Ellenic Traditional Project

I will become a basil plant at your window,*
at your window
And unmarried I will remain for your sake,
for your sake

The moon takes a walk to my love’s door
The moon makes the rounds of my love’s garden

I will become a basil plant at your window,
at your window
And unmarried I will remain for your sake,
for your sake

Come out to the window to see what’s happening,
to see what’s happening-
The blood of my heart for you is flowing,
for you is flowing

The moon takes a walk to my love’s door
The moon makes the rounds of my love’s garden

I will become a basil plant at your window,
for your sake

(translation: Eva Johanos,
*basil plants are placed on windowsills, in some traditions,
in order to keep the air fresh and to keep insects away)

Βασιλικός θα γίνω στο παραθύρι σου,
για το χατίρι σου

I am on fire and silently melting
and wasting away for you
ah, such heartache . . .

Speak to me, speak to me-
I never kissed you-
ah, such heartache . . .

I love you, I love you
as no one else;
in my heart there has taken root
a great passion. . .

I am burning like a furnace,
but the flame is not extinguished-
ah, such heartache . . .

What can I do, what can I do-
in black despair I will die. . .
ah, the impoverished one

I love you, I love you
as no one else;
in my heart there has taken root
a great passion

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Σ’ αγαπώ σ’ αγαπώ
ως κανένας άλλος
στην καρδιά μου ρίζωσε
έρωτας μεγάλος

Become, my bird*, the sea
and I will be the shore
that you may come, with the waves
into my own embrace

I broke a little almond
and inside it, I painted you
Sea and saltwater
I cannot be angry with you

Departure is sorrow
the farewell is dizzying
and the welcome
is a great joy

I broke a little almond . . .

Drop by drop by drop
a hole is worn in the marble
Love which is not received
should not be loved

I broke a little almond
and inside it, I painted you
Sea and saltwater
I cannot be angry with you.

(translation: Eva Johanos
*my bird: my love)

Αμυγδαλάκι τσάκισα
και μέσα σε ζωγράφισα
Θάλασσα κι αλμυρό νερό
να σου κακιώσω δε μπορώ

Didn’t I tell you, my Ruin*~ to foreign lands don’t go
my Ruin, to foreign lands don’t go
that you do not come to harm and I become a murderer
my Ruin, and I become a murderer

Didn’t I tell you, my Ruin~ to foreign lands don’t go
my Ruin, to foreign lands don’t go
that you do not come to harm and I become a murderer
my Ruin, and I become a murderer

My Ruin, my ruin
My living separation**
My sorrow, and woe is me
That I have taken a heartbreak for you

And I, a poor girl, going to foreign lands
My Ruin, going to foreign lands
Wait for me to tell my troubles
My Ruin, to tell my troubles

And you, poor girl, going to foreign lands
My Ruin, going to foreign lands
Wait for me to tell my troubles
My Ruin, to tell my troubles

My Ruin, your ruin
Your living separation
My Ruin, your ruin
I am missing for years far away from you

I don’t have you to work, oh, to torture yourself
My Ruin, to torture yourself
I have you for you to eat and drink and wear pretty things
My Ruin, to wear pretty things

My Ruin, my Ruin,
you’ve been missing for years far away from me
My Ruin, my Ruin,
Come back close to me again.***

My Ruin, your ruin
Your living separation
My Ruin,your ruin
I am missing for years far away from you

My Ruin, my ruin
My living separation
My sorrow, and woe is me
That I have taken a heartbreak for you

Didn’t I tell you, my Ruin~ to foreign lands don’t go
my Ruin, to foreign lands don’t go

(Eva Johanos
*Χαλασιά μου: my Ruin ~ ruin and sorrow; used as a pet name
**ζωντανή ξεχωρεσιά μου: my living separation ~ where you separate yourself from everyone and everything
*** or “become my love once again”)

(*Χαλασιά μου= Χαλασμέ και Συμφορά μου.
**ζωντανή ξεχωρεσιά μου = Που ξεχωρίζεις από όλους και από όλα.
***κι αλλοιάπο μένα = κι αλλοίμονο από μένα!.
****σεβντά = καημό
*****ή “ξαναγίνεις ερωτά μου”)

I begin and plead
with my whole soul
that the blessed hour come
to your wedding my child

Today the sky shines
today the day is shining
today crowned with wreaths
are the eagle and the dove

Birds and nightingales sit
near your windows
and give their blessings
for good fortune for your wedding

(translation:Eva Johanos)

Πουλιά κι αηδόνια κάθονται
εις τα παράθυρά σας
και λένε καλορίζικα
νά ναι τα στέφανά σας

My Yanni, my Yanni, ach-
My Yanni, your scarf, come. . .
Why do you have it dirtied, oh Yanni, my Yanni
Why do you have it dirtied, oh my brave young man

It was dirtied by- it was dirtied by- ach
It was dirtied by foreign lands, come. . .
The desolate foreign lands, oh Yanni, my Yanni
The desolate foreign lands, oh my brave young man

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Το λέρωσε, το λέρωσε, άιντε,
το λέρωσε η ξενιτιά, έλα.
Τα έρημα τα ξένα βρε Γιάννη, Γιαννάκη μου,
τα έρημα τα ξένα βρε παλικαράκι μου.