Mesogeios – Melina Mercouri
Posted on 05. Dec, 2009 in Greek Songs
Melina Mercouri sings Mesogeios, a Greek song translated to the Mediterranean Sea. This is one of Melina’s most known songs, and definitely one of the most moving and touching songs ever, especially for people born and raised in the Mediterranean. The song Mesogeios is sung by Melina here, although the original version belongs to George Moustaki, who also composed the music of the song.
The song refers to the sufferings of the people living in the Mediterranean; it is a song written by a great Greek poet who wrote the song for Melina, who was deprived of her Greek citizenship, by the dictators. It is a song that talks about the bitterness of the reality of people in the Mediterranean, while they live in such a gorgeous place such as the Mediterranean, with its amazing light. “Athens still is a bitter dream summer is not afraid of weather there”; this is a characteristic verse of the song, depicting the reality of the conditions when the song was written.
Melina’s voice is throaty and theatrical, and warm enough for this lovely Greek song.
Lyrics: Dimitris Christodoulou
Music: George Moustaki
Performed by: Melina Mercouri
Mesogeios – English Lyrics
They call it Mediterranean and naked they play
dark eyed children, bitter statues
it gave birth to the gods, Christ himself
summer is not afraid of weather there,
in the Mediterranean
Blood – tampered centuries (exist) there
the rocks and the headlands and the deep silence
islands like pigeons, eternal prisons
summer is not afraid of rains there,
in the Mediterranean
Valleys and olives get lost in fire
hands stay lonely and the bodies empty
nations of despair and the bitterness of death
summer does not lose its’ wings there,
in the Mediterranean
Here in that lake I was born too
Mediterranean of fear and bitter times
dreams that played in deep waters
and became lonely trees in dry islands
in the Mediterranean
Heavy clouds hide the Parthenon
In Spain the word ‘liberty’ is lost
but if Athens still is a bitter dream
summer is not afraid of weather there
in the Mediterranean.
Mesogeios – Greek Lyrics
Μεσόγειος – Μελινα Μερκουρη – Ελληνικοι Στιχοι
Μεσόγειο τη λεν και παίζουνε γυμνά
παιδιά με μαύρα μάτια αγάλματα πικρά
γέννησε τους Θεούς, τον ίδιο το Χριστό
το καλοκαίρι εκεί δεν τρέμει τον καιρό
μεσ’ τη Μεσόγειο
Το αίμα τους αιώνες σκάλισε εκεί
τα βράχια και τους κάβους και τη βαθιά σιωπή
νησιά σαν περιστέρια αιώνιες φυλακές
το καλοκαίρι εκεί δεν τρέμει τις βροχές
μεσ’ τη Μεσόγειο
Οι κάμποι κι οι ελιές χάνονται στη φωτιά
τα χέρια μένουν μόνα κι άδεια τα κορμιά
λαοί της συμφοράς και πίκρα του θανάτου
το καλοκαίρι εκεί δε χάνει τα φτερά του
μεσ’ τη Μεσόγειο
εδώ στη λίμνη αυτή γεννήθηκα κι εγώ
μεσόγειος του φόβου και των πικρών καιρών
τα όνειρα που ‘παίζαν στα βαθιά νερά
γινήκαν δέντρα μόνα στα ξερά νησιά
μεσ’ τη Μεσόγειο
Τον Παρθενώνα κρύβουν σύννεφα βαριά
στην Ισπανία εχάθη η λέξη λευτεριά.
Αλλ’ αν η Αθήνα μένει
όνειρο πικρό
το καλοκαίρι εκεί δεν τρέμει τον καιρό.
Μεσ την Μεσόγειο…
