Help me translate: Proskinima by Nikos Dimitratos

I could not find this song already translated over the forum. It's one of my favourite Greek songs but I don't understand the exact translated lyrics.
The name of the song in Greek is: "Προσκύνημα" and it is by "Νίκος Δημητράτος" You may listen to it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFYhKKQnZxk

Also, if someone could help tell me the background story of what is happening or where this song comes from, that would be awesome!

Originally Posted by zeeki

I could not find this song already translated over the forum. It's one of my favourite Greek songs but I don't understand the exact translated lyrics.
The name of the song in Greek is: "Προσκύνημα" and it is by "Νίκος Δημητράτος" You may listen to it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFYhKKQnZxk

Also, if someone could help tell me the background story of what is happening or where this song comes from, that would be awesome!

Προσκύνημα - Proskinima. Pilgrimage

Πάμε κι εμείς στην αυλή του φθινοπώρου
Pame ki emeis stin avli tou ftinoporou
Let us go to the Autumnal gardens
πίσω απ' τα πετρωμένα στάχυα του καλοκαιριού
Biso ta petromena stahia to kalokairiou
Behind the summer's stony ears
πάμε κι εμείς στα παιδιά που κοιμήθηκαν
Pame ki emeis sta paidia pou koimithikan
Let us go to where the children slept
κάτω απ' τα ματωμένα νύχια του περιστεριού
Kato ap ta matomena Nihia tou peristeriou
Under the bloodstained talons of a dove
πάμε να δεις στην αυλή που μεγάλωσαν
Pame na theis stin avli pou megalosan
Let's go so you can see the garden where they grew up

Δυο παιδιά ερωτευμένα
Dio paidia erotevmena
Two children in love
δυο παιδιά του χαμού
Dio paidia tou kaimou
Two doomed children

Ορέστη απ' το Βόλο
Oresti ap to Volo
Orestes from Volos
Μαρία απ' τη Σπάρτη
Maria ap it Sparti
Maria from Sparta
γυρεύω το γιο μου
Ghirevo to yio mou
I'm looking for my son
Μαρία απ' τη Σπάρτη
Maria ap it Sparti
Maria from Sparta
Ορέστη απ' το Βόλο
Oresti ap to Volos
Orestes from Volos
την κόρη μου θέλω
Tin kori mou thelo
I want my daughter


This is only a rough translation. The song itself is a tribute to the casualties & dead of the Athens polytechnic uprising & massacre in 1973. The uprising occurred almost to the day 41 years ago.

The voices calling out over the end over the song are basically repetitions of the lines of the chorus. I assume they represent the voices of two concerned parents of two children caught up in the protest, trying desperately to find their children. I think Orestes & Maria are fictitious as I can't find any explicit references to them in relation to the significant figures of the event

But you're right. It is a beautiful, sad and poignant song that I can remember from my childhood. I remember asking my father what it was about, and irrespective of whether you speak Greek or not, the use of the 2 people towards the end, desperately calling out for their children, packs an emotional punch which transcends translation.

Thanks Trelloskilos - listening to the song now (knowing the translation) gives me goosebumps