Χάρις Αλεξιου - Να ζήσω η να πεθάνω

I found the translation on Haroula's official site but still I would be grateful if you help me understand certain phrases.
να βγούνε οι μοναξιές ζευγάρι -- I didn't find a meaning of βγαίνω in the dictionary that would suit the line
Σ' ένα flamenco απάνω - with a flamenco all over me?, with the burden of a flamenco?... doesn't make sense to me... "In the middle of a flamenco" the translation says but I found επάνω with the meaning of "just ahead", "in front of", not "in the middle".
μ' ένα κορμί ότι κάνω ???

Here are the lyrics:

Δεν έχει απόψε η γη φεγγάρι
να βγούνε οι μοναξιές ζευγάρι
να πιάσουν της καρδιάς τ' αγρίμι
κάτω απ' της ξαστεριάς τ' ασήμι

Φλέβα η ζωή που γρήγορα χτυπά

Να ζήσω ή να πεθάνω
Σ' ένα flamenco απάνω
μάτια μου
σαν τρελή φωτιά
που διψάει για μια μαύρη ματιά

Να ζήσω ή να πεθάνω
μ' ένα κορμί ότι κάνω
μάτια μου
ν' απογειωθώ
κι απ' τη γη
με το φως να ενωθώ

Δεν έχει απόψε η γη κρεβάτια
για κείνους που κοιτούν στα μάτια
κι αν τους ρωτήσεις λένε, ίσως
κάποια μου αγάπη να' ταν μίσος

Φλέβα η ζωή που γρήγορα χτυπά
θέλει ο έρωτας και ο θάνατος ψυχή
πες το κι άρχισε ουρανέ μου μια βροχή.

Φλέβα η ζωή που γρήγορα χτυπά
Να ζήσω ή να πεθάνω
μ' ένα κορμί ότι κάνω
μάτια μου
ν' απογειωθώ
κι απ' τη γη
με το φως να ενωθώ

Well well well......

I've already written about Nikolakopoulou in a previous post
Check it -> http://www.allthelyrics.com/forum/gr...tml#post657160

In my opinion you have to know her personally to explain the meaning of her lyrics.
But since you are not asking about the whole translation here are the answers to your questions:

1)Δεν έχει απόψε η γη φεγγάρι
να βγούνε οι μοναξιές ζευγάρι
να πιάσουν της καρδιάς τ' αγρίμι
κάτω απ' της ξαστεριάς τ' ασήμι

Tonight Earth has no moon over her
so as lonely souls will go out for a walk performing pairs
and catch the wild beast -that's being hidden into - heart
under the silver light of the clear sky

So, Nikolakopoulou writes about a night that there's no moon,
and no silver "light" caused of it.
She supposes that this effect would help lonely people to go for a walk,
find their mates, and release something like hidden energy kept in their hearts.

2)Φλέβα η ζωή που γρήγορα χτυπά

Να ζήσω ή να πεθάνω
Σ' ένα flamenco απάνω,
μάτια μου,
σαν τρελή φωτιά
που διψάει για μια μαύρη ματιά

Life is a vein that beats fast

I should live or die
during a flamenco,
my eyes,
like a crazy fire
that feels thirsty for just a blackeyed glance

After realizing that life's going too fast, she talks to her beloved
about the feeling she had while watched a flamenco.
She "felt" the woman dancer as a sparkling flame,
surrounding the male dancer asking for nothing more than one
glance of his black eyes.
She thinks that she has to do it herself to acknowledge that feeling,
even if this is the last thing she has to do!


3)Να ζήσω ή να πεθάνω
μ' ένα κορμί ό,τι κάνω,
μάτια μου,
ν' απογειωθώ
κι απ' τη γη
με το φως να ενωθώ

I should live or die
I have only one body to do as many things as I can,
my eyes,
to lift off
and released from the ground
to unite myself with the light

You may find a collection of Nikolakopoulou's songs in this channel -> http://www.youtube.com/user/thalassa212#g/u

And personally, I suggest you to listen to this one -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BoYOaSV6Zc

Hope I helped you!


