Thessaloniki – Giannis Koutras
Posted on 05. Feb, 2010 in Greek Songs
Giannis Koutras sings Thessaloniki, a Greek song referring to the city of Thessaloniki in Greece. The song “Thessaloniki” is an orchestrated poem written by Nikos Kavvadias, with music composed by Thanos Mikroutsikos.
Thessaloniki is a song of remembrance and nostalgia, a song for those who are away from their city, their home, their land, but their mind and soul always returns there. Thessaloniki is anyway a city full of people who left and embarked to earn their living, a city where people poor,but brave and proud, always come back. Kavvadias was a man who was traveling a lot, creating temporary new lives at new places and harbors, but his soul was indispensably attached to his land.
Lyrics: Nikos Kavvadias
Music: Thanos Mikroutsikos
Performed by: Giannis Koutras
Other performances: Thanos Mikroutsikos, Katsimiha brothers, Giorgos Dalaras
Thessaloniki – Giannis Koutras – English Lyrics
It was on that night when the Vardaris (strong north wind) was blowing
the prow conquering the wave, fathom after fathom.
The engineer has sent you to check the boiler water,
but you are remembering Smaro and Kalamaria.
You have forgotten that tune that the Chileans used to play.
- Holy Nicolas protect us, and Our Lady of the Sea -
The blind girl is guiding you, a child of Modigliani,
the cadet used to love her, and the two guys from Marmara.
Above your bunk a lazy snake is sleeping
and the monkey is turning in circles searching your clothes.
Excepting your mother nobody remembers you
on this frightful journey of disaster.
Under her red lights Thessaloniki is asleep.
Ten years ago girl, drunk, you told me “I love you”
Tomorrow just like then and with no gold on your sleeve
you will be, in vain, looking for the way to the Depot.
Thessaloniki – Giannis Koutras – Greeklish Lyrics
Itan ekeini ti nihtia pou fisage o Vardaris
to kima i plori ekerdizen orgia me tin orgia
s’ esteile o protos ta nera na pas gia na gradareis
ma esi thimasai ti Smaro kai tin Kalamaria
Ksehases keino to skopo pou legane oi Hilianoi
Agie Nikola filage ki agia thalassini
tiflo koritsi s’ odigaei paidi tou Montiliani
pou t’ agapouse o dokimos ki oi dio Marmarinoi
Apano sto giataki sou fidi nothro koimatai
kai fernei voltes psahnontas ta rouha sou i maimou
ektos apo ti mana sou kaneis de se thimatai
se touto to tromaktiko taksidi tou hamou
Kato apo fota kokkina koimatai i Saloniki
prin deka hronia methismeni mou eipes s’ agapo
avrio san tote kai horis hrisafi sto maniki
mataia tha psahneis to strati pou paei gia to Ntepo
Thessaloniki – Giannis Koutras – Greek Lyrics
Θεσσαλονίκη – Γιάννης Κούτρας – Ελληνικοί Στίχοι
Ήταν εκείνη τη νυχτιά που φύσαγε ο Βαρδάρης
το κύμα η πλώρη εκέρδιζεν οργιά με την οργιά
σ’ έστειλε ο πρώτος τα νερά να πας για να γραδάρεις
μα εσύ θυμάσαι τη Σμαρώ και την Καλαμαριά
Ξέχασες κείνο το σκοπό που λέγανε οι Χιλιάνοι
άγιε Νικόλα φύλαγε κι αγιά θαλασσινή
τυφλό κορίτσι σ’ οδηγάει παιδί του Μοντιλιάνι
που τ’ αγαπούσε ο δόκιμος κι οι δυο Μαρμαρινοί
Απάνω στο γιατάκι σου φίδι νωθρό κοιμάται
και φέρνει βόλτες ψάχνοντας τα ρούχα σου η μαϊμού
εκτός από τη μάνα σου κανείς δε σε θυμάται
σε τούτο το τρομακτικό ταξίδι του χαμού
Κάτω από φώτα κόκκινα κοιμάται η Σαλονίκη
πριν δέκα χρόνια μεθυσμένη μου είπες σ’ αγαπώ
αύριο σαν τότε και χωρίς χρυσάφι στο μανίκι
μάταια θα ψάχνεις το στρατί που πάει για το Ντεπό
