Réveille-toi, réveille-toi, perdrix mignonne.
Ouvre au matin tes ailes.
Trois grains de beauté mon cœur en est brûlé!
Vois le ruban, le ruban d'or que je t'apporte
pour le nouer autour de tes cheveux.
Si tu veux, ma belle, viens nous marier!
Dans nos deux familles tous sont alliés!
Là-bas, vers l'église,
vers l'église Ayio Sidéro,
l'église, O Vierge sainte,
l'église Ayio Costanndino,
se sont réuinis,
rassemblés en nombre infini,
du monde, O Vierge sainte,
du monde tous les plus braves!
Quel galant m'est comparable
d'entre ceux qu'on voit passer?
Dis dame Vassiliki?
Vois, pendus à ma ceinture,
pistolets et sabre aigu...
Et c'est toi que j'aime!
O joie de mon âme,
joie de mon cœur,
trésor qui m'est si cher;
joie de l'âme et du cœur,
toi j'aime ardemment,
tu es plus beau qu'un ange.
O lorsque tu parais,
ange si doux devant nos yeux,
comme un bel ange blond,
sous un clair soleil,
Hélas! tous nos pauvres cœurs soupirent!
Tout gai, gai, ha, tout gai!
Belle jambe, tireli, qui danse;
belle jambe, la vaisselle danse,
tra-la-la-la-la!
Wake up, wake up, sweet little partridge.
Open up your wings to the morning.
By three beauty spots my heart is burnt!
See the ribbon, the golden ribbon which I bring you
to tie around your hair.
If you like, my fairest, come let us be married!
In our two families all are united!
Over there, by the church,
by the church Ayio Sidero,
the church, o holy Virgin,
the church Ayio Costanndino,
have assembled,
gathered together in countless numbers,
people, o holy Virgin,
all the very bravest people!
What gallant compares with me
among those one sees passing by?
Tell me, Mistress Vassiliki?
See, hung from my belt,
pistols and sharp sword...
And it is you whom I love!
O joy of my soul,
joy of my heart,
treasure who are so dear to me;
joy of the soul and the heart,
you whom I love fervently,
you are more handsome than an angel.
O when you appear,
angel so sweet before our eyes,
like a handsome blond angel,
beneath a bright sun,
alas, all our poor hearts sigh!
All gay, gay, ha, all gay!
Pretty leg, tireli, which dances;
pretty leg, the dishes dance,
tra-la-la-la-la!
© translated by Christopher Goldsack
A beautifully presented version of this set of songs has been published by The Mélodie Treasury. A score and accompaniment can also be downloaded from the site shop.
Buy a copy of Cinq mélodies populaires grecques:
Please be aware that some of the original French texts on this site are still in copyright. The translations are offered here for study purposes.
Students and not-for-profit events are always welcome to use the transaltions for their programmes free of charge. I am however glad to be told when they are being used! Send me an email and do share the site with friends and colleagues! If seeking to use them for commercial purposes please also consider making a small donation towards the upkeep of the site:
© 2020 The Mélodie Treasury