Lina Nikolakopoulou

Thank you very much both for translating and interpreting!!! Indeed you helped me a lot!
So if I say Είμαι επάνω σε μια δουλειά it would mean that I'm in the middle of something? (I'm learning Greek hard. That is why I'm trying to understand each and every word. )
"ό, τι κανω" and not "ότι κάνω" as in the text I had found makes it much clearer.
The song of Akistis Protopsalti is really beautiful! I had heard it before and now I enjoyed it even more! Thank you very much!

Originally Posted by Amethystos

Well well well......

I've already written about Nikolakopoulou in a previous post
Check it -> http://www.allthelyrics.com/forum/gr...tml#post657160

In my opinion you have to know her personally to explain the meaning of her lyrics.
But since you are not asking about the whole translation here are the answers to your questions:

1)Δεν έχει απόψε η γη φεγγάρι
να βγούνε οι μοναξιές ζευγάρι
να πιάσουν της καρδιάς τ' αγρίμι
κάτω απ' της ξαστεριάς τ' ασήμι

Tonight Earth has no moon over her
so as lonely souls will go out for a walk performing pairs
and catch the wild beast -that's being hidden into - heart
under the silver light of the clear sky

So, Nikolakopoulou writes about a night that there's no moon,
and no silver "light" caused of it.
She supposes that this effect would help lonely people to go for a walk,
find their mates, and release something like hidden energy kept in their hearts.

2)Φλέβα η ζωή που γρήγορα χτυπά

Να ζήσω ή να πεθάνω
Σ' ένα flamenco απάνω,
μάτια μου,
σαν τρελή φωτιά
που διψάει για μια μαύρη ματιά

Life is a vein that beats fast

I should live or die
during a flamenco,
my eyes,
like a crazy fire
that feels thirsty for just a blackeyed glance

After realizing that life's going to fast, she talks to her beloved
about the feeling she had while watched a flamenco.
She "felt" the woman dancer as a sparkling flame,
surrounding the male dancer asking for nothing more than one
glance of his black eyes.
She thinks that she has to do it herself to acknowledge that feeling,
even if this is the last thing she has to do!


3)Να ζήσω ή να πεθάνω
μ' ένα κορμί ό,τι κάνω,
μάτια μου,
ν' απογειωθώ
κι απ' τη γη
με το φως να ενωθώ

I should live or die
I have only one body to do as many things as I can,
my eyes,
to lift off
and released from the ground
to unite myself with the light

You may find a collection of Nikolakopoulou's songs in this channel -> http://www.youtube.com/user/thalassa212#g/u

And personally, I suggest you to listen to this one -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BoYOaSV6Zc

Hope I helped you!


Lina Nikolakopoulou

wow! great explanations , Amethystos btw, Η σωτηρία της ψυχής is one of my very favourites greek feeling blue songs

Originally Posted by feishtica

So if I say Είμαι επάνω σε μια δουλειά it would mean that I'm in the middle of something? (I'm learning Greek hard. That is why I'm trying to understand each and every word. )

That piece of text alone means exactly that, "I'm in the middle/onto something", but it could be a reference of place (απάνω), depending on the co-text.

For example:

-"Πού είσαι; - Where are you?"
-"Είμαι επάνω σε μια δουλειά - I'm upstairs, doing something"

In the case of this song however, it is obvious that it's a reference of "during something".

"ό, τι κανω" and not "ότι κάνω" as in the text I had found makes it much clearer.

Yes, "ό,τι" is totally different than "ότι". The first means "whatever" while the second means "that".

Examples:

>Ό,τι και να κάνω - Whatever I do
>άσχετα με ό,τι θα σου πω - Regardless of what I'll tell you

>Του είπα ότι θα το κάνω - I told him that I will do it
>Πιστεύω ότι αυτό είναι σωστό - I believe that this is the right thing.

