Christakis / Χρηστάκης

They are playing the baglamadakia,
they are playing the baglamadakia,
my friend they are playing the baglamadakia,
my mother, ah! what a feeling,**
my mother, ah! what a feeling,
they are playing the baglamadakia.

When I hear baglamades***,
When I hear baglamades,
my friend when I hear baglamades,
out with poverty and the blues,
out with poverty and the blues,
when I hear baglamades.

One little drop**** of a tiny instrument,
one little drop of a tiny instrument,
my friend, one little drop of a tiny instrument,
how it brings you to a good feeling,
how it brings you to a good feeling,
one little drop of a tiny instrument.

(translation: Eva Johanos
*baglamadakia- plural, diminutive (“little”) form of “baglamas”- a stringed instrument or “bowl lute” with a very small body featured in this and many other great popular tunes
**meraki- I am translating as “feeling” here; it can mean pleasure, quality in performance, bittersweet longing, nostalgia. . .
***baglamades- plural of baglamas
****one little drop- an expression for something tiny, “itty-bitty”)

I found out you are a mangas
you also have deep feelings
how you hang out in the taverns
you are a nuisance, too

Tour and tour
tournene**
say it, you mangas
you mangas, tell me yes

I found out you play at dice
and that you go around to the clubs
and at your house in the evenings
you never set foot

Tour and tour
tournene**
say it, you mangas
you mangas, tell me yes

(translation: Eva Johanos
*mangas- “tough guy,” “street kid,” a culture specific word from the hash-smoking or “hasiklidika” Greek blues underworld of the early 20th century
**tournene- playing on the sound of this word from French (tournee); the lyrics refer to going about from one place to another, and also the turning of the dance that accompanies this rhythm)