Posted December 4, 2001 · Report post This is it, what I made of it (with help of course from sbd else). And I'm still listening to the song often. ΑΘΗΝΑ Μουσική: Χρήστος Γκάρτζος Στίχοι: Σώτια Τσώτου Ξέρω μια πόλη που η άσφαλτος καίει και δέντρου σκιά δε θα βρεις μεγάλη ιστορία προγόνοι σπουδαίοι λυχνάρι και τάφος της γης Θυμίζεις Αθήνα γυναίκα που κλαίει γιατί δεν τη θέλει κανείς Αθήνα Αθήνα πεθαίνω μαζί σου πεθαίνεις μαζί μου κι εσύ Ξέρω μια πόλη στη νέα Σαχάρα μια έρημο όλο μπετό οι ξένοι οι στόλοι λαθραία τσιγάρα παιδιά που δεν ξέρουν κρυφτό Θυμίζεις Αθήνα γυναίκα που κλαίει γιατί δεν τη θέλει κανείς Αθήνα Αθήνα πεθαίνω μαζί σου πεθαίνεις μαζί μου κι εσύ Ξέρω μια πόλη στη γη της Αβύσσου κουρσάρων κι ανέμων νησί στης Πλάκας τους δρόμους πουλάς το κορμί σου για ένα ποτήρι κρασί Θυμίζεις Αθήνα γυναίκα που κλαίει γιατί δεν τη θέλει κανείς Αθήνα Αθήνα πεθαίνω μαζί σου πεθαίνεις μαζί μου κι εσύ ATHENS I know a city where the asphalt burns and from no tree you'll find shade old history, important ancestors oil-lamp and grave of the earth Remember Athens woman that cries because nobody wants her Athens, Athens, I die with you and you die together with me I know a city in the new Sahara a desert, entire concrete the strangers, the fleet, the contraband cigarettes children that don't know hide-and-seek Remember Athens woman that cries because nobody wants her Athens, Athens, I die with you and you die together with me I know a city in the earth of Abysm island of pirates and winds in the streets of the Plaka, you sell your body for a glass of wine. Remember Athens woman that cries because nobody wants her Athens, Athens, I die with you and you die together with me (and now I can start working. and than the other song, I'll have to read a whole history book first to understand that song). Micki Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted December 4, 2001 · Report post Hey GREAT! I've been wanting this one, Micki, thank you a lot! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted December 4, 2001 · Report post You're welcome. Micki Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted December 4, 2001 · Report post Micki, It's one of my favorites too, I had translated it last year but hadn't got around to putting it on the site yet. Mine is more or less the same as yours just a few words different (just the way I write in English mainly) so I won't bother it write it here again. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted December 4, 2001 · Report post Don't be shy Lynne. It would be very interesting to have your version too. I'm sure Micki agrees with me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted December 4, 2001 · Report post I forgot to mention, it's one of my favorites too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted December 4, 2001 · Report post Micki,from what CD is the song Athens? Franz Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted December 4, 2001 · Report post ok. I'm not Micki, but I no the answer! It's on the cd:'Οι μαηδες οι ηλιοι μου'. Maybe now you have to order another one!?! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted December 4, 2001 · Report post Annemarie, I agree with you. Any suggestion and correction is welcome. I just got a message with a - in my opinion better - translation of the refren (thank you, dear friend). So here it is : "Athens you remind a woman that cries because nobody wants her. Athens, Athens I'm dying with you and your're dying together with me" Micki Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted December 5, 2001 · Report post Anna, maybe,but I call you by phone ,I have something for you. Franz Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted December 5, 2001 · Report post I wasn't being shy - it's just words that are different so I didn't bother, but my refrain is half and half so it shows that everyone translates differently. Remember Athens the woman who cries because no-one wants her Athens, Athens I die with you you are dying with me Same thing really!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted September 5, 2005 · Report post Ξέρω μια πόλη, που η άσφαλτος καίει// I know a city where the asphalt burns και δέντρου σκιά δε θα βρεις// and you cannot find any tree's shadow Μεγάλη ιστορία, προγόνοι σπουδαίοι// great history and great ancestors λυχνάρι και τάφος της γης// oil lamp and grave of the earth Θυμίζεις Αθήνα γυναίκα που κλαίει// You bring to my mind Athens, woman who cries γιατί δεν τη θέλει κανείς// because no one wants her Αθήνα Αθήνα πεθαίνω μαζί σου// Athens, Athens I'm dying with you πεθαίνεις μαζί μου κι εσύ// and you are also dying with me Ξέρω μια πόλη στη νέα Σαχάρα// I know a city in the new Sahara μια έρημο όλο μπετό// a desert full of concrete οι ξένοι οι στόλοι