Greek Music: Rembetika Lyrics

Many non-Greek-speaking people who listen to Rembetika and Laika music from Greece find that they can enjoy it without knowing what the lyrics mean. But eventually people begin to ask what the songs are about. So rather than me sitting down with my trusty Greek-English dictionary and using my faulty Greek skills to try to translate words that in many places come from the heart and soul of the composer, I asked three friends to do it for me. Dorian Kokas is well known as a facilitator who helps people cut through the Greek bureaucracy but he is also a well-known singer-songwriter-musician himself and performed in the group Agapanthos in the seventies. His partner in the group was Roulis Trifonas, also an old friend of mine and a fine musician and poet. Holly Kokas, Dorian's beautiful and very smart daughter is the third member of the group. I gave them a list of songs and asked them to translate them into English. Sorry I don't have the Greek lyrics. If you click on the titles you can hear the songs. If you have any comments or catch any mistakes please e-mail me. Some of the lyrics were unclear and we had to guess at them.

You can hear all these songs and read more about rembetika and laika music at www.greecetravel.com/music/rembetika

 ZEMBEKIKO
Dionysious Savopoulos. This is one of my favorite songs of all time. A Zembekiko is a slow emotional ballad

With planes and ships and with old friends.
We wander in the dark but you don’t hear us.
You don’t hear us when we sing with electric voices,
in the underground arcades.
Until our orbits meet
Our basic principles.

Our father , the sea breeze, (Oh Batis could be his nickname too)
Who came from Smyrni in 1922
And he lived for 50 years ,
In a secret basement.
In this world those who love eat dirty bread,
My father Batis said one Sunday.
And their passion followed an underground route.

Last night I saw a friend wandering around like an elf,
On his motorbike and dogs were chasing him.
Rise up my soul, give me electricity.
Set your clothes on fire,
Set your instruments on fire,
To blow up like a black spirit,
Our great voice.

EGO PLIRONO TA MATIA P’AGAPO(I Pay for the Eyes that I Love')
By Vasslis Tsitsanis. '

The sun rises, the sun sets
Always for the same purpose.
Bring me the most expensive drink to drink,
I pay for the eyes that I love.
Bring me the most expensive drink to drink,
I pay for the eyes that I love.

When you see me, Mr. taverna man
Breaking glasses and blabbering,
Don’t criticize me, don’t take me as a nut,
I pay for the eyes that I love.
Don’t criticize me, don’t take me as a nut,
I pay for the eyes that I love.

My heart becomes cloudy,
And my tears run like rain.
For sure we’re going to go,
Since we’ve come this far,
You underground and me in prison.
For sure we’re going to go,
You underground and me in prison.

SALTAROS
Written by Genitsaris and sung Giorgos Dalaras from the Rembetika Songs of the Occupation and Civil War. Saltaros means someone who leaps or jumps. Its about a guy during the Nazi occupation who steals reserve gas cans from the backs of the German vehicles.

They are jealous,
They don’t want to see me dressed well,
They want to see me down and out,
So that they can be pleased.
I’m going to jump,
I’m going to jump,
and their reserve tanks I will take.

So I always get by,
Because I never get caught in a German’s car,
So I’m always a winner.
I’m going to jump,
I’m going to jump,
and their reserve tanks I will take.

We hunt after gas and oil,
From those who have the money,
And we celebrate.
Go ahead and throw down the supplies and disappear.

The Germans are chasing us,
But we don’t give a damn,
So we’ll keep on running,
Until we get killed.
I’m going to jump,
I’m going to jump,
and their reserve tanks I will take.

Frankosyriani
by Markos Vamvakaris. (A Frankosyriani is a Catholic Girl from Syros.)

What a burst of flame I have in my heart,
As if you had cast a spell on me,
Sweet Frankosyriani,
As if you had cast a spell on me
Sweet Frankosyriani.

I will come to meet you again on the shore,
I’d like you to fill me with caresses and kisses.
I’d like you to fill me with caresses and kisses.

I’m coming to take you to Finika, Parakopi,
Galitsa and Delagratsia,
Even if I get a heart attack.
Galitsa and Delagratsia
Even if I get a heart attack.