In this case, a comma makes a world of difference, and it's a pity that many young speakers of modern Greek don't know and can't tell the difference, in fact, quite a few times we have seen this serious errror in original Greek lyrics too.

btw, Η σωτηρία της ψυχής is one of my very favourites greek feeling blue songs

Yes, mine too.

Thank you very much for explaining so meticulously.
Since you seem to be a big fan of Lina Nikolakopoulou's, may I ask you some questions about other lyrics of hers? Ta Karelia.
κι απ' το ριγμένο μαντήλι
που 'χα στα μαλλιά.
Με έπνιγαν αγάπη μου οι φίλοι
According to the translation in Xaroula's site this means that her friends used to strangle her (obviously jokingly) with the scarf she used to wear in her hair. What I don't understand is the preposition here - από. Shouldn't it be με - Με έπνιγαν με το μαντήλι? And what does ριγμένος mean? That she had dropped her scarf?
τίποτα δεν άξιζε να πάμε - it wasn't worth going on? Ir it wasn't worth going anywhere? Shouldn't it be πουθενά then?
να τα λέω για δώρα - to accept them as gifts? What is the expression? Το λέω για?
να λέει στο φταίχτη - to talk to the culprit? Or to blame the culprit? Or something else?
Here are the lyrics:
Κάπνιζες Καρέλια στη σκάλα
σήμερα θυμήθηκα κι άλλα
να σ' ενοχλεί που 'χα γίνει σκιά σου
τότε που η δική μου ευτυχία
ήταν η δικιά σου δυστυχία
κι απ' το ριγμένο μαντήλι
που 'χα στα μαλλιά.
Με έπνιγαν αγάπη μου οι φίλοι
φίλοι απ' τη δουλειά
με έκριναν παλιά τα δυο σου χείλη.

Θυμάμαι
τίποτα δεν άξιζε να πάμε
τίποτα απ' τα πράγματα που τώρα
με έκανε η ζωή να μπορώ
να τα λέω για δώρα.

Θυμάσαι
ώρα σου καλή όπου και να 'σαι
τίποτα δεν βρήκαμε ν' αξίζει
κι άφησε τη μνήμη ο καιρός
να το συνεχίζει...

Θυμάμαι...

Το άσπρο κεντημένο σεντόνι
έγινε πανί για τη σκόνη
κι από τον καινούριο καθρέφτη
που 'χω φέρει εδώ
θα έβλεπες τον ήλιο να πέφτει
όπως βλέπω εγώ
το παλιό μου εγώ
να λέει στο φταίχτη.

Θυμάμαι
τίποτα δεν άξιζε να πάμε
τίποτα απ' τα πράγματα που τώρα
με έκανε η ζωή να μπορώ
να τα λέω για δώρα.

Θυμάσαι
ώρα σου καλή όπου και να 'σαι
τίποτα δεν βρήκαμε ν' αξίζει
κι άφησε τη μνήμη ο καιρός
να το συνεχίζει...

Θυμάσαι... Θυμάσαι...

Thank you again for being such a big help.

As I already said the only one to be asked about the meaning is
Nikolakopoulou herself!


Ok! Same Lp same nostalgia!

Link to song- > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-AN4ZRdPB8

1)Ta karelia - is an old brand of Greek cigarettes

Κάπνιζες Καρέλια στη σκάλα,
σήμερα θυμήθηκα κι άλλα,
να σ' ενοχλεί που 'χα γίνει σκιά σου
τότε που η δική μου ευτυχία
ήταν η δικιά σου δυστυχία,
κι απ' το ριγμένο μαντήλι
-που 'χα στα μαλλιά-
με έπνιγαν αγάπη μου οι φίλοι
φίλοι απ' τη δουλειά,
με έκριναν παλιά τα δυο σου χείλη.

