| |
Hear samples
of lullabies in Greek, follow the words, sing along and understand in
English. You will find the audio samples below, with the lyrics. More
about Greek Lullabies
The Lullabies are now available for purchase |
Buy the lullabies CD |
Download digital lullabies from iTunes |
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
 |
Nani nani my child
|
| Sleep, who takes little ones |
e
|
|
Buy on iTunes  |
|
I make (the
sound) e e e ….
Nani (my baby) nani nani
and wherever it hurts will heal.
Nani to my baby, whom I enjoy
as the olive of its leaf.
As the little birds of the water
and the mountains of the sun.
E…e…e…e |
Κάμω ε ε ε…
Νάνι μού το νάνι νάνι
κι όπου μου πονεί να γιάνει.
Νανι το, που να το χαρώ,
σαν η ελιά το φύλλο.
Σαν τα πουλάκια το νερό
και τα βουνά τον ήλιο.
Ε ε ε ε… |
About
Nani Mine, Nani Nani
This lullaby originates from the Island of Kalymnos, one of the
Dodecanese Islands situated in the south-eastern Aegean Sea. This
island combines the beauty of the mountains, the scents of oregano
and thyme together with crystal waters. In this particular lullaby,
the lyrics are influenced by the beauty of nature. Kalymnos is also
famous for sponge fishing and the production of olive oil. This
explains the references to olive trees and the sun, which is essential
to islanders. Apart from the words nani-nani, we also have the sound
e e e in this lullaby, a very common and popular motive of Greek
lullabies.
As in all traditional Greek lullabies its year of origin is unknown
as well as the composer and the lullaby’s lyricist.
|
|
Nani nani my child.
Come Sleep make it sleep
and sweetly lull it.
Come Sleep from the vineyards
take my child from the hands.
Take it to the sheepcote
to sleep like a little lamb,
to sleep like a little lamb,
and to wake up like a little goat. |
Νάνι νάνι το παιδί
μου.
Έλα Ύπνε ύπνωσέ το
και γλυκά ‘ποκοίμησέ το.
Έλα ύπνε ‘πό τ’ αμπέλια,
πάρ’ το παιδί μου από τα χέρια.
Πάρ’ το σύρ’ το στα μαντράκια,
να κοιμάται σαν τ’ αρνάκια,
να κοιμάται σαν τ’ αρνάκια,
να ξυπνά σαν τα κατσικάκια. |
|
About
Nani nani my child
This lullaby originates from mountainous Kastoria, a Greek city
situated in Western Macedonia. Many crops are cultivated in the
region which is especially famous for its vineyards, as mentioned
in the lullaby. Livestock breeding is also very common there, which
explains references to the lamb, goat and sheepcote. Another interesting
element here is the use of diminutives, e.g. little sheep, little
goat, etc. Diminutives are used in the Greek language to indicate
not only smallness but also deep affection.
As in all traditional Greek lullabies its year of origin is unknown
as well as the composer and the lullaby’s lyricist.
|
|
|
Sleep, who takes the
little ones
come, take this one too.
Young - so young I gave it to you,
grown-up bring it back to me.
Tall as a high mountain,
straight as a cypress tree.
And its branches outstretched
to the East and West. |
Ύπνε,
που παίρνεις τα μικρά
έλα, πάρε και τούτο.
Μικρό- μικρό σου το ‘δωσα,
μεγάλο φέρε μού το.
Μεγάλο σαν ψηλό βουνό,
ίσιο σαν κυπαρίσσι.
Κι οι κλώνοι του ν’ απλώνονται
σ’ Ανατολή και Δύση. |
About
Sleep, who takes little ones
This lullaby, originally created on the Island of Thassos (northern
Aegean Sea) is heard all over Greece with numerous variations. The
element of Sleep (Ύπνος) is central. In many Greek lullabies they
address Sleep, who is kindly asked to take the baby in his arms
and help it go to sleep. According to Greek mythology Ύπνος was
the God of sleep. His mother was the Night and his sons were the
Dreams.
In this lullaby there are also references to the East and the West
which indicate the vastness of the world. The mother wishes her
baby to grow up, be as tall as a mountain and as straight as a cypress
tree, and to achieve great things both in the East and the West,
meaning all over the world.
As in all traditional Greek lullabies its year of origin is unknown
as well as the composer and the lullaby’s lyricist.
|
| |
|
|
My Sleep, take it from
me
and take it to the gardens
and fill its apron
with roses and roses.
The red roses for its mother,
the red roses for its father
and the white roses
for its godfather.
and the white roses
for its godfather. |
Ύπνε μου, επάρε μού το
κι άμε το στα περβόλια
και την ποδιά του γέμισε
τριαντάφυλλα και ρόδα.
Τα ρόδα να’ν’ της μάνας του,
τα ρόδα του κυρού του
και τ’ άσπρα τριαντάφυλλα
να’ναι του σάντουλού του
και τ’ άσπρα τριαντάφυλλα
να’ναι του σάντουλού του.
|
About
My Sleep, take it from me
This lullaby originates from Southern Italy. Greek-speaking populations
have lived in that part of Italy since the 8th century B.C., when
the first Greek colonies were established in the regions of Salento,
Calabria, Taras and Metapontio. These areas have a large production
of roses, which somehow explains the references to roses and their
assortments in the lullaby. The word santoulos is of Italian origin
and means godfather.
As in all traditional Greek lullabies its year of origin is unknown
as well as the composer and the lullaby’s lyricist.
|
|
|
The sun
sleeps on the mountains
And the partridge in the woods
Let also my baby sleep
To get enough of sleep.
Whisper to her
Don’t wake her up.
The sun sleeps on the mountains
And the partridge in the snow
Let also my daughter sleep
On clean sheets.
To nani nai
my baby to heal |
Τζοιμάται
ο ήλιος στα βουνά
τζι πέρτικα στα δάση
να τζοιμηθεί τζιαι το μωρόν
τον ύπνο να χορτάσει.
Σιγά σιγά μιλάτε της
μην μου την εξυπνάτε
Τζοιμάται ο ήλιος στα βουνά
τζι πέρτικα στα σιόνια
να τζοιμηθεί τζι η κόρη μου
σε καθαρά σεντόνια .
Να κάμει νάνι νάνι του
το βρέφος μου να γιάνει. |
About
The sun sleeps on the mountains
This lullaby is of Greek origin. Its place of origin is the island
of Aegina situated near the city of Athens. Passed on to the island
of Cyprus it was converted to the Cypriot dialect and also some
lyrics were added. The original Greek lullaby had only the first
paragraph. There is no information of its year of origin as well
as of the composer and the lullaby’s lyricist. We also do not know
how it was introduced and changed in Cyprus.
The lullaby talks about the time of sunset when both the sun and
the partridge sleep and so should the baby. The mother lulls her
baby trying to make her/him fall asleep. Τhe baby should be surrounded
only by whispers so that she/he will not wake up. The lullaby also
refers to the healing qualities of sleep. The last verse “my baby
to heal” shows the conviction about sleep being a healer.
|
|
|