λαθραία τσιγάρα// the foreign fleet, the illegal cigarettes παιδιά που δεν ξέρουν κρυφτό// children who don't know how to play 'hide and seek' Θυμίζεις Αθήνα γυναίκα που κλαίει// You bring to my mind Athens, woman who cries γιατί δεν τη θέλει κανείς// because no one wants her Αθήνα Αθήνα πεθαίνω μαζί σου// Athens, Athens I'm dying with you πεθαίνεις μαζί μου κι εσύ// and you are also dying with me Ξέρω μια πόλη στη γη της Αβύσσου// I know a city on the earth of abysm κουρσάρων κι ανέμων νησί// island of pirates and winds στης Πλάκας τους δρόμους πουλάς το κορμί σου// at the streets of Plaka, you sell your body για ένα ποτήρι κρασί// for a glass of wine Θυμίζεις Αθήνα γυναίκα που κλαίει// You bring to my mind Athens, woman who cries γιατί δεν τη θέλει κανείς// because no one wants her Αθήνα Αθήνα πεθαίνω μαζί σου// Athens, Athens I'm dying with you πεθαίνεις μαζί μου κι εσύ// and you are also dying with me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted February 21, 2006 · Report post Here's a third attempt - a little more respectful of greek and of english grammar than the earlier ones, otherwise I don't know that it has much to recommend it . Αθήνα_____||_____ Athens Μουσική: Χρήστος Γκάρτζος_____||_____ Music: Christos Gartzos Στίχοι: Σώτια Τσώτου_____||_____ Lyrics: Sotia Tsotsou Ξέρω μια πόλη που η άσφαλτος καίει_____||_____ I know a city where the asphalt is burning και δέντρου σκιά δε θα βρεις_____||_____ where you won't find a single tree's shade μεγάλη ιστορία προγόνοι σπουδαίοι_____||_____ great history, glorious ancestors, λυχνάρι και τάφος της γης_____||_____ a guiding light for the world - and its tomb. Θυμίζεις Αθήνα γυναίκα που κλαίει_____||_____ Athens, you remind me of a woman weeping γιατί δεν τη θέλει κανείς_____||_____ because nobody wants her. Αθήνα Αθήνα πεθαίνω μαζί σου_____||_____ Athens, Athens, I am dying with you πεθαίνεις μαζί μου κι εσύ_____||_____ and you too are dying with me. Ξέρω μια πόλη στη νέα Σαχάρα_____||_____ I know a city in the new Sahara, μια έρημο όλο μπετό_____||_____ a desert of nothing but concrete. οι ξένοι οι στόλοι λαθραία τσιγάρα_____||_____ Foreign fleets, contraband cigarettes, παιδιά που δεν ξέρουν κρυφτό_____||_____ children who can't play hide-and-seek... Θυμίζεις Αθήνα γυναίκα που κλαίει_____||_____ Athens, you remind me of a woman weeping γιατί δεν τη θέλει κανείς_____||_____ because nobody wants her. Αθήνα Αθήνα πεθαίνω μαζί σου_____||_____ Athens, Athens, I am dying with you πεθαίνεις μαζί μου κι εσύ_____||_____ and you too are dying with me. Ξέρω μια πόλη στη γη της Αβύσσου_____||_____ I know a city on the ground of the Abyss, κουρσάρων κι ανέμων νησί_____||_____ an island of pirates and wind. στης Πλάκας τους δρόμους πουλάς το κορμί σου_____||_____ In the streets of Plaka you are selling your body για ένα ποτήρι κρασί_____||_____ for a glass of wine Θυμίζεις Αθήνα γυναίκα που κλαίει_____||_____ Athens, you remind me of a woman weeping γιατί δεν τη θέλει κανείς_____||_____ because nobody wants her. Αθήνα Αθήνα πεθαίνω μαζί σου_____||_____ Athens, Athens, I am dying with you πεθαίνεις μαζί μου κι εσύ_____||_____ and you too are dying with me. updated....... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted March 8, 2006 · Report post Two possible ways of understanding the greek lyrics: οι ξένοι οι στόλοι λαθραία τσιγάρα// the foreign fleet, the illegal cigarettes or οι ξένοι οι στόλοι λαθραία τσιγάρα_____||_____ The foreigners, the fleets, the contraband cigarettes, In a certain way both versions make sense and they are grammtically correct (as long as we do not know if there is a comma between "οι ξένοι" and "οι στόλοι"). I have a small book with greek song lyrics which contains this song. Here the line is written as follows: "οι ξένοι οι στόλοι, λαθραία τσιγάρα" That means without comma between "οι ξένοι" and "οι στόλοι". And in the same way it is written also in a more important source: the book "Ιστορία του Ελληνικού Τραγουδιού" (3) by Kostas Mylonas (p. 338). That's the reason why I tend to prefer Giorgos' (Bithidalaras') version. (Only that I would use - like Geeske - the plural: "the foreign fleets".) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted March 8, 2006 · Report post I've updated the translation following Michael's suggestion, and correcting half a dozen other mistakes, from typo's (missing words) to a total misunderstanding of 'lyxnari' . I first took it to mean the lamp that lights the mausoleum, but of course it refers to the 'enlightening' role Athenian culture of two and half thousand years ago played (and still plays), and it contrasts this with the present plight of the city. Though I think on the whole it's improved since the song was written - or at least not gotten worse. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
