Apostolos Kaldaras / Απόστολος Καλδάρας

Now don’t look for explanations, I see everything humanly
even the most bitter tear that you might give me would I drink
Now don’t look for explanations, I see everything humanly
and if you were to make another mistake, a bigger one, I would erase it

I am a kite, and as high as I soar
so much do I understand and so much do I forgive
I am a kite, and from the depths of the sky
the human mistakes I see and I laugh

I had you like the carnation on my Sunday jacket
but no complaint that you threw me onto the rocks
I had you like the carnation on my Sunday jacket
now don’t look for explanations, don’t look, please

I am a kite, and as high as I soar
so much do I understand and so much do I forgive
I am a kite, and from the depths of the sky
the human mistakes I see and I laugh

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Εγώ είμ’ένας χαρταετός κι όσο ψηλά ανεβαίνω
τόσο καταλαβαίνω και τόσο συγχωρώ
εγώ είμ’ένας χαρταετός και απ’τ’ουρανού τα βάθη
τ’ανθρώπινα τα λάθη τα βλέπω και γελώ

Στις εκλογές θα βάλω κάλπη στην Aθήνα,
θα πάρω ψήφους και θα βγω και δημαρχίνα,
[στά υπουργεία με τουπέ θα μπαίνω μέσα
κι έτσι σε όλες τις δουλειές θα 'χω τα μέσα]. X2

I sent two birds to the Red Appletree
as the story goes,
the one was killed, the other was captured
none returned.

As for the king who was turned to marble-
neither a voice, nor any sound.
She sings of him, though, to the children
like a fairytale, the grandmother does.

I sent two birds to the Red Appletree
as the story goes,
the one was killed, the other was captured
none returned.

I sent two birds to the Red Appletree
two swallows made of stone,
but they remained there and became a dream
and tearful years.

As for the king who was turned to marble-
neither a voice, nor any sound.
She sings of him, though, to the children
like a fairytale, the grandmother does.

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Για τον μαρμαρωμένο βασιλιά
ούτε φωνή, ούτε λαλιά.
τον τραγουδάει όμως στα παιδιά,
σαν παραμύθι η γιαγιά.

Tonight as many as are not hurting
should go to sleep,
and they should stay, those who drink
and those who love.

So we can listen to songs about damage,
bitter complaints,
matching the hour
and the storm of the heart.
To sing the songs of passion,
bitter complaints,
from those that they say when they are drunk
all the people who are in love.

Tonight is a difficult evening,
we will drink to eros,
not in order to forget her,
but in order to remember her.

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Απόψε δύσκολη βραδιά,
στον έρωτα θα πιούμε,
όχι να τις ξεχάσουμε
μα να τις θυμηθούμε.

I thought I might wipe out the past,
close the books,
and like two good friends,
we’d give each other our hands.

On your cold heart,
with no time to lose,
I rolled the dice once more,
and got a two and an ace.

Wherever the north wind blows,
let it take you with it,
you are a one-night woman,
whose love is a lie.