Oloi oi rebetes tou ntounia – Markos Vamvakaris
Posted on 01. Feb, 2010 in Rebetika Songs
Markos Vamvakaris sings Oloi oi rebetes tou ntounia, a Greek rebetiko song which means “All the rebetes (rebetika players) in the world” in English. The song Oloi oi rebetes tou ntounia is one of the most renowned rebetika songs, composed and written by Vamvakaris himself.
Markos Vamvakaris was from the island of Syros, famous for his support to the rebetika genre of Greek music. This song is a perfect example of rebetika songs composed – and performed by Vamvakaris himself; there are straight references to his influential stance towards Greek music. And indeed, he is the man loved by all “rebetes”, because he was one of the biggest and most important creators of laika, rebetika and folk songs.
As with most rebetika songs, the “Oloi oi rebetes tou ntounia” refers to the sorrow, pain and poverty of people, as well as the audacious men – the “magkes” in Greek – which are common themes in the popular genre of laika and rebetika songs of the time.
Lyrics, Music: Markos Vamvakaris
Performed by: Markos Vamvakaris
Other performances: Giorgos Dalaras
Oloi oi rebetes tou ntounia – Markos Vamvakaris – English Lyrics
All the rebetes in the world
Love me
They’ll only just face me
They’ll sacrifice themselves
Those who dont know me
will get to know me now
I will be wandering around
even if they make fun of me
All the young audacious men
Who live far away from home
And those who in their little hearts
They’ve got a great sorrow
I was born poor
I’ve known the world
Through the heart’s bleeds
I’ve suffered martyrdom
Oloi oi rebetes tou dounia – Markos Vamvakaris – Lyrics in Greeklish
Oloi oi rebetes tou dounia
emena m’ agapoune
molis tha m’ antikrisoune
thisia tha genoune
Osoi de me gnorizoune
tora tha me gnorisoun
ego kano tin tsarka mou
ki as me kalampourizoun
Kai ‘go ftohos gennithika
ston kosmo eho gnorisei
mesa ap’ ta filla tis kardias
ego exo martirisei
Oloi oi koutsavakides
pou zoune sto kourbeti
ki aftoi mes stin kardoula tous
exoun megalo derti
Ολοι οι ρεμπετες του ντουνια – Μαρκος Βαμβακαρης – Ελληνικοι Στιχοι
Όλοι οι ρεμπέτες του ντουνιά
εμένα μ’ αγαπούνε
μόλις θα μ’ αντικρίσουνε
θυσία θα γενούνε
Όσοι δε με γνωρίζουνε
τώρα θα με γνωρίσουν
εγώ κάνω την τσάρκα μου
κι ας με καλαμπουρίζουν
Και ‘γώ φτωχός γεννήθηκα
στον κόσμο έχω γνωρίσει
μέσα απ’ τα φύλλα της καρδιάς
εγώ έχω μαρτυρήσει
Όλοι οι κουτσαβάκηδες
που ζούνε στο κουρμπέτι
κι αυτοί μες στην καρδούλα τους
έχουν μεγάλο ντέρτι
