Listen
D’you hear the water-mills that pound, and how the waters roar?
We two do love each other well, so let the people clamour.
I come to meet you by the wall,
but do not find you waiting there.
What’s up with you, my pretty dove, your eyes are filled with tears?
Has someone been and scolded you, and told you tales of me?
I come to meet you in the fold,
and find you with another man.
My brothers have berated me, and told me tales of you,
how you are fickle, flighty too, and are no good for me.
Come, come now, hear what I’ve to say.
Do not torment me lest I cry.
Come, come now, come my little dove,
come fall into my open arms.
Translated by John Leatham
Ακούς τους μύλους
Ακούς τους μύλους πώς βροντούν και τα νερά πώς β(ο)άζουν
εμείς τα δυο αγαπιόμαστε κι ο κόσμος ας φωνάζουν.
Έρχομαι τον τοίχο, τοίχο
δεν μπορώ να σου ’πιτύχω.
Τι έχεις καναράκι μου, τα μάτια σου κλαμένα
μήπως σου μάλωσε κανείς και σου ’πε για τ’ εμένα;
Έρχομαι τη μάντρα, μάντρα
και σε βρίσκω μ’ άλλον άντρα.
Με μάλωσαν τ’ αδέρφια μου και μου ’παν για τ’ εσένα
πως είσαι ακατάστατος, δεν κάνεις για τ’ εμένα.
Έλα, έλα σαν σου λέω
μη με τυραννείς και κλαίω.
Έλα, έλα πέρδικά μου
στ’ αγκαλάκια τα δικά μου.
It is one of the many songs taught to his pupils by my teacher Simon Karas, founder of the Association for the Dissemination of Greek National Music, for broadcasting in the radio programme Greek Echoes during the years 1958-1960. Domna Samiou (1995)
Studio recording, 1995.
Based on Simon Karas' recording which belongs to the Association for the Dissemination of Greek National Music.
