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Geske

Βαμμένα κόκκινα μαλλιά

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I like movie songs. Songs and story-telling, story-acting, they were born as twins the ancient greek theatre, it's good to see them playing together on the screen now.

I love the book Βαμμένα κόκκινα μαλλιά and I love the songs and I hope to get to see the tv series some time.

I'm going to dump all the songs in one topic, wether they've been done here before or not. I found them very interesting as a translation job, lots of nice bits where the word-for-word translation makes little or no sense... So, all comments and help are welcome.

ΒΑΜΜΕΝΑ ΚΟΚΚΙΝΑ ΜΑΛΛΙΑ || Hair dyed red

Μουσική: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Music: Vasilis Dimitriou

Στίχοι: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Lyrics: Vasilis Dimitriou

Βαμμένα κόκκινα μαλλιά κάθε νύχτα || Hair dyed red, every night,

σε ποια σεντόνια να δακρύζεις στα κρυφά || in whose sheets will you be crying, in secret,

δεν έχει περιθώριο η πίκρα || the bitterness has no limits

και η χαρά τελειώνει στα μισά || and the joy ends broken in two.

Λυπημένη μου αγάπη καληνύχτα || My grieving love, good night!

δεν τελειώνουμε έτσι εύκολα εμείς || It does not end so easily for us

σαν αγέρας που σε καίει μες τη νύχτα || like the wind that burns you in the night

όποια πόρτα κι αν ανοίξεις θα με βρεις || whichever door you open, you will find me.

Βαμμένα κόκκινα μαλλιά και μια δάφνη || Hair dyed red, and an oleander blossom

στο χέρι για παρηγοριά || in your hand for comfort

γιατί θυμάσαι πάντα τα λάθη || because you remember the mistakes forever

γιατί δε φεύγεις για τη λησμονιά || because you do not go off into forgetting.

Λυπημένη μου αγάπη καληνύχτα || My grieving love, good night!

δεν τελειώνουμε έτσι εύκολα εμείς || It does not end so easily for us

σαν αγέρας που σε καίει μες τη νύχτα || like the wind that burns you in the night

όποια πόρτα κι αν ανοίξεις θα με βρεις || whichever door you open, you will find me.

Βαμμένα κόκκινα μαλλιά μια σταγόνα || Hair dyed red, one drop

στα χείλη να σε καίει για καιρό || on your lips to burn you for a long time

ποιος τάζει της ζωής το χειμώνα || Who promises the winter of life

και ποιος φοβάται το Χριστό || and who fear Christ?

Λυπημένη μου αγάπη καληνύχτα || My grieving love, good night!

δεν τελειώνουμε έτσι εύκολα εμείς || It does not end so easily for us

σαν αγέρας που σε καίει μες τη νύχτα || like the wind that burns you in the night

όποια πόρτα κι αν ανοίξεις θα με βρεις || whichever door you open, you will find me.

Βαμμένα κόκκινα μαλλιά καληνύχτα || Hair dyed red, good night!

του χρόνου πάλι θα σε θυμηθώ || Next year I will remember you again...

Καληνύχτα || Good night...

Σ' αγαπώ || I love you.

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ΠΕΠΡΩΜΕΝΟ || Destiny

Μουσική: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Music: Vasilis Dimitriou

Στίχοι: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Lyrics: Vasilis Dimitriou

Στο πεπρωμένο σου να δίνεις σημασία || Pay attention to your destiny,

και να προσέχεις πώς βαδίζεις στη ζωή || and be careful how you walk into life.

Όταν κοιμάσαι άλλος γράφει ιστορία || While you sleep, someone else writes history

και κάποιος παίζει τη δική σου την ψυχή || and another gambles with your own life.

Όλοι έχουμε γραμμένο || We all have it written out,

που το λένε πεπρωμένο || that thing called destiny,

και κανένας δεν μπορεί να τ' αποφύγει. || and no one can escape it.

