Mikis Theodorakis

Sun of justice perceivable
and you, myrtle glorifying,
don’t, I beg you, don’t
forget my country!

It has eagle-shaped mountains,
lines of vines on volcanoes,
and the houses are more white
in the neighborship of azure!

My bitter hands with the thunder
I turn them behind the time,
I call my old friends
with threats and blood!

Τα πικρά μου χέρια με τον κεραυνό
τα γυρίζω πίσω απ’ τον καιρό
τους παλιούς μου φίλους καλώ
με φοβέρες και μ’ αίματα!

I held on to my life
travelling amongst the yellow trees
in the driving rain
to silent hillsides laden
with beech leaves
no fire
on their summit; darkness is falling.

ΕΝΑ ΤΡΑΓΟΥΔΙ ΣΑΝ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΣ ΟΜΗΡΙΚΟΣ ΨΑΛΜΟΣ, ΠΟΥ ΣΥΝΔΥΑΖΕΙ ΥΨΗΛΗ ΠΟΙΗΣΗ -ΜΕ ΠΥΚΝΕΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΛΛΕΠΑΛΛΗΛΕΣ ΕΙΚΟΝΕΣ ΚΑΙ ΜΕΤΑΦΟΡΕΣ- ΕΠΙΚΗ ΜΟΥΣΙΚΗ ΚΑΙ ΑΨΟΓΗ ΕΚΦΟΡΑ ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟΥ ΛΟΓΟΥ.

I got lost,
in the streets
which have tied me for ever
with the alleys, with the harbours

I got lost,
as I had no wings and I had you Katiniò
as I had many dreams
And the harbour,
and the harbour is small
as Ive always been alone
and I’ll always be alone.

Χάθηκα
γιατί δεν είχα τα φτερά και είχα εσένα Κατινιώ,
γιατί είχα όνειρα πολλά
και το λιμάνι,
και το λιμάνι είναι μικρό
γιατ’ ήμουν πάντα μόνος
και θα ‘μαι πάντα μόνος”

Μένουν τα κυπαρίσσια μένουν τα κυπαρίσσια
μένουν τα κυπαρίσσια κι ο δαφνώνας

In his words before the song, he thanks the organizers and many younger artists in attendance, for whom he says he has a fatherly feeling, as they have been an important part of his life. He mentions that this is his favorite song, with special meaning; he also mentions that Greeks have to be pushed back as far as they can go, before they will choose to act: and that this is when the moment of truth comes, and either they will become traitors or heroes.

Refusal (The Hidden Shore)
Lyrics: George Seferis
Music: Mikis Theodorakis

On the hidden shore
white as a dove
we were thirsty at midday;
but the water was brackish.

On the golden sand,
we wrote her name;
How lovely the wind blew from the sea
and the writing was wiped out.

With what heart, what spirit,
what desires and passion
we took our life in the wrong direction
and we changed our lives.

Με τι καρδιά, με τι πνοή,
τι πόθους και τι πάθος
πήραμε τη ζωή μας· λάθος!
κι αλλάξαμε ζωή.

With so many leaves the sun waves good day
with so many standards shines, shines the sky
and those ones are in irons, and those others are in the earth.

Quiet- anytime now the church bells will signal.

This earth is theirs and ours.

Beneath the earth in their crossed arms
they hold the rope of the church bells,
they are awaiting the hour, waiting to signal the resurrection
this earth is theirs and ours
no one can take it from us

Quiet- anytime now the church bells will signal.

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Σώπα όπου να ‘ναι θα σημάνουν οι καμπάνες

Suddenly in the darkness a light was kindled
cherubim, seraphim brought you to Earth
the moon sails in the source of your eyes

Night in your eyes
night in your heart as well
eros slept in your embrace

Vivid green leaves now kiss you
cherubim, seraphim sweetly sing
you are my great pain, my king and my sorrow

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Καταπράσινα τα φύλλα τώρα σε φιλούν
χερουβείμ, σεραφείμ γλυκοτραγουδούν
είσαι ο πόνος ο μεγάλος, τύραννός μου και καημός

I sowed grass in your garden
so the birds would come in the evening
now what moon has taken you
and emptied the embrace of the world

On the balcony of the night
the sky freezes
and love is dust
and the dream smoke

The days of youth flowed into the river
and time became an incline
I was a reed in the wind
and you were an osier in the storm

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Κύλησαν τα νιάτα στο ποτάμι
κι έγινε ο καιρός ανηφοριά
Ήμουνα στον άνεμο καλάμι
κι ήσουνα στην μπόρα λυγαριά