At Pateli, at Neohori,
Everything is really great,
And at the bishopric, everything is romantic,
My sweet Frankosyriani.

TA MATOKLADA SOU LAMPOUN
by Markos Vamvakaris. The title means 'Your Eyelashes Shine'

Your lashes shine,
Like the flowers in a valley,
Like the flowers in a valley,
Your lashes shine.

You drift your lashes away,
And you refuse to care about my thoughts.
You drift your lashes away,
And you refuse to care about my thoughts.

Your eyes, my sister, broke my heart.
Your eyes, my sister, broke my heart.

Your eyes are never going to find eyes like mine.
Your eyes are never going to find eyes like mine.

DIAZIGIO
by Markos Vamvakaris. Diazigio means 'Divorce'.

I granted you a divorce,
what more do you want from me.
Now you go around telling people,
What you have against me.
Now you go around telling people,
What you have against me.

You know, I married you in St. Dionysos
And I turned you into a housewife,
And I turned you into a housewife,
And now nobody talks to you.

I should have kept you on your toes,
I should have set your heart on fire.
Take your divorce and go do your thing
Take your divorce and go do your thing.

Oli e Rembetes tou Dounia
by Markos Vamvakaris. The title means 'All the Rembetis of the World'.

All the rembetes of the world will love me,
All the rembetes of the world will love me.
As soon as they see me,
They want to do me a favor.

I was born poor
And I’ve met the world in the leaves of my heart,
And I regret it.All the fake wise guys who live on the streets,
They have pain in their hearts too.

S’AFTON TON KOSMO TON KAKO
by Markos Vamvakaris. The title means 'In this Bad World'.

In this bad world,
I’m not hoping for anything good.
In this bad world,
I’m not hoping for anything good.

Your friends and relatives
All want to take advantage of you.
In a gulp of water, when they find you,
They want to drown you.

Your friends and relatives
All want to take advantage of you.
In a gulp of water, when they see you,
They want to drown you.

And those whom you’ve helped
When they suffered,
If they see you in a difficult moment
They pretend they don’t know you.

SYNEFIASMENI KYRIAKI
By Vasslis Tsitsanis. This is perhaps the most popular Greek song of all time. 'Cloudy Sunday'.

Cloudy Sunday, you resemble my heart
Which is always cloudy,
Christ and the Virgin Mary.

You are a day like this,
The day I lost my joy.
Cloudy Sunday
You make my heart bleed.
Cloudy Sunday
You make my heart bleed.

When I see you rainy,
I can’t calm down for a second.
You darken my life,
And I sigh heavily.

ASE ME ASE ME
by Yiannis Papayoannou and sung by Sotira Bellou. It means 'Leave Me, Leave Me'.

You don’t want to marry me,
You’re afraid of being poor,
But I have a dowry which is honor,
Which is worth more.

Let me, let me forget you,
Let me , let me live alone.

You want to marry a rich girl
Who owns houses and has money,
You put me aside because I sleep in a shack.

Look how money fixes you in our days.
Make me go away,
And go embrace your wealth.

KANE LIGAKI EPOMONI
by Vassilis Tsitsanis and sung by Sotira Bellou. 'Have a Little Patience'

Don’t get down, he won’t be late,
He’ll be with you again one morning
And he’ll ask you for a new love
Have a Little Patience

Get rid of the clouds in your heart
And don’t lose your sleep by crying,
Even if he’s not in your arms,
He’ll come one day, don’t forget it.

One sweet morning, he’s going to wake you up,
And your love will be renewed,
And he will ask you for a new love
And he will ask you for a new love,
Have a Little Patience

AGAPI POU’GINES DIKOPO MACHERI
by Manos Hatzidakis sung by Marika Ninou. 'Love that becomes a Double-edged Knife'

My love has become a double-edged knife.
At one time you gave me only pleasure,
And now you drown pleasure in tears,
And now I can’t find a solution,
I can’t find a cure.

Flames light up in his two eyes,
Stars fall when he looks at me,
Switch of the lights,
And turn off the moon when he comes to take me,
So he doesn’t see my pain.

