Βασιλικός θα γίνω

Listen

I’ll be the basil by your window,
I’ll stay unwed for your sake.

Come, come to me
and I’ll fill you with glee.

Come to the window, not a word to your mum,
mid pretend to water your marjoram.

By the end of July
with you I’ll lie.

The sun’s setting and the day’s ending
and I can’t gather my wits for love of you.

Come, cock, come
now I’m all alone.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

 

Βασιλικός θα γίνω

Bασιλικός θα γίνω στο παραθύρι σου
κι ανύπαντρος θα μείνω για το χατήρι σου.

Έλα, έλα με τ' εμένα
να περνάς χαριτωμένα.

Έβγα στο παραθύρι κρυφά απ’ τη μάνα σου
και κάνε πως ποτίζεις τη μαντζουράνα σου.

Tούτο δω το καλοκαίρι
θέλω να σε κάνω ταίρι.

O ήλιος βασιλεύει κι η μέρα σώνεται
κι ο νους μου απ’ την αγάπη δε συμμαζώνεται.

Έλα, έλα το πουλί μου
τώρα που ’μαι μοναχή μου.

[Tέσσερα πορτοκάλια, τα δυο σαπίσανε,
ήρθα για να σε πάρω και δε μ’ αφήσανε.

Mαύρα μάτια και μεγάλα
ζυμωμένα με το γάλα.]

Information

Collaborators

Albums

Notes

Erotic couplets fitted to the pogonísio, the most common air of the Pogoni region in Epirus, which is danced by women and men as a slow syrtós with three steps to a 4/4 rhythm. The local music stands out for its use of pentatonic scales and a form of polyphony which is unique in Greece. In this recording of the extremely well-known piece featuring a choir and the typical Epirote band (clarinet, violin, lute, défi) we may recognise some simplified and bastardized polyphonic techniques. Domna Samiou sings with the choir, but her voice is distinct and audible.

Miranda Terzopoulou (2018)

See also thw song A flower at your window.

Recording information

Studio recording, 1979.

Member Comments

0 Comments

Post a comment


up to 2000
Login to post a comment

See also

d25_badge
Song
At Tserítsiana’s Well
At the well of Tserítsiana, in the heart of the land, hail fine fellows, there were Bulubasiades watching. There were Bulu...
d27_badge
Song
Giannos and Vangelio
Giannos and Vangelio went to the same school, Giannos to learn to read and write, Vangelio to sing. Giannos fell in love an...
d16_badge
Song
Katsantonis
Hail, high mountains and you, low hills, hail dear Katsantónis and you, low-lying hills, my captain hail. And you Tzoumérk...
d24_badge
Song
Little Lemon Tree
Hey little lemon tree, short little lemon tree from Vissàni, heavy with fruit, I didn’t see you last night and now I’m sick...
d17_badge
Song
My Love-Bird Far Away from Home
My Emigrated Bird My love-bird far away from home, my love who’s broken-hearted, - o, absent love of mine, those foreign lands greet you with...
d20_badge
Song
My Son, Why Dont You Go and Wash?
Necrolatric Dance of Easter – My son, why don’t you go and wash, why don’t you change your clothing? Today, my child, is Easter Day, you’ll go and take ...
d05_badge
Song
The Lady Turtle-Dove
There in the sky that you fly, my lady turtle-dove, when from these hights you're looking down, did you by chance see my lo...
d17_badge
Song
Your Kerchief, Yanni
Your kerchief, Yanni, dearest love, why is it soiled and dirty? Come, Yanni, come, Yannaki dear, come now my handsome fello...