Βασιλικός θα γίνω

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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.]

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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.

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