PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Greek laiko song "Arapines, Nihtes Magikes" (Αραπίνες, Νύχτες μαγικές), which was originally sung by Fotis Polymeris, and later by Stelios Kazantzidis. The song title is sometimes spelled as "Arapines, Nihtes Mayikes", because of how it is pronounced. Also included is a pronunciation guide for the Greek lyrics so you can sing along if you like.

For more information about the laiko and rebetiko styles of music, see Introduction to Laiko / Rebetiko Music elsewhere on this web site.

About Fotis Polymeris

Fotis Polymeris was born in 1920, and began entering singing competitions as a young boy. In his lifetime, he composed over 100 songs. He worked with many of the great artists of the Greek rebetiko music era, including Vasilis Tsitsanis (the composer of this song), Markos Vamvakaris, and others. He died in 2013 at the age of 93.

Song lyrics are provided for educational purposes. If you like the song, please purchase either the album or a download from an authorized source.

About Vasilis Tsitsanis

Vasilis Tsitsanis was the composer and lyricist for this song.

Tsitsanis was a versatile musician who learned to play violin, mandola, mandolin, and bouzouki. He collaborated with a number of singers to record the songs he had composed, with him accompanying them on bouzouki. His music helped launch several of his collaborators to fame and successful careers.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Vasilis Tsitsanis as a young man.

Lyrics: Vasilis Tsitsanis

Music: Vasilis Tsitsanis

Original Artist: Fotis Polymeris

Στίχοι: Βασίλης Τσιτσάνης

Μουσική: Βασίλης Τσιτσάνης

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Φώτης Πολυμέρης

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

Verse

Verse

Verse

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Instrumental

Instrumental

Instrumental

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

• Afti ee Nihta Meni (This Night Remains)
• Arapika Kormia (Arabian Bodies)
• Arapines Nihtes Magikes (Arab Women, Magical Nights)
• Den Se Lismono (I Haven't Forgotten You)
• Ego Ime Prosfiga Pedi (I Am a Refugee Child)
• Ehis Kormi Arapiko (You Have an Arabian Body)
• Exo Dertia Ke Kaimi (Out with Sorrows and Longing)
• Farrah (Farrah)
• Glikia Felaha Klapse (Cry, My Sweet Village Woman)
• Housara (Housara)
• Ine Glikos O Thanatos (Death is Sweet)
• Ise i Zoi Mou (You Are My Life)
• Ithela Na ‘Mouna Pasas (I Would Have Liked to be a Pasha)

• Mana Mou (My Mother)
• Mandoubala (Mandoubala)
• Me' Sti' Fotia Mou (Inside My Fire)
• Mesa Sto Erimo Spitaki (Inside the Deserted Little Home). Uses the 1949 melody from Mohamed Abdel Wahab's song "Ashek El Roh"
• Mi Mou Lete Ya Afti (Don't Tell Me About Her)
• Nina Nai Nai, also known as Siko Horepse Koukli Mou (Get Up and Dance, My Doll)
• Sa Xena Ime Ellinas (In Foreign Lands I'm a Greek)
• Siko Horepse Koukli Mou, also known as Nina Nai Nai (Get Up and Dance, My Doll)
• Tha ta Kapso ta Lefta (I Will Burn my Money)
• Ti Thelis Apo 'Menane (What Do You Want from Me?)
• Xousara (Xousara)

• Ala Tourka Horepse Mou (Dance for Me in Turkish Style)
• Arapiko Louloudi (Arabian Flower)
• Arapines, Nihtes Magikes (Arab Women, Magical Nights)
• Gia Kita Kosme Ena Kormi (Why, Look! What a Body!)
• Gülbahar
• Kavourakia (The Little Crabs)

• Serah
• Ximeroni Ke Vradiazi (Dawn Comes and Nightfall Comes)
• Zaira

This page was contributed by Panayiota Bakis, who is happy to share her culture and music she grew up with! Here's how Panayiota describes her background:

I always love engaging with intelligent like-minded people, especially artists. I love sharing anything and everything about my Hellenic culture and upbringing, especially music and dance. A conversation with me will bring you back to America's favorite Greek-American movie by Nia Vardalos called My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

I love investigating Greek culture, history, music, and dance. Speaking of investigating, I think I missed my calling, I probably should have been an investigator. Instead, I use those skills to dig and dig and dig tirelessly, often times falling asleep on my laptop... just to find the truth. But, most importantly, accurate truth. For me personally, and other respectable folklorists, my culture and accuracy are very important. Each generation of ethnic born artists has a duty to do the best it can to pass down our traditions as was taught to us. We have been given this artistic gift to be the gatekeepers of our heritage and culture.