Μαύρο καπνό είδα κι έβγαινε

Listen

I saw some black smoke rise up out of the reeds;
The reeds are numberless and a monster hides in them.
Three huntsmen have decided to go and kill it.
On the way they talk about it:
When we have killed the monster in the reeds,
We will go to the king so that he can reward us
For having saved him.

Translated by Derek Yeld

Μαύρο καπνό είδα κι έβγαινε

Mαύρο καπνό είδα κι έβγαινε από 'να καλαμιώνα
κι ο καλαμιώνας έν’ πολύς κι ένα θεριό ’χει μέσα.
Tρεις κυνηγοί παρθήκανε να πα’ να το σκοτώσουν.
Στη στράτα όπου πηαίνανε επερριροζονάραν.
Σαν το σκοτώσουμ’ το θεριό που ’ναι στον καλαμιώνα
να πάμε εις το βασιλιά μιστό να μας εδώσει
γιατί τον εγλυτώσαμε.

Information

Collaborators

Albums

Notes

This very beautiful Acritic song is performed in the manner of the Cretan mountain-dwellers: in a loud, metallic voice, each verse preceded by a calling cry which is no doubt intended to create the effect of an echo. This is a technique often used by mountain singers. Aris Fakinos (1982)

Recording information

Studio recording, 1982.

Member Comments

0 Comments

Post a comment


up to 2000
Login to post a comment

See also

d32_badge--3
Song
Charon and the Brave Men
The Death of Digenis My friends, what happened to all the brave men in the world? They're not on the mountains and they're not in the passes. Th...
d32_badge--3
Song
Akritas Goes Hunting
The Death of Digenis Out hunting, on the way to the hunting grounds, Akritas met Charon at a crossroads. - Charon, what've you got against me th...
d21_badge
Song
Andrónikos and His Black Steed
The nobles sit to eat and drink around a marble table, a marble and a silver table, around a golden table, and all do only ...
d32_badge--3
Song
As Akritas Was Ploughing
The Abduction of Akritas’ Wife As Akritas was ploughing near the river, back and forth he went and ploughed five furrows a day, back and forth he went and...
d32_badge--3
Song
Digenis Is Dying
The Death of Digenis Digenis is dying and the mountains are trembling, and all the lords that heard it set out to visit him, they set out, bring...
d08_badge
Song
Marandon
Marandon has received the order to go to war. He forges horseshoes of silver and nails of gold, He shoes his black steed by...
d13_badge
Song
The Four Palikari
Four and four make eight,  Four Palikari go to the wars. On their way they are hungry And they sit down to eat, but they ...
d05_badge
Song
The Gallant Man
Never pity a valiant man not even if he misses, and if he misses once or twice, he's still valiant and brave. Ηis door will...
d25_03_badge--2
Song
The Swallows of Vlachiá
The Sack of Adrianoúpolis The swallows of Vlachiá and the birds of the West weeping late and weeping early, weeping at noon, weeping for ravaged Adri...