YENITHIKA YA NA PONO
Marika Ninou sings it. I forget who wrote it. The title means 'I was born to to Be in Pain'

I was born to be hurt and to suffer,
The moment I met you I was heavily cursed.

You wounded me, and will never forget
How much I cried.
I hope my curse becomes fire and burns you.

And if I lose a life I’ve always hated
I blame you for making me love you.

You wounded me, and will never forget
How much I cried.
I hope my curse becomes fire and burns you.

I’m going to shout it out loud like a crazy person
for the world to know
All the tortures I’ve gone through,
They were all for you.

You wounded me, and will never forget
How much I cried.
I hope my curse becomes fire and burns you.

CAPITAN ANDREA ZEPPO
By Yiannis Papayioanou. The title is the name of a fishing boat captain: Andrea Zeppo

One fishing boat is moored,
In the water waiting for captain zeppo.

Captain andrea zeppo,
I feel happy whenever I see you.
I feel happy whenever I see you,

Everyone goes fishing,
But they don’t catch fish.
But when Zeppo goes out to sea,
He catches kalamaria.

Egia mola egia lesa { greetings for happy fishing },
And we have fish in our bags.

In his gang everyone is a hero,
Three from Koulouri and three from Aibali. (Avalik in Turkey across from Lesvos)

Egia mola egia lesa,
We have fish in our bags,

Vyieke o Haros na Psarepsi
by Yiannis Papayioanou. The title: Death Went Fishing

Death went out fishing,
With a hook, looking for souls.
He’s looking for the unhappy, the sad
And the distressed.
In the poor cities,
Death comes looking for souls.

Oh my tortured bodies,
You will be in the alleys tonight.
Oh I hope death sees us to,
Because we are just weight on this earth.
If only we could be saved from this nightmare,
We would leave these alleys for tonight.

With his black slingshot,
Death turns the corner.
So lets stay here, hand in hand,
And when he comes, we will ambush him.
Get ready,
Death is at the corner.

THEN SE THELO PIA
by Yiannis Papayioanou. The title means 'I Don't Want You Anymore'.

Don’t say that I forget.
Don’t ask me why I don’t pass by your house,
I don’t want you any more,
You have to know, I love someone else.
My heart wants someone else,
I hurt for an other woman.

When I used to tell you,
That it’s you I want and love,
You used to look away my sweet
And wanted another mans kisses.

You were star struck and involved with someone else.
Now I don’t  feel sorry for you, and I’m going to freeze my heart.

TO VOUNO (The Mountain)
By Loukas Daralas.  

I’m going to climb up to the highest mountain and sing,
So my pain can be heard for away until the desert. 

I will become friends with the mountain,
And I will keep company with the pine trees.
When I’m going to be crying and in pain,
the mountain will echo
When I’m going to be crying and in pain,
the mountain will echo

I’m going to stay on the mountain,
And far away from the world.
I’m going to be crying by my self,
I will be in pain,
And I’m going to be heard throughout the mountain.

NA’NAI GLYKO TO BOLI
by Bagiantera and sung by Dalaras. It means 'May the Bullet be Sweet'. Its a call to join the resistance

Come on my  rebel, wear your weapons,
And save your sword.
You will go to war,
And freedom will be with you.
You will go to war,
And freedom will be with you.

Go, and I want you a winner, my child,
When you come back.
For our sweet freedom, give your blood.

Fight, my rebel,
Like everyone else.
And with Aris as your leader,
May the bullet be sweet.

TI SOU LEI E MANA SOU
by Kostas Skarvelis and sung by Dalaras. The title means 'What's Your Mother Telling You About Me'

What’s your mother telling you about me,
And you keep looking at me with tears in your eyes.
She wants you to talk to another man
And forget about me.
And she wants you to talk to another man
And forget about me.

She’s not going to get away from me.
She’s going to pay for everything she’s done.
I’ll make her sigh, suffer, and scream.
I’ll make her sigh, suffer and scream.

She’s not going to do whatever she wants to me.
If she feels no remorse,
Tell her she’s going to die.