Δεν υπάρχει θεωρία || There is no theory,

ούτε τρένα ούτε πλοία || no trains no boats,

κι ο καθένας το παλεύει || and everyone grapples with it

όπως ξέρει και μπορεί. || the best he knows, the best he can.

Από παιδί || From the time I was a child

στον ύπνο μου έβλεπα φωτιές. || I kept seeing fire in my dreams.

Για την αγάπη όσα κι αν δίνεις είναι λίγα || In love, all you can give is but little

και να το ξέρεις πως δεν έχει ανταμοιβή. || and realize this: there is no fair reward.

Δώστα και φύγε και μη χάνεις ευκαιρία || Give it away and go off, and never waste a chance,

στο περιθώριο μη βάζεις την ψυχή! || and don't push your soul out into the margins!

Όλοι έχουμε γραμμένο || We all have it written out,

που το λένε πεπρωμένο || that thing called destiny,

και κανένας δεν μπορεί να τ' αποφύγει. || and no one can escape it.

Δεν υπάρχει θεωρία || There is no theory,

ούτε τρένα ούτε πλοία || no trains no boats,

κι ο καθένας το παλεύει || and everyone grapples with it

όπως ξέρει και μπορεί. || the best he knows, the best he can.

Από παιδί || From the time I was a child

στον ύπνο μου έβλεπα φωτιές. || I kept seeing fire in my dreams.

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ΠΟΥ 'ΝΑΙ ΤΟ ΠΑΙΔΑΚΙ || Where's that kid got to?

Μουσική: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Music: Vasilis Dimitriou

Στίχοι: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Lyrics: Vasilis Dimitriou

Πού 'ναι πού 'ναι το παιδάκι || Where's that kid got to?

και το κυνηγούν οι βλάχοι || And the fools are after him!

Που 'ναι που 'ναι το μικρό || Where is he, the little one,

το ξανθό μελαχρινό || the fair one, the dark one...

Έχει μάνα καρδερίνα || His mother is a goldfinch

και πατέρα απ' την Αθήνα || his father is from Athens,

και του 'μαθαν τη ζωή || and they taught him life

πάνω σε χλωρό κλαρί || perched on a pale little branch.

Πού 'ναι πού 'ναι το παιδάκι || Where's that kid got to?

και το κυνηγούν οι βλάχοι || And the fools are after him!

που 'ναι που 'ναι το μικρό || Where is he, the little one,

το ξανθό μελαχρινό || the fair one, the dark one...

Έχει θείο το πλατάνι || His uncle is plane tree

και παππού από τη Μάνη || and his granddad is from Mani,

και του 'μαθαν το νερό || and they taught him about water

πόσο είναι ακριβό || how expensive it is.

Πού 'ναι πού 'ναι το παιδάκι || Where's that kid got to?

και το κυνηγούν οι βλάχοι || And the fools are after him!

που 'ναι που 'ναι το μικρό || Where is he, the little one,

το ξανθό μελαχρινό || the fair one, the dark one...

Είναι χέλι η νονά του || His godmother is a swallow

κι απ΄ τη Σμύρνη η γιαγιά του || and grandma is from Smyrni,

και του 'μαθαν μυστικά || and they taught him secretly

να γλιστρά στα σκοτεινά || to vanish into the dark.

Νάτο, νάτο το παιδάκι || There he is, there is the kid!

την πατήσανε οι βλάχοι || the fools, they were had!

που τους πήρε το λαχείο || He got the jackpot from them

και αγόρασε ένα πλοίο || and bought a boat

νάτο, νάτο το παιδάκι || There he is, there is the kid!

την πατήσανε οι βλάχοι || the fools, they were had!

νάτο, νάτο το μικρό || There he is, there is the little one!

το ξανθό μελαχρινό || the fair one, the dark one...

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ΤΟΥΤΟΣ Ο ΝΤΟΥΝΙΑΣ || This world, here

Μουσική: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Music: Vasilis Dimitriou

Στίχοι: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Lyrics: Vasilis Dimitriou

Εμάς ο Χάρος το 'κανε || Charos, old Death, picked us,

το σπίτι μας σεργιάνι. || our house, to have a walk in.

