Athanasia! *

Hello to kind people out there ...

Philadelphia is in despair ... !!! (Well, it rhymes!! )

I would love to get the lyrics to "ATHANASIA" (ΑΘΑΝΑΣΙΑ / IMMORTALITY)
(However, in Greek it also "exists" as a woman's name, which very "cleverly" and "lovingly" the "poet" is using in this song! )

Music is again composed by Manos Hadjidakis (whom I consider the "Greek Mozart") ... however, the poem IS exquisite aswell ... by Nikos Gatsos.

I would love to AND promise to "interprete" this song to you "Greek lyric Lovers" out there ... because it is so beautiful indeed ... !!! ...

Thank you again in advance for your attention and assistance ... !
(Panselinos, anywhere? )

All the best,


Philadelphia

I hope it's that onehere U go

Τι ζητάς Αθανασία στο μπαλκόνι μου μπροστά
δε μου δίνεις σημασία κι η καρδιά μου πώς βαστά
Σ’ αγαπήσανε στον κόσμο βασιλιάδες, ποιητές
κι ένα κλωναράκι δυόσμο δεν τούς χάρισες ποτές

Είσαι σκληρή σαν του θανάτου τη γροθιά

μα ήρθαν καιροί που σε πιστέψανε βαθιά
Κάθε γενιά δική της θέλει να γενείς
Ομορφονιά, που δεν σε κέρδισε κανείς

Τι ζητάς Αθανασία στο μπαλκόνι μου μπροστά
ποια παράξενη θυσία η ζωή να σου χρωστά
Ήρθαν διψασμένοι Κροίσοι, ταπεινοί προσκυνητές
κι απ’ του κήπου σου τη βρύση δεν τους πότισες ποτές

Είσαι σκληρή...

Thank you "veronica_pooh"

You are kind ...

No problem,come again

ΑΘΑΝΑΣΙΑ
Music by Manos Hadjidakis
Verse by Nikos Gatsos

Athanasia = name of a Woman, but also the Greek word for "Immortality"


Τι ζητάς Αθανασία στο μπαλκόνι μου μπροστά
/ ti zitas Athanasia, sto mpalkoni mou mprosta
What is it you are asking (seeking) for, Athanasia (/Immmortality),
(literally=)at my balcony in front ("by my doorstep"
δε μου δίνεις σημασία κι η καρδιά μου πώς βαστά
/ den mou dinis simasia ki i kardia mou pos vasta
you don't give me any attention ("you don't give me the time of day"
and how (can) my heart hold (last, bear it, tolerate it)
Σ’ αγαπήσανε στον κόσμο βασιλιάδες, ποιητές
/ s' agapisane ston kosmo vasiliades, piites
they loved you in the world ("you were loved in the world by") kings, poets
κι ένα κλωναράκι δυόσμο δεν τούς χάρισες ποτές
/ ki ena klonaraki diosmo, den tous harises potes
and not (a single) little twig of mint, have you ever given them
"mint", has been on every "Greek Kitchen" windowsill for generations (sadly not yet widely applicable!), to make the place smell nice, use in the food, even keep mosquitos away ... It was very common for people to cut a little twig, just couple of mint leaves and hold or wear on their clothes. You would give some mint to someone (like you would a daisy I guess in yester days) to show love and care (mint is also renown for its healing purposes) so, to sort of keep that person safe from harm's way


Είσαι σκληρή σαν του θανάτου τη γροθιά
/ ise skliri, san tou thanatou ti grothia
you are hard (harsh), like the death's fist/punch (grasp)
"fist" and "punch" is the same word in Greek, widely used to denote the "harsh grasp and pain" something afflicts on the human body but mainly the soul, the "psyche"
μα 'ρθαν καιροί που σε πιστέψαμε βαθιά
/ ma 'than keri pou se pistepsame vathia
but times came that we believed (in) you deeply
Κάθε γενιά δική της θέλει να γενείς
/ kathe yenia diki tis theli na yenis
every generation wants (you) to become their own (in other words, "every generation wants to obtain you", to mean "every generation wants to achieve immortality"
Ομορφονιά, που δεν σε κέρδισε κανείς
/ omorfonia, pou den se kerdise kanis
good-looking lady (you), that noone wan you (over)