She’s not going to get away with it,
Don’t worry, you’ll always be in my arms.

MOU SPASANE TO BAGLAMA
by Apostolis Kalderas. 'They Smashed My Baglama' (like a small bouzouki)

They smashed up my baglama,
Some wise guys, yesterday late at night,
They smashed it up and left,
I was left just with the strings.

Trinka trinka trinka trinka,
It took away my pain.
Trinka trinka trinka trinka,
And life goes on.

I had it like a small child,
And like a king it was for me.
It hurt with me, it understood me.

Trinka trinka trinka trinka,
It took away my pain.
Trinka trinka trinka trinka,
And life goes on.

With it’s sweet pickings,
It soothed my many worries,
Now in my lovely hut,
Who’s going to give me comfort.

Trinka trinka trinka trinka,
It took away my pain.
Trinka trinka trinka trinka,
And life goes on.

EBIBA REMBETES
By Apostolis Kaldaras. 'Here's to the rembetes'

Oh how I love drinking,
I like to drink and get drunk
With champagne
And with that I wipe away my pain and forget.

Here’s to the rembetes (rebels)
Here’s to the gang,
In this rembetika night
Come play my bouzouki but not much,
Few years but good ones.

In our corner taverna,
I hang around every night alone,
With my bouzouki, baglama,
I wake up the lonely and the poor.

Here’s to the rembetes,
Here’s to the gang.
In this rembetika night
Come play my bouzouki but not much,
Few years but good ones.

YIA TIN KYPRO
by Dionysious Savopoulos. The title is 'For Cyprus'. The song came out after the Turkish invasion.

This plan made heavy with blood and tears,
You don’t have anything of value to offer.
Only the flame you have that screeches in your joints,
And maybe a penny in the box next to us.
You don’t have anything of value to offer,
this plan which bleeds and cries.

It’s not land that you can occupy,
Not natural madness which returns.
It’s Cyprus which the merchants hate,
And our need which carries no name.
It’s not land that you can occupy,
It’s Cyprus which the merchants hate.

And if I’m lying and making up fairytales,
And if begging has crossed my hands,
Don’t scold me, help me,
For everything, Cyprus pays.

Why, why, why don’t you tell us,
All you do is go out in the world,
Crying and lying.

FERTE PREZA NA PREZARO
by Stelakis. The title is slang. Preza means pinch. Its understood to mean 'Give me some cocaine to snort'. I guess it could be heroin too.

Planets, don’t ask me, why I’m always thinking.
I could die for her, and that’s why I suffer.
Give me some cocaine to snort,
And hashish to smoke.

She’s got me crazy with her high heel shoes.
I try to talk to her, but she doesn’t care,
She laughs and dances away.
Give me some cocaine to snort,
And hashish to smoke.

The ardent enthusiast hurts but doesn’t say it.
He sings but his heart aches.
Give me some cocaine to snort
And hashish to smoke.

She’s got me crazy with her high heel shoes.
I try to talk to her, but she doesn’t care,
She laughs and dances away. 
Give me some cocaine to snort,
And hashish to smoke.

OTAN KAPNIZI O LOULAS
by Mitsakis. It means 'When the hookah is smoking'.

When the hookah is smoking,
You shouldn’t talk.
Look around and see the wise guys,
They’re all minding their own business.
Look around and see the wise guys,
They’re all minding their own business.

Listen to the baglama playing,
An find a joint for us.
And when we get stoned,
We have to be very careful. 
And when we get stoned,
We have to be very careful.

In case someone sees us,
And they catch us,
So they won’t find a reason,
And take us all to prison.
So they won’t find a reason,
And take us all to prison.

FERTE MIA KOUPA ME KRASI
By Apostolis Kaldaras and sung by Poli Panou. 'Bring Me A Cup of Wine'

Bring me a cup of wine,
And keep me company.
For me this night, will be the last.

Oh life, you drip poison,
I’ve had enough of you,
And the golden palaces you promised,
Are all fake.

Sing sad songs, from the bottom of your heart.
Others’ problems are nothing compared to mine.

Oh life, you drip poison,
I’ve had enough of you,
And the golden palaces you promised,
Are all fake.

