I am English-born, but have now retired to spend the rest of my life in lovely Cyprus!
I am trying to learn Greek, I go to classes, and I also go to Greek singing classes. Some of the songs, mainly the Cypriot ones, I have managed to find translations for, but we also sing Greek songs, and several I cannot find any English translations, and I am only a beginner in the Greek language. I would like to know what I am actually singing about!
Please could anybody help me with ENA TO HALIDONI and/or MARGARITA MAYOPOULA.
Many Thanks!
Margaret.

Hello Margaret, lucky you retiring to Cyprus ! I'm english and love Greek music too

If you look in the Greek section of this forum you will find a thread with lots of Greek songs translated.

There is also a very useful website called stixoi.info where you will find lyrics and many of them have translations, here is Ena to helidoni

I'll post the translation here, just in case it doesn't work

The swallow is but one single swallow, and the cost of Spring is dear
For the sun to return, much work is wanted
It wants thousands dying at the Wheels
it wants the living, too, to give their blood.

My God, master builder, you walled me inside the mountains
My God, master builder, you walled me inside the mountains

The body of the May was taken away by Mages
they have buried it inside a tomb of the open sea
in a deep well they have it locked away
the darkness grew fragrant, and the whole abyss.

My God, master builder, even inside the lilac bloom Thou art there
My God, master builder, even inside the lilac bloom Thou art there


I can't find a translation of MARGARITA MAYOPOULA, but the Greek lyrics are:

Είχα φυτέψει μια πορτοκαλιά
που την εζήλευε όλη η γειτονιά
Που την εζήλευε όλη η γειτονιά
είχα φυτέψει μια πορτοκαλιά

Αχ, Μαργαρίτα Μαγιοπούλα
Αχ, Μαργαρίτα Μαγιοπούλα
Αχ, Μαργαρίτα μάγισσα

Πρωί-πρωί την πότιζα φιλιά
το δειλινό την πήραν τα πουλιά
Το δειλινό την πήραν τα πουλιά
πρωί-πρωί την πότιζα φιλιά

Maybe someone will translate them for you, or I'll see if I can do it later.