Όταν δεν έρθει μια χρονιά || If he doesn't come one year

τότε θα 'ρθει την άλλη || then he will come the next...

Τούτος ο ντουνιάς τούτος ο ντουνιάς || This world, this world here,

τούτος ο ντουνιάς δεν ήτανε για μας || This world, is was not for us

Που πας διαμάντι να κρυφτείς || Where are you going, diamond, hiding,

μάλαμα να σκουριάσεις || golden jewel, rusting -

και κόκκινο γαρύφαλλο || and you red carnation

να κιτρινοφυλλιάσεις; || your petals fading to yellow?

Τούτος ο ντουνιάς τούτος ο ντουνιάς || This world, this world here,

τούτος ο ντουνιάς δεν ήτανε για μας || This world, is was not for us

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ΚΑΤΩ ΑΠΟ ΓΕΦΥΡΕΣ || Under the bridges

Μουσική: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Music: Vasilis Dimitriou

Στίχοι: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Lyrics: Vasilis Dimitriou

Κάτω από γέφυρες κοιμούνται οι αλήτες || The vagrants, they sleep under the bridges

πάνω σε κάρα και βαγόνια στο σταθμό || on cars and wagons at the station,

και μες στο χώμα κρύβονται όλες οι αλήθειες || and all the truths, they hide in the dirt,

που σου 'πε ο φίλος || the truths that your friend told you

ένα βράδυ στο στρατό || one night in the army.

Πίσω απ' το σίδερο χτυπάει η αμπάρα || Behind the iron [bars] the bolt clangs

κι ο μάγκας κλαίει που δεν έχει ριζικό || and the mangas weeps, who has no future,

κάτω απ' τον ήλιο κρύβεται όλη η Ελλάδα || under the sun, all of Greece is hidden,

κι όσοι ελπίζουνε ακόμα σε θεό || even those who still believe in a god.

Στο φωταέριο ανάψανε μαγκάλι || At the gas-works, they are lighting a torch,

και στο λιμάνι περιμένουνε χρυσό || and in the harbour they are waiting for gold,

μα για αγάπες ούτε γίνεται κουβέντα || but about love, not a word is being said,

λες και πως πρόκειται για κάτι μυστικό || as if it were about something very secret.

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ΘΑ 'ΡΘΕΙΣ || You will come back

Μουσική: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Music: Vasilis Dimitriou

Στίχοι: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Lyrics: Vasilis Dimitriou

Θα 'ρθεις πάλι θα 'ρθεις || You will come back

δειλά δειλά κάποια βραδιά || some evening, some night,

να μου σφυρίξεις || to whistle for me

Θα 'ρθεις πάλι θα 'ρθεις || You will come back, come back again.

σαν τη βροχή κάποια βραδιά || like the rain, some night,

θα με ξυπνήσεις || you will wake me.

Έτσι φτάνουν οι αγάπες στον παράδεισο || That is how the loves reach paradise

πάντα βρίσκουν το δρόμο μες την άβυσσο || they always find a way through the abyss

θα 'ρθεις || You will come back.

Θα 'ρθεις πάλι θα 'ρθεις || You will come back, come back again.

σαν περιστέρι στη φωλιά του || like a dove to its nest

θα γυρίσεις || you will return

θα 'ρθεις πάλι θα 'ρθεις || You will come back, come back again.

τις αμαρτίες σου θα πεις || you will tell me your sins

και θα δακρύσεις || and you will cry

Έτσι φτάνουν οι αγάπες στον παράδεισο || That is how the loves reach paradise

πάντα βρίσκουν το δρόμο μες την άβυσσο || they always find a way through the abyss

θα 'ρθεις || You will come back.

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ΤΑΚΑ ΤΑΚΑ || Taka taka

Μουσική: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Music: Vasilis Dimitriou

Στίχοι: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Lyrics: Vasilis Dimitriou

Τάκα τάκα τάκα τάκα || Taka taka taka taka

σαν περπάταγες στην στράτα || as you walked along the road

και σου έστρωναν χαλί || and they spread a carpet for you

εγώ σ' έβαζα στη βάρκα || me, I took you into the boat

και σε πήγαινα μια τσάρκα || and brought you for a walk

στο απέναντι νησί || on the island opposite.