You used to smoke Karelia sited on the stairway,
today I remembered some more things,
like when you were annoyed that I had become your shadow,
it was the time when your misery had turned to be my happiness,
and from the laying scarf
-that I used to wear (over my back and) under my hair-
oh my love, some friends were struggling me
friends that I worked with,
and that was a thing that your two lips used to criticized me for

Well, she's talking about a former love affair.
She watches the stairway and remembers him smoking his favorite cigarettes.
She used to be always with him and that was something that irritated him.
She remembered that during this age she used to wear a scarf over her shoulders and under her hair.
And then she creates this METAPHOR with the stretching scarf to show,
that the pressure of her working companions to her life was a reason to be
accused by him.

As for the "από".... well if someone pulls you from a scarf that you wear around
your neck then I think you can tell that they're struggling you

2)Θυμάμαι
τίποτα δεν άξιζε να πάμε
τίποτα απ' τα πράγματα που τώρα
με έκανε η ζωή να μπορώ
να τα λέω για δώρα.

I remember that
there was nothing worthy enough to continue (this affair)
not a thing, of the things that this time
life has taught me that I can count of them
as gifts.


Meaning:While maturing you always find new values in your life.

"να τα λέω για δώρα" here with the meaning "να τα θεωρώ δώρα"

As for the phrase "τίποτα δεν άξιζε να πάμε" DO NOT TRY to learn Greek by translating Nikolakopoulou.
She is a poet and she doesn't use language the way we do!

3)Το άσπρο κεντημένο σεντόνι
έγινε πανί για τη σκόνη
κι από τον καινούριο καθρέφτη
- που 'χω φέρει εδώ -
θα έβλεπες τον ήλιο να πέφτει
όπως βλέπω εγώ
το παλιό μου εγώ
να λέει στο φταίχτη.

The white embroidered sheet
is now being used as duster
and through the new mirror
- that I moved in here -
you would see the sunset
the same way I watch
my old "ego"
accusing the one that was to be blamed.

Note: It was an old habit when the white cotton embroidered sheets
were worn to cut them to pieces and use them as dusters.

Meaning: So she continues to observe the same room and realizes
that the duster she now uses was a sheet that they were sleeping on.
She uses the same room to create an illusionary dialogue with her ex-lover,
letting him know that if he had been there, he would have been able to face the sunset through the mirror as clear as she herself can "see" (remember)
her younger "ego" accusing him. (Probably for braking up!)

As you can identify this is another Metaphor.

It's tough, but at the same time exciting to discuss and study the meaning of such beautifully inspired lyrics.

Other lyrics' writers make no effort at all, they provide everything on a glimps, they practically don't allow you to think.

Thank you very, very much!!!!

Originally Posted by Amethystos

As I already said the only one to be asked about the meaning is
Nikolakopoulou herself!
.

Reading your explanations below I come to the conclusion that there was no need to ask Lina Nikolakopoulou since you made it all perfectly clear! Thank you very much, you were a big help to me!!!

Originally Posted by BleakHeart

Other lyrics' writers make no effort at all, they provide everything on a glimps, they practically don't allow you to think.

I think you are absolutely right!

Originally Posted by BleakHeart

It's tough, but at the same time exciting to discuss and study the meaning of such beautifully inspired lyrics.

Originally Posted by feishtica

Reading your explanations below I come to the conclusion that there was no need to ask Lina Nikolakopoulou since you made it all perfectly clear! Thank you very much, you were a big help to me!!!

Artist knows all the "why" and "abouts" of the masterpiece and everyone has the right to like/dislike it and interpret the "object",
based on his own life.

But there's an exception I think.

For example: The new Museum of Acropolis.... Well the "artist" who schedule it,
should had had some kind of "vision". I still wonder how Fidias would have reacted facing it btw!

In other words we may "study and discuss" someone's work.
But isn't it too "rude" to maybe misinterpret someone who's still alive?