Τι ζητάς Αθανασία στο μπαλκόνι μου μπροστά
/ ti zitas Athanasia, sto mpalkoni mou mprosta
what is it you are asking (seeking) for, Athanasia
"by my doorstep"
ποια παράξενη θυσία η ζωή να σου χρωστά
/ pia paraxeni thisia i zoi na sou hrosta
what strange sacrifice does life owe you
Ήρθαν διψασμένοι Κροίσοι, ταπεινοί προσκυνητές
/ irthan dipsasmeni Krisi, tapini proskinites
thirsty "extremely wealthy people", humble pilgrims came
κι απ’ του κήπου σου τη βρύση δεν τους πότισες ποτές
/ ki ap' tou kipou sou ti vrisi, den tous potises potes
and from your garden's fountain, you never gave (allowed) them a drink

Refrain
Είσαι σκληρή ...
/ ise skliri ...
You are harsh ...



"Croesus" (pronounced Krissos) in the song is used in plural, to denote many of that same name but basically characteristic (!) which is extremely wealthy.
Croesus was a King of legendary wealth, said to have people visiting him, leave his palace with as much gold as they could carry.
What is also widely known about him, that survives till this day in the Greek "figure of speech", is the "story" of when Solon visited him ...
... Croesus asked Sollon to tell him who was the happiest (most fortunate) person in the world, thinking that Solon would surely indicate him because he was the most wealthy person in the world ! Solon, however, replied “do not think of yourself as fortunate, until the end (of your life)”.
Croesus felt almost offended by Solon because he couldn't understand his words ... and many years later ... being defeated in war by Cyrus, the King of Persia, he was about to get killed in his palace by the invading conqueror, when he remembered Solon's words and shouted out "... Solon, Solon ...". Cyrus heard him shout this "name", stoped and asked him who was this "Solon" that was so important to call out before he died ?!!!!!
Croesus explained and Cyrus spared Croesus life (in fear he would face a similar fate) and appoiented Croesus as his advisor ...

So, there you go ... Good old Greeks and their "moral signifigance" stories or myths I just love that!

Philadelphia 10X 4 reporing the post

No problem ... "just doing my duty, madam!" ...

This reminds me of my classes in Ancient Greek history Thanks for you interesting translations Philadelphia, even though I don't even know some of the songs..

Pw pw mas fwtizes re philadelphia!... Keep it up!

... lol ... thank you "Liki" ...

... and since as a true Leo I am "sheding light" ... the Greekism (phonetically) goes ... "mas fotiSes" ... not with "z" ... ...

...U're welcome!

Sorry if I dash your hope, but you're wrong honey it's with "z"
You should look up the word again!

Maybe "s" is some cypriot thing, just taking a wild guess, hahah

Originally Posted by Liki

Sorry if I dash your hope, but you're wrong honey it's with "z"
You should look up the word again!

Liki mou, I know how the verb is in its "present tense" and you are correct about the "z", as the verb is "φωτίζω" (/ fotizo, give light, shine on ) ... ...

Nevertheless, the "Greekism" ... "μας φώτισες!" (/ mas fotises, literally=you gave us light, you shone on us ), is in "past tense" ... and therefore, with an "s" ...

The sentence "μας φώτιζες" (/ mas fotizes, you were giving us light, you were shining on us), is ALSO correct in the "continuous past tense" ... ...

It is not, nonetheless, the way the "Greek saying" is said ...

Ελπίζω να σας φώτισα ακόμα μια φορά.
/ Elpizo na sas fotisa akoma mia fora
I hope I "gave you light" once again


Philladelphia

P.S.: By the way, the "title" is a very well known "Greek folklore saying", which I found appropriate for our situation ...

... dya mou ... you should have a "look" in here too ... there are some things that would be of interest to you ... ...

... even if NOT about Mazonakis !!! ... lol ...

Originally Posted by Philadelphia

... even if NOT about Mazonakis !!! ... lol ...

Haven't you understood by now that everything is about Mazonakis?! LOL!!!


Thank you for the hint but I had already read the topic before you mentioned it to me. Already learnt what was to learn from here!

!

... "Liki" mou ... I am thinking you have not had a chance to see the "s" debate, in here ... ...

... I mean, ... the "motion" has been "extended" ... lol ... :>

... how are things ?! omorfi mou kori ? ... ...

... I came in here by mistake before, but it feels better to "talk" in here for now, instead of in "HEAVENS!" ...

... HEAVENS is kept strictly for "Universal" seminars ... lol ...