Τάκα τάκα τάκα τάκα || Taka taka taka taka

σαν παντρεύτηκες σου τα 'πα || when you got married, I told you

να 'σαι πιο προσεκτική || to be more careful

μα εσύ μυαλό δε βάζεις || but you pay no attention

βγαίνεις μπλέκεις και αράζεις || you go and get into trouble and then drop it

όπως έκανες μικρή || like you did when you where small.

Τσίκι τσίκι τσίκι τσίκι || Tsiki tsiki tsiki tsiki

ξεφλουδίζεις το φιστίκι || you peeled your little nut

σαν αρμένισσα κυρά || like a street-walking lady

ψάχνεις για τις ευκαιρίες || you look for the occasion

πας κι ανοίγεις ιστορίες || you go and start queer stories

το 'χει μάθει η γειτονιά || the neighbourhood knows.

Τίλι τίλι τίλι τίλι || Tili tili tili tili

άναψε κα 'να καντήλι || light a little votive candle too

μη σε κάνουν τσακωτή || don't let them catch you in the act

γιατί θα 'χεις ιστορίες || because you'd never hear the last of it

και θα γίνουν φασαρίες || and there would be hell to pay

για χατίρι σου τρελή || for your crazy fancy.

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ΔΕΝ ΕΠΙΤΡΕΠΕΤΑΙ || It can't be allowed

Μουσική: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Music: Vasilis Dimitriou

Στίχοι: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Lyrics: Vasilis Dimitriou

Δεν επιτρέπεται να κάνεις τέτοια λάθη || It can't be allowed that you make mistakes like that

εσύ που ξέρεις τόσους δρόμους στη ζωή || you who know so many of the ways of life.

δεν επιτρέπεται να κάνεις τέτοια λάθη || It can't be allowed that you make mistakes like that

και ας σε πλήγωσα για λίγο μια στιγμή || even though I hurt you, for a moment, at some time.

Κάποιος σε πήρε με τα λόγια κάπου σου πήρε το φιλί || Someone caught you with the words, somewhere he caught your kiss

κάπως σε κούρασε νομίζω η αγάπη η πολλή || somehow you got tired, I guess, of the love, the very large love.

κάποιος σε πήρε με τα λόγια κάπου σου πήρε το φιλί || Someone caught you with the words, somewhere he caught your kiss

μα θα θυμάσαι την καρδιά μου και θα κλαις σαν το παιδί || but you will remember my heart and you will cry like a child.

Δεν επιτρέπεται να κάνεις τέτοια λάθη || It can't be allowed that you make mistakes like that

εσύ που πάντα ήσουνα προσεκτική || you who always were so cautious.

δεν επιτρέπεται να κάνεις τέτοια λάθη || It can't be allowed that you make mistakes like that

κι ας είπα κάτι σε μιαν άτυχη στιγμή || even though I said something wrong in a moment of bad luck.

Κάποιος σε πήρε με τα λόγια κάπου σου πήρε το φιλί || Someone caught you with the words, somewhere he caught your kiss

κάπως σε κούρασε νομίζω η αγάπη η πολλή || somehow you got tired, I guess, of the love, the very large love.

κάποιος σε πήρε με τα λόγια κάπου σου πήρε το φιλί || Someone caught you with the words, somewhere he caught your kiss

μα θα θυμάσαι την καρδιά μου και θα κλαις σαν το παιδί || but you will remember my heart and you will cry like a child.

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ΑΜΑΡΤΩΛΗ || Unrepentant

Μουσική: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Music: Vasilis Dimitriou

Στίχοι: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Lyrics: Vasilis Dimitriou

Μες τη ζωή σου έχεις κάνει αδικίες || In your life you have done injustice,

κι έχεις παιδέψει το διπλάσιο ντουνιά || and you have made the world suffer twice over,

μα όταν έρχεσαι το βράδυ στ' όνειρό μου || but when you come at night into my dream

τότε ξυπνάει και μ' ακούει η γειτονιά || then the neighbourhood wakes up and hears me.

