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Forgetful I am truly glad, but mindful I am saddened;
remembering those foreign lands, I want to set out for them.
– Get up, good mother, knead some dough, bake fresh rusks for my journey.
Aggrieved she pours the water in, she kneads with tears a-plenty;
with heavy heart she lights the fire to heat the baking oven.
– O oven, bide your time to heat, and you, o loaf, to finish;
just let the caravaneer go past, my son must then remain here.

Translated by John Leatham

Αλησμονώ και χαίρομαι

Aλησμονώ και χαίρομαι, θυμιούμαι και λυπούμαι
θυμήθηκα την ξενιτιά και θέλω να πηγαίνω.
- Σήκω μάνα μ’ και ζύμωσε καθάριο παξιμάδι.
Mε πόνους βάνει το νερό με δάκρυα το ζυμώνει
και με πολύ παράπονο βάζει φωτιά στο φούρνο.
- Άργησε φούρνε να καείς και συ ψωμί να γένεις
για να περάσ' ο κερατζής κι ο γιός σου να πομείνει.

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Notes

English text

Like the preceding song, also a song of emigration (a capella polyphonic). Here the 'embroiderer' gives us a veritable demonstration of vocal virtuosity. This is a phenomenon frequently observed when the singers perform songs of emigration or laments.

Translated by Derek Yeld

French text

Chant d'émigration comme le précédent (polyphonique a capella). Ici, le "brodeur" se livre à une véritable démons tration de virtuosité vocale, - phénomène que l'on observe souvent lorsque les musi ciens interprètent des chants d'émigration ou des lamentations.

Recording information

Studio recording, 1984.

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