Chainides

When you don’t remember the old times,
only this remember
that I awoke in your embrace
and you told me to go back to sleep.

Out of all of life’s cheapness
I recall with bitterness (poison)
the reflected sunlight of the evening
on a lithe naked body.

Live only for one dawn
that is enough life for you
a rose which blooms for a long time
loses its fragrance

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Να ζήσεις μόνο μιαν αυγή
τόση ζωή σε φτάνει
ρόδο π’ ανθεί πολύ καιρό
τη μυρωδιά του χάνει

1993: Distribution of Chainides’ second album ‘Kosmos,’ and it is one dream, with the participation of Ross Daly and Socrates Sinopoulos.

The musical group Chainides is made up of an open whole, discovering musical roads from Crete to Asia Minor and from the Middle East back again to the Balkans. Following musical paths, Chainides dares and creates new kinds of music and lyrics, which represent fully the plethora of life’s yearnings, the sense of the beautiful and the lost. Eros and Death, the supreme powers, are imprinted in measure and define ‘everything you have seen and desired and all that you have never seen.’
On the first hearing, the reason becomes an image and imposes itself in a revolutionary sense on the technocrat “audience.” The songs of Chainides pour forth a sense of daring, they are bold, in a time in which truth is marginalized. In their lyrics the listener will find his truth and maybe this truth is what makes the group endure, which is completing its 19th year of performing.
(translation: Eva Johanos)

Στο πρώτο άκουσμα, ο λόγος γίνεται εικόνα και επιβάλλεται επαναστατικά σε «θεατές» τεχνοκράτες. Τα τραγούδια των Χαΐνηδων αναβλύζουν τόλμη, είναι θαρραλέα, σε μία εποχή που η αλήθεια είναι στο περιθώριο. Μέσα στους στίχους ο ακροατής θα βρει την αλήθεια του και ίσως αυτή η αλήθεια να δίνει διάρκεια στο συγκρότημα, που συμπληρώνει 19 χρόνια παρουσίας.

A ship the dream
which always takes us on a journey
with the weather counter the current

Strong wind, full wind
a dark current, my friends
strong wind dark current
in the mind and in the heart

I have a love which hurts
don’t cry my sweet love
and be patient

From the window a look
and from the door farewell
the fine weather for sailing will pass
and we will come out on dry land

What each one seeks he shall find
and there exist on the seashore
hidden treasures

Strong wind black current
the will of the wind
on my sword I will carve
how I loved you much

Let’s go to unknown shores
in company with drifters
saints and madmen

Strong wind black current
my betrayed generation
as if the breaths will join together
the sails will swell with air

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Παντιγέρα μαύρη ρούσσα
προδομένη μου γενιά
σαν θα σμίξουν οι ανάσες
θα φουσκώσουν τα πανιά

Oh, it was beautiful I guess,
in the old times
my saloon
seashore, heart-ache and spirits
tucked away in my heart
with my dream.

And every day when evening came
sitting by the cask the bard
with his lute
with the wine in his being
in his yearning love song
embroidering that world there.

And Stavros over there in the corner
who for two dark cherry lips
quietly drinks
he takes water as he sings
while the lute of the bard
extinguishes the pain.

And Miris begins to dance
only the ground has an enemy
golden palaces
in some wide sea
he remembers, red fires
his two eyes.

I remember every dawn
when I wished the sun would not rise
in your embrace
dreams, boats with sails
strolling through creation
with your kisses.

Slow my heaviness, and heavy
maybe it was not real
your love for me
I ask passersby in the narrow streets
if they have seen chestnut-colored eyes
like yours.

How can I justify a life
and a star in the morning
which trembles as it goes out
in the saloon which has fallen into ruin
an old dream of mine
has remained.

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Πως να δικάσω μια ζωή
κι ένα αστέρι το πρωί
που τρεμοσβήνει
στο ερειπωμένο καπηλειό
ένα μου όνειρο παλιό
έχει ‘πομείνει.