If you ever see friends,a bitter mother,
Tell her not to wait for me. 

Oh life, you drip poison,
I’ve had enough of you,
And the golden palaces you promised,
Are all fake.

ESENA DEN SOU AKSIZE AGAPI
by G Karambesini and sung by Poli Panou. 'You Didn't Deserve Love'

What a shame, that I sacrificed so much for you,
What a pity, I went through so much for you,
Too bad for my dreams and hopes,
They vanished with the wind.

You didn’t deserve love,
You didn’t deserve affection,
You have sin in your blood,
You are a lie without a soul.

No matter how much I tried,
No matter how tired I got,
And suffered to conform you,
However, I was misled and got hurt.
You didn’t deserve my heart.

You didn’t deserve love,
You didn’t deserve affection,
You have sin in your blood,
You are a lie without a soul.

O KYR THANOS (Mr Thanos)
by Gigoris Bithikotsis.

Mister thanos died grumbling,
At two o clock at hatzithomas tavern.
Lately he went through poverty,
The poor man,
He had even pawned his baglama.

His brother, the baglama,
Who used to cheer him up,
He pawned him, and died.

If anyone would pay a few of his debts,
He would have his instrument,
He would be living.
But no one ever asked, why he cries,
Nobody cares about an other persons pain.

 His brother, the baglama,
Who used to cheer him up,
He pawned him, and died. 

TOU VOTANIKOU O MANGAS (The Wise Guy of Votanikos)
 by Gigoris Bithikotsis.

The Wise Guy of Votanikos,
Died on a Sunday,
And all the girls and friends cried for him.

The wise guy of Votanikos
was the best man
at the bouzoukia and the taverns,
No one will see him any more.

The wise guy of Votanikos, had a nice past,
But now he will be absent from all the parties and the gangs.

The wise guy of Votanikos
was the best man
at the bouzoukia and the taverns,
No one will see him any more.

He always had a great time,
but never  harmed anyone.
Everyone loved him,
In Votanikos.

TO PALIOSPITO (The Old House)
by Vasslis Tsitsanis and sung by Stratos Pagiomitsis

In this old house, in this wreck,
We buried our love, a Saturday night.
In this old house where we broke up, the last night we talked.
In this old house where we broke up, the last night we talked.

In an abandoned courtyard,
Under the window,
The witches and the gypsies,
Put up their tents.

In this old house where we broke up,
And after we watered our hovel with tears.
In this old house where we broke up
And after we watered our hovel with tears.

The lonely bat, builds its home,
In a small bedroom where he was being kissed.

In this old house where we broke up
the last night we talked.
We broke up in this hovel,
the last night we talked

DEN THELO TO KAKO SOU (I don't want badness for you)
 by Yannis Papayiaonou and sung by Stelios Kazantzidis

I could have never imagined
that you would want to leave me,
To take your luggage and go live somewhere else.
To take your luggage and go live somewhere else.
And if you regret it, don’t be afraid to come back to me.

Although you left me, I don’t hate you,
Please understand that.
Even if you treated me ungratefully,
I mean you no harm. (I don't want badness for you)
Even if you treated me ungratefully, I mean you no harm.
And if you regret it, don’t be afraid to come back to me.

The path that you have taken will mislead you.
Then remember a lonely heart that waits for you.
Then remember a lonely heart that waits for you.
And if you regret it, don’t be afraid to come back to me.

MELAHRINI TSIGANA MOU (My Brunette Gypsy)
by Hiotis and sung by Poly Panou

My brunette gypsy,
Please don’t say no,
Take me with you,
To your tent.

My gypsy,
In your tent, make a second bed,
So all the gypsies can envy you.

My gypsy,
In your tent, make a second bed,
So all the gypsies can envy you.

My brunette gypsy,
Don’t ruin my fun,
Dance tsifteteli,
And play your tambourine.

My gypsy,
In your tent, make a second bed,
So all the gypsies can envy you.
My gypsy,
In your tent, make a second bed,
So all the gypsies can envy you.

