Listen

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.

Information

Collaborators

Albums

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.

Member Comments

0 Comments

Post a comment


up to 2000
Login to post a comment

See also

d17_badge
Song
Forgetful, I Am Truly Glad
Forgetful I am truly glad, but mindful I am saddened; remembering those foreign lands, I want to set out for them. – Get up...
d01_badge
Song
Forgetful, I Am Truly Glad
Forgetful I am truly glad, but mindful I am saddened; remembering those foreign lands, I want to set out for them. – Get up...
d08_badge
Song
John Dear Your Handkerchif
Your kerchief, Yanni, dearest love, why is it soiled and dirty? Come, Yanno, come, Yannaki dear, come now my handsome fello...
d36_badge
Song
My Emigrated Bird
My love-bird far away from home, my love who's broken-hearted,                                                              ...
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...
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...
d26_23_badge
Song
Turtledove
High up upon your way, moré turtledove, down low as you pass by, sweet beautiful turtledove, might you have caught sight o...
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...
d17_badge
Song
A Maid Was Singing Longingly
A maid was singing longingly inside a high-walled palace, her voice was caught up on the breeze and carried off to seaward, ...
d05_badge
Song
My Precious (Tzivaeri)
Now a foreign land watches him grow -my precious one my life's sweet-smelling blossom -silently and humbly. God, I was the ...