Rebetiko song - Memetis

Hello, could someone please help me with a translation of this old rebetiko song "memetis". The song is a zeibekiko and there are several versions this one is sung by Marko Melkon (he was an Armenian from Smyrna who played oud and sang in the Armenian and Greek communities in NY). I realize there are some Turkish words in the song.

Memeti mou Memeti mou aman aman
Dhe se perno to derti mou
Dhe se perno to derti mou aman aman
Memeti mou Memeti mou

Pou pas Memeti ke Mario aman aman
Violia varoun ke pao na idho

Ime Memetis meraklis aman aman
Ke okhi trikhas sevdalis

Yep, there are indeed some turkish words in the lyrics. The songs' title "Μεμέτης" actually comes from the name "Mehmet". "Memetis" has a negative meaning and is pointing the muslims. It was used a lot in rebetiko songs of the 30's, but it's also used even today. Here's the translation:

My memeti (my muslim), my memeti aman aman,
I'm not showing to you my longing (I'm not letting you have my longing)
I'm not showing to you my longing aman aman,
My memeti, my memeti.

Where are you going memeti and Mario aman aman,
Violins are being sounded and I'm going to watch.

I'm a devotee memetis (muslim) aman aman,
and not a fake love-struck person.

Nikos thank you for the translation. I'm still a little confused, what is the meaning of this song....

Originally Posted by HarryK

Nikos thank you for the translation. I'm still a little confused, what is the meaning of this song....

Well, it's a bit hard to understand the meaning of rebetiko songs (especially the old ones). Sometimes you just can't know what the songwriter wants to say. ;-)

Hi HarryK,

I've come across this song as well, and translated a few verses of the many, many verses of this song. It seems each person who sings this song has their own version As to the meaning, I believe most of these songs were conceived in the tekes of Greece by groups of people singing, playing and smoking together, so with this song I think it's one guy singing to another just making up verses and expressing. Anyway! here's the verses and my translation:

Μεμέτη μου μεμέτη μου αμάν αμάν
νταλγκά μου και σεκλέτι μου
νταλγκά μου και σεκλέτι μου αμάν αμάν
Μεμέτη μου μεμέτη μου

που πας μεμέτη μου που πας αμάν αμάν
και μένα που με παρατάς
και μένα που με παρατάς αμάν αμάν
που πας μεμέτη μου που πας

Που πας μεμέτη και Μαριώ αμάν αμάν
βιολιά βαρούν και πάω να ιδώ
βιολιά βαρούν και πάω να ιδώ αμάν αμάν
Που πας μεμέτη και Μαριώ

Μεμέτη μου Μεμέτη μου αμάν αμάν
Μη μου χαλάς το κέφι μου
Μη μου χαλάς το κέφι μου αμάν αμάν
Μεμέτη μου Μεμέτη μου

Για σένανε παλικαρά αμάν αμάν
Τα ρίχνω όλα έναν παρά
Τα ρίχνω όλα έναν παρά αμάν αμάν
Για σένανε παλικαρά
================================
My Mehmet, my Mehmet. Oh man, oh man!
My longing and my sorrow!
My longing and my sorrow! Oh man, oh man!
My Mehmet, my Mehmet.

Where are you going, Mehmet, tell me where you're going. Oh man, oh man!
And you're abandoining me.
And you're abandoining me! oh man oh man!
Where are you going, Mehmet, tell me where you're going.

Where are you going Mehmet and Mario? Oh man oh man!
The violons are sounding and I'm going to see.
The violons are sounding and I'm going to see. Oh man oh man!
Where are you going Mehmet and Mario?

My Mehmet, my Mehmet. Oh man, oh man!
Dont spoil my mirth.
Dont spoil my mirth.Oh man, oh man!
My Mehmet, my Mehmet.

For your bravery. Oh man oh man!
I'll throw it all in one throw.
I'll throw it all in one throw. Oh man oh man!
For your bravery.