PINO KE METHO (I Drink and Get Drunk)
by Spiro Peristeri and sung by Babis Tsertos
 
I drink and get drunk,
Day and night I sing,
Day and night I sing,
And the bouzouki makes me forget my misery.
And the bouzouki relieves my misery.

I became a drunk and a hash smoker,
Because all the times, my doll,
You tell me you don’t want me.
Because all the times, my doll,
You tell me you don’t want me   

Your eyes and your ribbons won me.
Your eyes and your ribbons won me.
Oh how you won me over,
And then you took off with someone else.                                                                      

Oh how you won me over,
And then you took off with someone else.

PENTE MANGAS STON PIREA (5 Cool Guys from Pireaus)
by Yiannis Etziridi and sung by Agathonas Iakovidis

Five wise guys in Piraeus,
Passed by the hash house ,
And one of them said,
Let’s go smoke a hookah.
They went into the hash house,
And they called the owner.
“bring us a well made hookah”,
With hash from Persia.

You charge it for two 5 bills,
But I’ll give you three,
And if the hash is good,
We will prefer you.
They smoked the hookah and it was bad,
That’s why they called the owner.
They didn’t like it at all,
Because it was plain tobacco.

“Hey, did you think you were talking to a beginner?”
“We are not kids, and we are not junkies.”
“At the top of that hill,
I have a hidden hookah,
Let’s go, guys, to smoke,
Let’s leave this place.”

“Hey, did you think you were talking to a beginner?”
“We are not kids, and we are not junkies.”
And when they close up the hash houses,
Near Piraeus and Kremidarou,
I will carry my old rug to my cave.

PAME YA TIN BOULA (Lets Go To Voula)
Panayotis Tsounda and Vassilis Tsitsanis and sung by Glykeria

A few days ago, we met with a girlfriend,
And we got into a small boat together, to go to Boula,
And we got into a small boat together, to go to Boula,

And the waves were telling us,
That kissing is not a sin.

But as soon as we started, the wind picked up,
And the sea had her own way.
But as soon as we started, the wind picked up,
And the sea had her own way.

My restless sea,
You’re to blame for everything.

With the sail full,
And the two of us at the wheel,
Oh sweet mother what can I say,
I have not forgotten it.

MA ENE O THEOS (But it is God)
by Stavro Tsounakou and Eftichias Papayanopoulos. Sung by Babis Goles

You tortured me so much,
That my love for you just went away.
Remember that God watches everything from above.

And if I’m a boat in life without oars,
And you’re indifference hurts my heart,
Remember that God watches everything from above,
And no one escapes his judgment.

And if everyone makes me feel pitiful,
And in the sludge you threw me in I crawl,
Remember that god watches everything from above,
And with this thought, I comfort myself.

YA HARA (With Joy: but it means goodbye or in this case good riddance)
written by Dimos Moutsis and Yannis logatetis. Sung by Vicky Moscholiou

Take my heart for consignment, I’m serious
I’m leaving for my mother’s, in Thesaloniki
and Ya hara
I’m leaving for my mother’s, in Thesaloniki
and Ya hara

In the evening, I’m taking the train, I’m serious.
Its finished, Jokes are over
and Ya hara

I leave you my belongings in my will, I’m serious.
I’m leaving for my brothers, in thesaloniki,
and Ya hara

THA KANO NTOU BRE PONIRI (I'll Do it to you. Poniri means a clever person but not in a nice way. So really the title means: I am going fuck you up you sneak)
By Vassilis Tsitsanis. Sung by Dalaras

I am going fuck you up you sneak
I’m going to come suddenly, When you least expect it.
And if I see you again with that man,
You will not get away with it.

Come straight forward with this situation,
Before I start a revolution.

Lately, you made a mess of things.
Two or three told me, that they caught you with that idiot.

Come straight forward with this situation,
Before I start a revolution.

I’m going to search for you everywhere,
Athena and Piraeus ,
And if I find you,
I will make this night,
Your last one.

Come straight forward with this situation,
Before I start a revolution.

O MINAS EHEI 13 (It's the 13th of the Month)
by Hatzidakis. Sung by Sophia Vembo

It’s the 13th of the month,
It’s a cursed day.
I don’t want to see anybody,
Even to say good morning.
I don’t want to see anybody,
Even to say good morning.

