Maria Farantouri, duets / Μαρία Φαραντούρη, ντουέτα

On the terrace the belt is whistling
they take you into the courtyard
small chapels and islands without salt
you will no longer remember in life

Closed and low the small room
years ago it must have been a washroom
but you, little child, brave young man
you poisoned this time
with a nail and with a little mirror
when you cut your veins, I imagine

I speak to the Holy Virgin, and your Judge
I measure your years with heartache
and tell me if your torturer
has eyes, a mouth, and a neck

Closed and low the small room
years ago it must have been a washroom
but you, little child, brave young man
you poisoned this time
with a nail and with a little mirror
when you cut your veins, I imagine

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Let those who feel
heavily the copper hand of fear
be under slavery;
she needs virtue and bravery,
freedom.

She (and the myth conceals the mind of truth)
gave wings to Ikaros*
and even if he fell,
the winged one, and drowned,
by sinking beneath the sea,

From the heights he fell,
and died as a free man.

If you become a dishonored fatted calf
of an oppressor,
consider as horrible the grave.

Let those who feel
heavily the copper hand of fear
be under slavery;
she needs virtue and bravery,
freedom.

(*Ikaros = son of Daedalus, in Greek mythology. While flying to freedom alongside his father, with wings his father had made out of wax, contrary to Daedalus’s instructions, he ascended to a high altitude and approached the sun; his wings then melted and Ikaros fell to the sea and drowned.)

Όσοι το χάλκαιον χέρι
βαρύ φόβου αισθάνονται,
ζυγόν δουλείας ας έχωσι
θέλει αρετή και τόλμην
η ελευθερία.

[Maria Farantouri]

One held a knife
another held the sword
and I held your hand
so that my hand might be warmed

[together]

My love, my love
I will speak to you now
about the time of joy
and about freedom
my love, my love
in the embittered country
the storm will cease
and the clear skies will come

[Alkinoos Ioannidis]

The moon is wounded
and the sun is dark
and in the night I await
the sky opening again

(translation: Eva Johanos)