To gelasto paidi – Maria Farantouri
Posted on 16. Nov, 2009 in Greek Songs
Maria Farantouri sings To gelasto paidi, a Greek song that translates to “The Laughing Boy”. It is a song composed by Mikis Theodorakis, a song associated with the fight against the fascists of the Greek Junta. On November 17th we pay tribute to the students that died in the Greek Polytechnic School of Athens in 1973, resisting to the junta that disrupted the democratic processes and established a fascistic regime to the country.
To gelasto paidi is one of the most distinctive songs of the time, a song about the death of so many young children killed by the fascists. Here we see a video from the concert given in Athens just after the fall of the junta regime in 1974. Mikis Theodorakis and a selection of the best singers of the time organised a concert to celebrate the re-establishment of democracy in Greece, playing some of the most characteristic songs of the time.
Maria Farantouri marked with her voice one of the most touching songs written at that time moving us and reminding us of these times even today.
Lyrics: Brendan Behan and Vassilis Rotas
Music: Mikis Theodorakis
Performed by Maria Farantouri
To gelasto paidi – English Lyrics
It was a morning in August nearly dawn
I went out to get some air in the blossoming earth
I see a girl heart-wrenched, crying and mourning
My heart breaks into pieces, we lost the laughing boy
He had bravery and courage and for ever I’ll mourn
the bouncing of his step, the sweet laughter
damned be the hour, cursed be the moment
when the fascists killed the laughing boy
If only he was killed by the leader’s side
if only he was taken by an English bullet
or by hunger strike in the prison
I would be proud to have lost the laughing boy
My royal love, with love I will tell you
for what you did I will mourn for ever
because you would finish off all our enemies
Glory and Honour to the laughing boy
To gelasto paidi – Greek Lyrics
Το γελαστό παιδί – Μαρία Φαραντούρη – Ελληνικοί Στίχοι
Ήταν πρωί του Αυγούστου κοντά στη ροδαυγή
βγήκα να πάρω αέρα στην ανθισμένη γη
βλέπω μια κόρη κλαίει σπαραχτικά θρηνεί
σπάσε καρδιά μου εχάθη το γελαστό παιδί
Είχεν αντρεία και θάρρος και αιώνια θα θρηνώ
το πηδηχτό του βήμα το γέλιο το γλυκό
ανάθεμα την ώρα κατάρα τη στιγμή
σκοτώσαν οι φασίστες το γελαστό παιδί
Μον’ να ‘ταν σκοτωμένο στου αρχηγού το πλάι
και μόνον από βόλι Εγγλέζου να ‘χε πάει
κι από απεργία πείνας μέσα στη φυλακή
θα ‘ταν τιμή μου που ‘χασα το γελαστό παιδί
Βασιλικιά μου αγάπη μ’ αγάπη θα στο λέω
για το ό,τι έκανες αιώνια θα σε κλαίω
γιατί όλους τους εχθρούς μας θα ξέκανες εσύ
δόξα τιμή στ’ αξέχαστο γελαστό παιδί
