Easter Dance Song

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Why, it was Easter Day, good George, t’was Easter,
the day of happy tidings, my good George,
a day of happy tidings, dear Doúkina.

All feasted then, and all caroused, and that day all made merry,
and George, he idly hung about outside his own front door.
Now you see the kind of wife I’ve got, who knocks around with Turks.
It’s not the time to say such things, it’s not the time for gossip.
And yet you made it known to all around the dancing place?
In doing so you shamed your mother and your in-laws too.

Translated by John Leatham

Ανήμιρα την Πασχαλιά

ν-Ανήμιρα, μα λέει ν-ανήμιρα
ν-ανήμιρα, Γιώργη μ’, την Πασχαλιά
κι στουν καλόν τουν λόγου, βρε Γιώργη μου
κι στουν καλόν τουν λόγου, μαρ’ Δούκινα.

ν-Όλ’ έτρουγαν κι όλ’ έπιναν κι όλοι χαροκοπιούνταν
κι ι Γιώργης παραμόνευε έξω μεριά απ’ την πόρτα.
Γιά ιδές γυναίκα πόχω ’γώ πως παίζει με τους Tούρκους.
Δεν ήταν ώρα να το πεις κι ώρα να το σιβντίσεις,1
μόν’ βγήκες και το φώναξες μέσα στο χοροστάσι,
κι αντρόπιασες τη μάνα σου και τα πεθερικά σου.

1σιβντίσεις: διαλαλήσεις

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Recording information

Studio recording, 1997.

Domna Samiou taped the song in Ierissos, Chalkidiki, sung by Yiorgos and Roula Tzitzos, in 1972.

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