Every daybreak that falls on the 13th,
I don’t get out of bed,
I lock every door and window,
But I can’t go to sleep.
This day got to me and clipped my wings.
In love, you always make me go crazy.

They call me superstitious,
But fate brought it on,
On the 13th, I became an orphan,
And a widow as well.
On the 13th, I became an orphan,
And a widow as well.

STOU OTHONA TA CHRONIA (The Years of Othona)
By Stavros Xarhakou and N Gatsou. Sung by Stamatis Kokotas

One afternoon around the Acropolis,
The heartless thieves made toy hot rocks their hangout.
At Monastiraki, the cruel guards, are dancing sirtaki
In front of the king.

To Crete and Mani,
We will send a decree,
In cities and in villages.
We will send a decree,
For the policemen to come,
To kick out the brutes.

Down at the port,
The policemen are dancing.
They came but their hearts are still in Mani.
On Tuesday the guys came in from Psiloriti.
They drink tsikoudia,
But their hearts are still in Crete.

To Crete and Mani,
We will send a decree,
In cities and in villages.
We will send a decree,
For the policemen to come,
To kick out the brutes.

OTAN PINEIS STIN TAVERNA (When you drink in a taverna)
by Tsitsanis. Sung by Stratos Dionysiou

When you drink in a taverna, you sit and don’t talk.
Every so often you sigh, from the leaves of your heart.

I would like to ask you and get informed,
What distress made you so melancholic.

Maybe you also loved and got betrayed,
Come and sit with us, so we can party together.

TA PAIDIA TIS AMYNAS (The Children of Amynas)
By Stavros Xarhakos from the flim Rembetika

It will be written in history one day.
That he kicked out all the brutes from Athens.
That he kicked out the king
And the senators.
The crooks and the clowns.

And in this defense, with all the officers Benizelos is fighting to.
He’s the one who’s going to end it.
And every patriot, will bring us equality.

Mother marry who stands on our side,
Show’s the path to our new leader.
The hero of the national defense
Who fights and kicks out the enemy.

The national defense chaps threw out the king,
They gave him his sail to go do his own business
To be a glutton,
Along with his foreign family.

Watch swords and scimitars,
Shooting out flames which reach to the skies.
Up there high, at our borders,
The enemies’ blood runs like a river.

The national defense got rid of the king.
The national defense cap, brought Venizelos.
The national defense brought freedom.

HAROKOPOY 1942-1953 (Harakopou is a street name)
by Akis Panou. Sung by Dalaras

Seven nomads in a room,
How can you lay down and sleep
One goes to the cinema,
The other goes to sleep.
Taking shifts to sleeping.
Doors lock with wires,
Instead of keys.

Seven nomads miserable,
In a room like prison.
Justifiably angry,
And disgusted with everything.
Look at the cards life dealt us,
Pseudo civilized crowd.

Two out of seven work,
So much in debt,
Like garbage.
Seven nomads without hope,In a dingy, dirty room.
Who will shout and what will he say.

DEN EINE RYTHMOS (Its not Rhythm)
by Savopoulos

You danced to rhythms which bled your steps
But you think that he’s rubbing your naked feet.
Which one of our gods gave him touch
And you are so smooth.

It’s not a rhythm that you can count
Its words that I sweetly remember.

My  white sheet was my flame and my thunder,
But you always used to come slowly, like a morning
To whom  do you give your golden smiles,
You play with your bracelets, and guns fire.

It’s not a rhythm that you can count
Its words that I sweetly remember.

The freak, in your rhythm, finds a home.
What kind of fire do you hold with your magnets.
All the homeless, in the city, remain spell bound under you.

It’s not a rhythm that you can count
Its words that I sweetly remember.

Be sure to visit these other music pages:
Introduction to Rembetika Music
Matt's Favorite Greek CDS
Socrates Drunk The Conium: Greece's Greatest Rock Group
The Music of Matt Barrett
CCBluesking: Greece's 1st Punk Band
Smoke on the Waters of Kea