Grigoris Bithikotsis- Rebetika

At the koutouki of the Arab
I went in alone to drink
to forget a love
who broke me in two

Arab friend, my wise tavern-keeper
sit with me and keep me company so we can drink, brother.
You who have seen so many situations,
tell me what a person who has been betrayed does.

And the Arab, a fine man
gave me two words of advice:
“If a lily leaves you
the garden has others.”

Arab friend, my wise tavern-keeper
sit with me and keep me company so we can drink, brother.
You who have seen so many situations,
tonight you saved me from destruction.

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Φίλε Αράπη, ταβερνιάρη μου σοφέ
κάτσε παρέα να τα πιούμε, αδερφέ.
Εσύ που τόσες περιπτώσεις έχεις δει
απόψε μ’ έσωσες απ’ την καταστροφή.

At Belami’s ouzeri
he drank his ouzos dry
the fine young man, pale and bitter
like I myself, some time
when they betrayed me cruelly
and since then with drink I slowly die

At Belami’s ouzeri
bitter words, dead bodies
extinguished glance
My livelihood, lying and hard
you showed me a dark path
and mistaken

My fine young man, pale, listen to me also, what I shall tell you
a man must not shed tears for a woman.
Forget her and find another love
Stop drinking and crying
look at my finale and tell me if it is worth it

At Belami’s ouzeri
bitter words, dead bodies
extinguished glance
My livelihood, lying and hard
you showed me a dark path
and mistaken

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Στου Μπελαμή το ουζερί
Λόγια πικρά, κορμιά νεκρά
Βλέμμα σβησμένο
Ζήση μου ψεύτρα και σκληρή
Μου ‘δειξες δρόμο σκοτεινό
Και λαθεμένο