Mana Manoula Mou - Sfakianakis *

A beatiful song of Sfakianakis with a special oriental touch.
Your help is needed again.


Μάνα μανούλα μου


Στίχοι: Σπύρος Γιατράς
Μουσική: Αλέκος Χρυσοβέργης
Πρώτη εκτέλεση: Νότης Σφακιανάκης

Με τη γριά την μάνα μου
να μην τα βάζεις βρε
κολύμπησε τον Βόσπορο
και είχε στην πλάτη εμέ
σαράντα μέρες πέλαγο
δεν είχε ούτε νερό
γοργόνα γαλανόλευκη
την έφερε ως εδώ
μπας και έχει τούρκο το αίμα σου
και την ε τυραννάς
με τα σπασμένα γκέμια σου
παίρνεις και την χτυπάς

Μάνα μανούλα μου
ψυχή ψυχούλα μου
στα βράχια θα τη σπρώξω
να πάει να γκρεμιστεί
Μάνα μανούλα μου
ψυχή ψυχούλα μου

Μάνα μανούλα μου
Mum my mummy

Στίχοι: Σπύρος Γιατράς Lyrics :Spiros Giatras
Μουσική: Αλέκος Χρυσοβέργης Music: Alekos Crisovergis
Πρώτη εκτέλεση: Νότης Σφακιανάκης First performed by: Notis Sfakianakis

Με τη γριά την μάνα μου
Me ti gria tin mana mou
With my old mother

να μην τα βάζεις βρε
na min ta vazis vre
don't mess around vre(cannot be translated)

κολύμπησε τον Βόσπορο
kolibise ton Vosporo
(she) did swim Bosphorous

και είχε στην πλάτη εμέ
ke ihe stin plati eme
and (she) had me on her back

σαράντα μέρες πέλαγο
sarada meres pelago
40 days in the open sea

δεν είχε ούτε νερό
den ihe oute nero
(she) didn't have any water

γοργόνα γαλανόλευκη
gorgona galanolefki
marmaid blue-white (like our flag)

την έφερε ως εδώ
tin efere os edo
brought her till here

μπας και έχει τούρκο το αίμα σου
bas ke ehi tourko to ema sou
maybe your blood has a turk inside

και την τυραννάς
ke tin tiranas
and you torture her

με τα σπασμένα γκέμια σου
me ta spasmena gemia sou
with your broken bit reins

παίρνεις και την χτυπάς
pernis ke tin htipas
you take and beat her up
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Μάνα μανούλα μου
mana manoula mou
mum my mummy

ψυχή ψυχούλα μου
psihi psihoula mou
soul my little soul

στα βράχια θα τη σπρώξω
sta vrahia tha tin sprokso
onto the rocks I will push her

να πάει να γκρεμιστεί
na pai na gkremisti
to break her down

Μάνα μανούλα μου
mana manoula mou
mum my mummy

ψυχή ψυχούλα μου
psihi psihoula mou
soul my little soul


The family of Sfakianakis comes from Minor Asia, and they where made to leave from there in 1922. Many of his songs have refferences in those lands and what happened in that era. Most probably what he says about his mum in this song is true(if not for his mum for other women certainly).

Indeed. That's why these songs are difficult to translate. Most of them are metaphorical and allegorical, so the lyrics might seem odd or meaningless to those unfamiliar with the pre-history. :/

The other day I had to translate Mitropanos' "Πάντα γελαστοί" and I was like "o Θεός να με βοηθήσει!". lol

panselinos try to translate s'anazito sti saloniki of Mitropanos (και μ' ένα ντέρτι σεκλετίζομαι πολίτικο try to translate only this frase in understandable english, I was thinking about it for 3days and still the translation was not that good!!!!!)

I... err... umm... give up. :/ Geez! Έχω και έναν τρομερό πονοκέφαλο. lol

By the way, we'll have a real problem if someone asks for a translation of Elytis, Kavafis or Kavvadias, for instance (I'm listening to Alkinoos Ioannidis singing "Fata Morgana" which reminded me...).

I'd never dare to do anything like that.
Like a friend of mine says: "In order to translate Elytis, you must be at least... Kavafis".

Dear friends,

Thank you for the translation and for your complimentary
remarks which I find helpful.

Euxaristw poli.

I believe my head is gonna explode any moment now. lol

I'm translating Σ' αναζητώ στη Σαλονίκη in Bulgarian. Thought it wouldn't be that hard, since I've managed to translate Πάντα γελαστοί in rhymes (had to explain the whole story behind the lyrics though).
I was wrong. :/
Although in Bulgarian do exist many words of Turkish origin, like "dert" for example, and there's no need to explain what Άγιον Όρος is, which somewhat oils the wheels.

Y.Г. I think I made it. Yup, it's hell of a lot easier in Bulgarian. Yet this translation stinks compared to the original.
God, I have no idea how would I do that in English! :/