Den tragoudo para giati m’agapises – Eleftheria Arvanitaki
Posted on 13. Aug, 2009 in Greek Songs
Eleftheria Arvanitaki sings “Den tragoudo para giati m’agapises” a Greek song that means I only sing because you loved me. This is a love poem written by one of the most important and melancholic Greek Poets, Maria Polydouri, a poet with a characteristic erotic tone but also an unsatisfied sentiment.
Death and Love are the two main themes in Polydouri’s poems and her romantic nature evident in every lyric. The poem “Den tragoudo para giati m’agapises” is full of her lyric mood and her intense sentimental outbursts, who was obviously influenced by her love for Costas Karyotakis, and her pessimistic attitude.
This poem is one of the loveliest and most tender poems ever written; it is a gem of the Greek Poetry, especially if we consider the fact that Polydouri lived in an Era where men were more imposing. She was a free spirited and independent woman, something bizarre for her time, a woman who was writing to express her feelings and describe the beauty and love around her.
Dimitris Papadimitriou set wonderful music to this poem and Eleftheria Arvanitaki sings it do tenderly and warmly.
Den tragoudo para giati m’agapises – English Lyrics
I only sing because you loved me
in the past years.
And in sun, in summer’s prediction
and in rain, in snow,
I only sing because you love me.
Only because you held me in your arms
a night and you kissed me on the mouth,
only for this I’m like a wide open lily
and I still have a shiver in my soul,
only because you held me in your arms.
Only because as I was passing, you noticed me
and to pass from your glance
I saw my lissome shadow like dream
to play, to suffer,
only because as I was passing, you noticed me.
Because, only because you liked it
that’s why my passing remained beautiful.
As if you were following me, wherever I was going
as if you were passing close to me.
Only because you liked it.
I was born only because you loved me
my life was given for that purpose.
In the graceless, unfulfilled life
my life was paid.
I was born only because you loved me.
Only for your special love
dawn has given to my hands roses.
In order to light for a moment your street
night filled my eyes with stars,
only for your special love.
Den Tragoudo para giati m’agapises – Greek Lyrics
Δεν τραγουδώ παρά γιατί μ’αγάπησες – Ελευθερία Αρβανιτάκη – Ελληνικοί Στίχοι