Αμαρτωλή αμαρτωλή || Unrepentant, unrepentant,

πόσους τρελαίνεις απ' το βράδυ στο πρωί || how many do you drive crazy from evening till dawn?

αμαρτωλή αμαρτωλή || Unrepentant, unrepentant,

σαν την Ελλάδα με τσακίζεις μια ζωή || like Greece herself, you torment me, lifelong.

Κινείσαι χάνεσαι υπάρχεις και πλανιέσαι || Moving, vanishing, existing and transient,

σαν κάτι πλάσματα που λένε ξωτικά || like some being one might call exotic,

λες και τα μάγια που σου κάνανε οι άντρες || as if the magic that the men practiced on you

σε έχουν κάνει και δε μοιάζεις με καμιά || has made you so that you are like no other.

Αμαρτωλή αμαρτωλή || Unrepentant, unrepentant,

πόσους τρελαίνεις απ' το βράδυ στο πρωί || how many do you drive crazy from evening till dawn?

αμαρτωλή αμαρτωλή || Unrepentant, unrepentant,

σαν την Ελλάδα με τσακίζεις μια ζωή || like Greece herself, you torment me, lifelong.

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ΓΕΝΙΑ ΤΟΥ '40 || Generation of '40

Μουσική: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Music: Vasilis Dimitriou

Στίχοι: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Lyrics: Vasilis Dimitriou

Σε τούτη τη χώρα τη δύσκολη ώρα || In this country, here, in the though hour,

που σβήνεις και λειώνεις σαν μαύρο κερί || when you burn down and melt like a black candle...

Γενιά του '40 σε βάλαν στην πάντα || Generation of '40, they put you out in the world

με πέντε σημαίες και δυο πλαστικά || with five flags and two bits of plastic.

Πώς μας τσακίζει αυτή η χώρα || How this country torments us

σαν ξένη μάνα σαν μητριά || like a stranger in mother's place, like a stepmother,

Πώς μας σαπίζει αυτή η χώρα || How this country saps and rots us,

και μας πετάει μες τα σκυλιά || and then throws us to the dogs.

Σε τούτη τη χώρα τη μαύρη την ώρα || In this country, here, in the though hour,

Ιούδες φωνάζουν και συ τους κοιτάς || They are designating Judasses, and you are looking on,

Η γενιά του '40 ριγμένη στην πάντα || The generation of '40 thrown out in the world

σ' αυτή τη μιζέρια που τρώει τη χαρά || into this misery that eats up all joy.

Πώς μας τσακίζει αυτή η χώρα || How this country torments us

σαν ξένη μάνα σαν μητριά || like a stranger in mother's place, like a stepmother,

πώς μας σαπίζει αυτή η χώρα || How this country saps and rots us,

και μας πετάει μες τα σκυλιά || and then throws us to the dogs.

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Well, I had most of these sitting around for ages. Started them a long time ago because I was unhappy with some dutch translations I saw somewhere, finished them because of the book. It was about time I posted them...

btw, everyone, I apologize for being rather lazy with the posting of song translations these days. Not putting as much time into it as I used to.

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Dear Geeske

In a way, some comments have already been made, at least about Βαμέννα κοκκινά μαλλιά which Micki translated in May. I think you must have missed them, so heres the link http://www.dalaras.com/forum/index.php?s=8...t=0entry23505

As I see there wasn't a final version, here, in this topic's traditional spirit of collaborative cooperation (or do I mean cooperative collaboration?) is my interpretation of the work of Micki, John, Olga, Athina and Geeske. With comments of course still always welcome.

