Linos Kokotos / Λίνος Κόκοτος

01. The little soldier – Νikos Xylouris 00:00
02. August – Rena Koumioti 02:22
03. What is inconceivable to the mind – Yiannis
Poulopoulos 05:54
04. The dolphin-girl – Michalis Violaris 08:53
05. The clover of the sea- Rena Koumioti 12:08
06. Girl wearing pants – Μanolis Mitsias 14:33
07. The cicadas – Michalis Violaris 17:23
08. My little neighbor – Yiannis Poulopoulos 21:05
09. And you don’t speak to me – Michalis Violaris 23:49
10. Ask me Margarita – Yiannis Poulopoulos 27:00
Lyrics:
1, Dimitris Christodoulou
2, 4, 5, 7, Odysseas Elytis
3, 8, Akos Daskalopoulos
6, Lefteris Papadopoulos
9, Argyris Vergopoulos
10, Βarbara Tsimpouli”

[*The notes of the video. . . although I believe that among the works of Mr. Kokotos are many pieces that would be considered "clearly popular (laika)" and even "art songs," together with those that are considered "New Wave.". .]

In the ashtray of my life
cigarettes, witches and dragons
like a train car of immigration
which leaves for years and wounds

Like the first day of school
like a rotten ship left on the shore
a letter that was not sent, hidden away
laughter hung on the wall

To whom shall I give my life
how much will my soul, too, understand.
Christ, how alike we are, both of us
as we hold our cross.

Hold on tight, catch the wave
to make that first step
to break every one of your masts
go to war, you, like the rebel

(translation: Eva Johanos)

I took you and held you
love in the night
but the sun was late in rising
and the bitterness is heavy

If life was a song
that I might sing in order that
a sun like a girl might come out
for me to give her the earth

I took her and I held her
the freezing cold to my breast
but the sun was late in rising
and the night is deep

If life was a song
that I might sing in order that
a sun like a girl might come out
for me to give her the earth

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Let’s go on a ship to the earth of the dream
with your silver sail.
My heart trembles, the child of the Sun
in the shadow of Paradise.

It is dripping like honey, the Sun’s light
deep inside, the world’s wound pains me
give me your heart
it bloomed, the secret garden

Let’s go, I tell you and you don’t speak
you bend down sweetly and you sleep.
The soil glows and you smile
you wonder what there is to remember

It is dripping like honey, the Sun’s light
deep inside, the world’s wound pains me
give me your heart
it bloomed, the secret garden

(translation: Eva Johanos)

At night when the birds are sleeping,
some deserted children come out
and secretly come to your door.

The stars which are watching from up on high
stay awake with the children
and sing lullabies to your heart.

My little neighbor, at your little door
my little star, I stayed up all night too ~
my little brother, the moon, ask him…
my little neighbor, ah how I love you.

When I return from work
I make a vow, deep inside
not to come to your door again.

But when the night falls again
my old longing awakens
and tyrannizes my heart.

My little neighbor, at your little door
my little star, I stayed up all night too ~
my little brother, the moon, ask him…
my little neighbor, ah how I love you.

(translation: Eva Johanos
*the ending “άκι” is a diminutive of endearment; it can mean small but also means dear, beloved)

Tell me why you smell so sweetly
moon in my front garden
don’t you see how desolation
covers my life?

A silver leaf
give me, that I might send her
a bitter note
bitter with poison
Maybe she might repent
and give me back
my heart which is
which is full of bitterness

She jilted me and I cannot
live lonely
A bitter desire catches hold of me
to kiss the soil

(translation: Eva Johanos)

I emerged from the depths of the times;
they call me Greek, Hellene, Romio*
but I still haven’t learned this ~
who am I in this moment in which I speak.

My one hand on the year 2000
and the other on the sword of Digenes.**
They seek me as theirs, many Greeces,
which must become one in the end.

In the mirror, my Greece, I gaze at you.
I see your faces one by one.
But I choose the humblest one,
the one that flashed in ’21.***

(translation: Eva Johanos
*Ρωμιό ~ “Romio,” vernacular for a Greek person
**Διγενής ~ Digenes, Greek folk hero
***referring to the heroes who fought for Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire in the war of 1821.)

A captive of my fate – in your golden hair
it must be eros** – or a windy shore
you sang and I was satisfied – the taste of your kisses
and I saw a morning star – before your breasts

The day has visions – and the night prophecies
and the trials of life – you hold in your hands
you slept and they were extinguished – the lights of the squares
so as to not disturb the dream – and the spirits come out

Your two legs hid – the wonders of the world
and give themselves to life – without pay
and as the years go by – like water, my light
I will have you as my harbor – in rough weather

(translation: Eva Johanos
*ανεμογιαλός – a compound of ανεμος (wind) and γιαλός – seashore
**έρωτας – the root of erotic and eroticism, passionate love)

It must have been blue light, the beginning
with a shout of the creator for a war cry.
And it came into being, this earth with the olive tree
and the golden vineyards in a row.

Do not fear, the gods told her,
and she has lasted for centuries and lives now.
And if she is crossed by unlucky times,
she gives birth to the soul of dear revolution…

Bright star of the world,
and the scent of mint;
I have the Aegean for my home
and for a lighthouse, Elytis.

Blue light, salt and life,
you hold firmly the everlasting source;
bend down to drink the immortal water,
that you may become golden rain in time.

Do not fear, don’t close your eyes;
Burn with fire in the place of the heart;
and I will be an unsleeping guard here,
to defend your holy soil.

(translation: Eva Johanos)

I will carve a boat
of pine bark with a small knife
and I will set out some night of March
for plunder against Barbary.*

Ah, love never ends
the snow melts on the mountains
ah, love makes the nightingale mad
and our life begin anew.

And if I am able to return
with thousands of riches in the boat
I want to steal you with a silver stallion
and let your mother run to find you.

Ah, love never ends
the snow melts on the mountains
ah, love makes the nightingale mad
and our life begin anew.

If, however, I happen to die,
from the sword of a Saracen,**
Plant, put almond trees in the narrow place
that I may feel you, little bride, even as I feel pain.

Ah, love never ends
the snow melts on the mountains
ah, love makes the nightingale mad
and our life begin anew
and our life begin anew
and our life begin anew
(translation: Eva Johanos
*Barbary ~ term referring to the lands of the Berbers, in North Africa
**Saracen ~ term with multiple origin stories going back to the Crusades, referring to Arab or non-Christian combatants.)

Girl wearing pants
and your boyish haircut
where have you been wandering for so many years
In what swallow’s nest

Girl having a cigarette
in your childlike hands
you might have been a tiny church
in the countryside of Paros
a little flowerpot with sweet-smelling blossoms

Girl, my cool lips
Girl “may I be well”
on what shore were you a shell
that I saw through my telescope

(translation: Eva Johanos)

To boys have gone out for an evening stroll
The harbor is flooded with them
But her own boy
Does not return to her side

Girl of the coast, don’t cry
Today is not yesterday
Throw your bitterness down to the beach
Make of your teardrop a charm

The wind whistles in the port
And the stroll remains empty
Alone now on the quay
The girl finds courage within herself

Girl of the coast, don’t cry
Today is not yesterday
Throw your bitterness down to the beach
Make of your teardrop a charm

(translation: Eva Johanos
*Κόρη, Kore is sometimes translated as daughter, but also means young woman or girl)