Mairi Lo / Μαίρη Λω

Absorbed in talking we lost touch with time
possessed by grief, we were overtaken by night
Extinguish the tears with your handkerchief,
so may i drink the sun from your lips.

Don’t ask the sky,
the cloud, the moon;
your dark gaze
has taken something from the night.

What came upon us and saddened us
cunningly struck us like a knife.
Extinguish the tears with a handkerchief,
so I may drink the sun from your lips.

Don’t ask the sky,
the cloud, the moon;
your dark gaze
has taken something from the night.

Μην τον ρωτάς τον ουρανό
το σύννεφο και το φεγγάρι
το βλέμμα σου το σκοτεινό
κάτι απ’ τη νύχτα έχει πάρει

A wolf-like captain from Syra
on the ship each night is prowling about
and he’s remembering a lively little widow
who brought a tempest into his heart.

His pipe is kept lit and he keeps drinking
he has a look as wild as the waves
and a cabin boy from behind a porthole
keeps singing the same song

Captain, Captain smile
Love is a tempest which passes
Don’t let your heart, by a girl,
like a ship now be governed.

In our life one woman is not enough for us
captain you should enjoy life
put your anchor down in the first harbor
and look to find a new love.

Day and night he wrestles with the waves,
he travels in order to find comfort
but as far as he travels
his heart has stayed in one place, on shore.

From his hands he does not let go the ship’s wheel
The ship leaps through the waves
And the boat-swain as the night begins to fall
with the sailors from the prow sings

Captain, Captain smile
Love is a tempest which passes
Don’t let your heart, by a girl,
like a ship now be governed.

In our life one woman is not enough for us
captain you should enjoy life
put your anchor down in the first harbor
and look to find a new love.

(translation: Eva Johanos)

(A foxtrot from 1948. From the Greek film “Anna Roditi.” On the score is written: “Dedicated to Bobby Petropoulou.”)

(Fox του 1948. Από την Ελληνική ταινία “Άννα Ροδίτη”. Η παρτιτούρα γράφει: “Χαρισμένο στον Μπόμπη Πετρόπουλο”)

The stars are out
and the girls clad in white
are coming to the lower neighborhood.
The lads
leave the dice game
and meet by the road corner.

You will take me to Heaven’s music hall with bouzoukia*
and after we dance and the ruckus has ceased
I will sing you seven songs, to choose the tune
that you will sing to me, so I will tell you that I love you

Στου Παραδείσου τα μπουζούκια θα με πας,
κι αφού χορέψουμε και πάψει ο σαματάς
εφτά τραγούδια θα σου πω, για να διαλέξεις το σκοπό,
για να μου πεις, για να σου πω το “Σ’ αγαπώ”.