Μουσική: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Music: Vasilis Dimitriou

Στίχοι: Βασίλης Δημητρίου || Lyrics: Vasilis Dimitriou

Βαμμένα κόκκινα μαλλιά κάθε νύχτα || Dyed red hair, every night,

σε ποια σεντόνια να δακρύζεις στα κρυφά || into which sheets are you secretly crying,

δεν έχει περιθώριο η πίκρα || bitterness has no bounds

και η χαρά τελειώνει στα μισά || while joy ends half way.

Λυπημένη μου αγάπη καληνύχτα || My sad love, good night

δεν τελειώνουμε έτσι εύκολα εμείς || we dont break up so easily

σαν αγέρας που σε καίει μες τη νύχτα || like the wind that burns you in the night

όποια πόρτα κι αν ανοίξεις θα με βρεις || whichever door you open, you will find me.

Βαμμένα κόκκινα μαλλιά και μια δάφνη || Dyed red hair and a laurel leaf

στο χέρι για παρηγοριά || in your hand for comfort

γιατί θυμάσαι πάντα τα λάθη || why always remember the mistakes

γιατί δε φεύγεις για τη λησμονιά || why not forget everything *

Λυπημένη μου αγάπη καληνύχτα || My sad love, good night

δεν τελειώνουμε έτσι εύκολα εμείς || we dont break up so easily

σαν αγέρας που σε καίει μες τη νύχτα || like the wind that burns you in the night

όποια πόρτα κι αν ανοίξεις θα με βρεις || whichever door you open, you will find me.

Βαμμένα κόκκινα μαλλιά μια σταγόνα// Red dyed hair, a tear

στα χείλη να σε καίει για καιρό // of bitterness should burn your lips for a time

ποιος τάζει της ζωής το χειμώνα || Who promises the winter of life

και ποιος φοβάται το Χριστό || and who fears Christ?

Λυπημένη μου αγάπη καληνύχτα || My sad love, good night

δεν τελειώνουμε έτσι εύκολα εμείς || we dont break up so easily

σαν αγέρας που σε καίει μες τη νύχτα || like the wind that burns you in the night

όποια πόρτα κι αν ανοίξεις θα με βρεις || whichever door you open, you will find me.

Βαμμένα κόκκινα μαλλιά καληνύχτα || Dyed red hair, good night

του χρόνου πάλι θα σε θυμηθώ || Next year I will remember you again...

Καληνύχτα || Good night...

Σ' αγαπώ || I love you.

* I think this means why not go into oblivion However the word oblivion has come to mean unconsciousness or even death, so I dont think a direct translation would be right here.

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1. και μια δάφνη || Dyed red hair and a laurel leaf

στο χέρι για παρηγοριά || in your hand for comfort

2. γιατί θυμάσαι πάντα τα λάθη || why always remember the mistakes

γιατί δε φεύγεις για τη λησμονιά || why not forget everything *

3. ποιος τάζει της ζωής το χειμώνα || Who promises the winter of life

και ποιος φοβάται το Χριστό || and who fears Christ?

* I think this means why not go into oblivion However the word oblivion has come to mean unconsciousness or even death, so I dont think a direct translation would be right here.

Geske, Kate, Micki,

1. I like there this "laurel leaf" most.

Could anyone give us the more complete symbolic mening of it here?

Obviously, victory. But does it have any connections with death, too? I can't remember at the moment. And it seems to me an important question in this text.

2. I like more the introduction of a question, and not kind of a statement here. This "why"?

I have still my problems with this "λησμονία". Literally speaking, it is oblivion, then forgetting everything, not only everyday events.

But, simplified, the two verses have for me the meaning like this:

Why do you always remember mistakes

and do not try to forget them?

3. Perhaps are those "sheets" in slight connections to the sheets used for a dead person in the grave. I do not even mean the kind of first appearance of Fatme in the book, but this "winter of the life" (her violent death?) and, fear of the judgement? This would make together a sense of those lines. Otherwise I can not understand so well, what this "fear of Christ" could mean here as a literaric motive.

Therefore my question to the symbolic meaning of the laurel leaf. Can it be taken as symbol of death then?

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Aha, even if I asked the question already: what is the difference between δάφνη & πικροδάφνη then? This well known "mirtia kai pikrodafni" could then be a kind of support in answering my question.

