps alludes to this social hypocrisy. Miranda Terzopoulou (1994)

Recording information

Live recording from the concert Carnival Songs with Domna Samiou at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, at 4/3/2003.

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