Papaki - Haris Alexiou

Papaki – Haris Alexiou

Posted on 18. Jul, 2009 in Greek Songs

Haris Alexiou sings Papaki, a legendary Greek song which means in English “Little Duck”.

What starts as a cute, almost childish song, makes us smile, turns into a more troubled message of the soul that doesn’t care anymore about hope. “I don’t care anymore”, Asimos said in this song stating that he is not expecting anything anymore. “Maybe you come back when I’ll be lost”…only emphasizes his voluntarily accepted despair.

There is a “papaki” (little duck) and little rabbit to make him alive, two creatures that don’t expect and don’t ask for anything. Two creatures who understand him, one to make him “pa, pa, pa”, another “moving to me its ears”.

The song is tender, dark and pessimistic at its end. A lost love, a lost interest, a lost life… Nevertheless, the story behind the song is really interesting, as Asimos, the legendary composer and songwriter wrote this song as a lullaby for his baby daughter.

Music: Nikolas Asimos
Lyrics: Nikolas Asimos
Performed by: Haris ALexiou

Papaki – English Lyrics

I have a little duck, to make me “pa”

to make me “pa”, ”pa”, “pa”.
And a little rabbit,
which all the time is moving (to me) its ears.

And I don’t care
If you ‘re passing by or if you won’t talk to me ever again.

Maybe you come back
when I ‘ll have been lost

And perhaps “they” ‘ll have buried me, or
or I ‘ll have withered away.
Even if you don’t give a damn about me
and even if you got used to anything, you as well…