Nikola, you are the expert in botanic here :)

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Kate, thank you.

"dyed red hair" or "hair dyed red"? If I remember my positional grammer correctly, the first ought to mean "red hair that has been dyed another colour", and the second "hair that has been dyed red". And I would want the second meaning.

The 'γιατί as "why" or "because" is a fine problem - I think it's an ambiguity in Greek that we have no way of keeping in English.

Olga, I am going to ignore your esoteric queries. They don't make sense to me, and I think you are looking for things that are not there. As for the botanical question:

Δάφνη is the laurel, botanical name Laurus nobilis, known in the kitchen as 'bay leaf' - it's the stuff they make crowns from, for winners of chariot races and such, and also the stuff you put into the stew. Such a useful little shrub!

Πικροδάφνη is the oleander, the tall swaying bush with long narrow leaves and long bright white or pink blossoms, trumpet-shaped, that you find all over southern Europe - e.g. in great profusion along the highway from Patra to Athens, and many other greek roads. Its botanical name is Nerium Oleander, it is poisonous, and botanically not related to the laurel at all (but to the perrywinkle - latin: Vinca major and Vinca minor - which we do have in the North).

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btw, everyone, I apologize for being rather lazy with the posting of song translations these days. Not putting as much time into it as I used to.

So very convenient for you than that I reminded you with my other post, for this one, isn't it?

Interesting turn this is taking. I never thought that a song that I love so much, followed by songs on the CD that I love so much, would lead to a lesson in biology, geography (or whatever lesson) that is not related to the meaning of this nice song imho.

I have to do something about it, to get the magic feeling again, when I think of this song, or hear it. Soon. Very soon.

Micki

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Thank you, Geske.

But I found this also:

Dafni, laurel,

an attribute of Asklepios (the aroma of it should prevent from the plague, being rotten, and from bad ghosts, too).

Was called "the repentant, penitent tree".

The Latin name: "laurus", derivated from "luo, lavo", remains in connection with this cleansing power".

The violent fading of laurel trees was in the ancient and mediaeval time understood like the message (or expecting) of death of the ruler, in the own garden - death in the own home

After: The dictionary of symbols, Dorothea Forstner, edition Warsaw 1990.

The dictionary of symbols, Wladyslaw Kopalinski, edition Warsaw 1990.

I think, this has to do with the text we try to translate - and interpret.

Everyone can see, that is not easy.

And I feel not ignored, but offended by your first remarks, while the others are very useful for me.

Olga

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Translating. I translate for me, in order to understand, and NOT to interpret. Interpretations and literary analysis make me want to bite.

Posting. I post for others, and definitely NOT in order to spoil the song for them. Whatever the difficulties and drawbacks and misunderstandings, I come back to it, for the *co* (co-operation, co-laboration, co-translation, co-munication... whatever...) - am I the only one?

Micki, I wish more people would remind me to post things, these days, and I wish I could thank you for reminding me, and I wish I could do something to protect the magic of the song against the too bright light of rational enquiry. Maybe ignore the talk, and listen to the singing. What was it Dalaras said in that memorable interview with Lalas - something like "I'm not a schoolmaster, I have no lessons to teach anyone, but I could sing you something if you like".

I won't apologize for looking up the latin name of the flowers. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet". I like flowers and I like botanical latin and if someone confuses that with showing off, well... don't, that's all.

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Ach, paidia! Pax!

"A rose is a rose is a rose"- something like that said G.Stein, I think. No showing off is seen, at least from my point of view, by anyone. :):)

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Geske, just the botanical latin you gave is OK for me, after all I asked those details.

But do allow me to ask about certain words and meanings not only on the obvious level of the pure translation with dictionaries. Texts like this one need interpretation, too (surely those verses with laurel, comfort, winter of life, fear of Christ). Otherwise I can sometimes not understand them.

How do you understand this verse then? I still can't, unless I try to see some connections of motives.

Do allow me to ask.

