Σαν απόκληρος γυρίζω (1950)

A truly great and iconic Greek singers, Σωτηρία Μπέλλου, her haunting vocal style, the so called Smyrna style, influences artists even today. Here she sings a song about being among the ξενιτιά, an important word in Greek. It means foreign lands, but has a special significance to the Greeks who ofter have found themselves separated from the homeland, either by opportunity or out of necessity.

In this song, particularly, the word in reinforced by powerful symbols being away from home being like a tree without water or bird without air. Also, a Homeric phrase, black fate, μαύρη μοίρα, serve to heighten the pathos.




Σαν απόκληρος γυρίζω

Στίχοι: Βασίλης Τσιτσάνης
Μουσική: Βασίλης Τσιτσάνης

Σαν απόκληρος γυρίζω στην κακούργα ξενιτιά Περιπλανώμενος δυστυχισμένος Μακριά απ’ της μάνας μου την αγκαλιά Κλαίνε τα πουλιά για αέρα Και τα δέντρα για νερό Κλαίω μανούλα μου κι εγώ για σένα Που έχω χρόνια για να σε ειδώ Πάρε χάρε τη ψυχή μου Ησυχία για να βρω Αφού το θέλησε η μαύρη μοίρα Μες τη ζωή μου να μη χαρώ

------ Μετάφρασης (Translation) ------

Like the disinherited I return
to the evil foreign lands
wondering, unfortunate,
far from my mothers arms.

The birds cry for air
The trees for water
I cry for you mother
where it's been years since I've seen you

joy has been taken from my heart
leaving me to searching for some peace,
since black fate has wished it
that I should find no joy in life