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May is come and bids me reap but for his sake
I shall not go and darken in the sun.

May, dear May with the flowers
and songs too many to count.
The corn flowers are in bloom
and the men will soon be away.

With their flowers and lemon blossom,
May and June are a time for love.

Oh, May and April
when the lilies are in flower.
The corn flowers are in bloom
and the men will soon be away.

In May and June, no tree takes root
save love’s, which brings forth fruit and leaves.

I brought you a garland, mistress,
on May Day night.
The corn flowers are in bloom
and the men will soon be away.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

Ήρχεν ο Μάης

Ήρχεν ο Μάης κι είπε μου να πα- να πα να (ν)του θερίσω
μα ’γω για το χατήρι (ν)του δεν πα- δεν πάω για να μαυρίσω.

Μάη μου, Μάη μου με τα λουλούδια
και με τα, και με τα πολλά τραγούδια.
Ανοίξαν τα σπαρτόπουλα,1
φεύγουν τα Θερμιωτόπουλα.2

Το Μάη και το Θεριστή πιάνεται η αγάπη
που ’ναι τα σπαρτολούλουδα κι οι λεμονιές με τ’ άνθη.

Ω, το Μάη, τον Απρίλη
που ανθίζουνε οι κρίνοι.
Ανοίξαν τα σπαρτόπουλα,
φεύγουν τα Θερμιωτόπουλα.

Το Μάη και το Θεριστή άλλο δεντρί δεν πιάνει
μόν’ της αγάπης το δεντρί καρπούς και φύλλα κάνει.

Σου ’φερα κυρά το Μάη
την πρωτομαγιά το βράδυ.
Ανοίξαν τα σπαρτόπουλα,
φεύγουν τα Θερμιωτόπουλα.

1σπαρτόπουλα: σπάρτα
2Θερμιά: η παλιά ονομασία της Κύθνου

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Notes

The chorus refers to the annual departure of Kythnos’ menfolk in May when the weather has settled and they can sail away to earn their pay on land and sea. Miranda Terzopoulou (2007)

Recording information

Studio recording, 2005.

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