And esoteric means not necessarily irrelevant, Geske.

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Dear Geeske

You said 'I come back to it, for the *co* (co-operation, co-laboration, co-translation, co-munication... whatever...) - am I the only one?'

I think I can say, very happily and very definitely, that you are not. During the time I've spent cataloguing the translations it's become very clear how much of a co-operative effort this has been. It's really great to see how many members have contributed. Sometimes perhaps the enthusiasm for translating may mean that someone forgets about what has already been done, so perhaps I can gently remind everyone here about 'our' 'list of translated songs', which is still kept up to date :).

And for the same reason you really shouldn't feel the need to apologise for not posting translations recently (after all where would that leave me :) ) I believe that no-one should feel under an obligation to post anything. Everyone contributes what they can - which isn't to say that we can't feel grateful to and thank the members like Micki and you, of course, who have contributed so much.

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Some thoughts on ΠΟΥ¨ΝΑΙ ΠΟΥ¨ΝΑΙ ΤΟ ΠΑΙΔΑΚΙ:

Firstly I wish to thank Geeske for her translation; I heard this song some years ago for the first time , but until now I had only a diffuse idea about its content.

Once I grasped it, I tried to make more of it in my mother tongue. It's surely okay translating Παιδάκι by 'kid', but if you are aware the whole of the song it's clear that a certain type of a young boy is meant. He is a trickster, a young rascal. In German we have therefore several expressions: 'Pfiffikus', 'Schlawiner', 'Schlingel' and maybe others.

For the German-speaking community in the Club here's my translation.

Viel Spaß !

WO IST NUR DER SCHLINGEL ?

Wo ist er nur, der Schlingel ?

Und wohin verfolgen ihn die Bauernlümmel ?

Wo ist er, wo ist er, der Kleine,

der blond-brünette ?

Seine Mutter ist ein Distelfink

und sein Vater aus Athen.

Sie lehrten ihn das Leben

von einem grünen kleinen Zweig herab.

Sein Onkel ist ein Platanenbaum

und sein Großvater aus der Mani.

Sie belehrten ihn über das Wasser

und wie kostbar es ist.

Seine Patin ist eine Schwalbe

und aus Smyrna die Großmutter.

Sie lehrten ihn die Geheimnisse

des Entgleitens in die Dunkelheit.

Da ist er, da ist der Schlingel,

sie droschen auf ihn, die Bauernlümmel,

der ihnen die Lottoscheine nahm

und dafür ein Boot kaufte

Da ist er, da ist er, der Kleine,

der blond-brünette !

Herbert

:)

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Herbert, vielen Dank fuer die deutsche Version. Aber mal ehrlich, es hoert sich in griechisch doch viel besser an!

:)

mit ein Grund, warum ich keine 'woertlichen' Uebersetzungen brauche. Mir reicht es wenn ich den Sinn eines Liedes erfasse.

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Anna, natürlich, der gesungene (!) Text am schönsten immer in Griechisch ! Ich singe aber nicht ständig, sondern versuche genau so wie Du, den Sinn der vielen Lieder, die ich höre, zu verstehen.

Ich bin weder des Griechischen noch des Englischen so mächtig, dass ich Liedtexte auf Anhieb verstehe. Also greife ich zu Lexika und übersetze in meine Muttersprache. Warum ? Weil ich mir dann am sichersten bin, verstanden zu haben. Und ich schreibe mir auf , was ich übersetzt habe, weil ich die Erfahrung gemacht habe, dass man so einiges wieder vergisst, wenn man Lieder längere Zeit nicht mehr gehört hat.

Manchmal meine ich, dass unsere deutsche Sprache auch schön klingen kann, oder dass sie Ausdrucksformen hat, die andere Sprachen so nicht haben ( oder ich diese nicht kenne). Bei dem Lied Πουνε το παιδαάκι reizte es mich, diese Möglichkeiten einmal auszuprobieren. Und ich wollte, dass andere daran teilhaben, auch wenn ich natürlich weiß, dass es nie sehr viele sein werden.

Herbert

:)

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