Agapi pou gines – Melina Mercouri
Posted on 04. Jul, 2009 in Greek Songs
Melina Mercouri sings “Agapi pou ‘gines dikopo mahairi”, a Greek song meaning “Love, turned into a double-edged dagger”. The song was performed in the Greek movie “Stella”, one of the most characteristic movies in Melina’s career.
“Agapi pou ‘gines” is one of the best songs from one of the best Greek movies. And of course, the pearl of the performance is uniquely seductive Melina Mercouri with her deep voice that so vividly represents the core of the ancient Greek tragedy and love itself.
“Love, turned into a double-edged dagger” tells the brief story of Mercouri’s character Stella who longs for her freedom in life and love, far from established societal expectations including the marriage as the biggest one. She wants to love and be loved for the joy of it, not obligations. “I don’t see a way out, I can’t find a cure”, says songs, says Stella once her beloved wants to turn the pure feeling of love into the conformists’ pattern.
Mercouri’s cry: “Once you were giving me nothing but joy but now you drown the joy in tears” represents that doubled-edged dagger that takes her passion away from her. She doesn’t want him to see her pain. And Melina sings that pain out to the extent that you feel it probing your body!
Music: Manos Hadjidakis
Lyrics: Mihalis Kakogiannis
Performed by: Melina Mercouri
Agapi pou ‘gines – English Lyrics
Love, turned into a double-edged dagger
once you were giving me nothing but joy
but now you drown the joy in tears
I don’t see a way out, I can’t find a cure
Fires flare in his eyes
the stars go out dark when he looks at me
turn off the lights turn off the moonlight
once he takes me, my pain he shouldn’t see
Agapi pou gines – Greek Lyrics
Αγάπη που ‘γινες – Ελληνικοί Στίχοι
Αγάπη που’ γινες δίκοπο μαχαίρι
κάποτε μού ‘δινες μόνο τη χαρά.
.. μα τώρα πνίγεις τη χαρά στο δάκρυ
δε βρίσκω άκρη δε βρίσκω γιατρειά
Φωτιές ανάβουνε μες τα δυο του μάτια
τ’αστέρια σβήνουνε όταν με θωρεί
σβήστε τα φώτα σβήστε το φεγγάρι
σαν θα με πάρει τον πόνο μου μη δει…
