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 rebetiko song Farrah, which was sung by Stelios Kazantzidis. 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.

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 Stelios Kazantzidis

Stelios Kazantzidis was the original artist who made this song popular.

The legendary Stelios Kazantzidis was born August 29, 1931 in Athens Greece, specifically Nea Ionia. He is among the most beloved musicians of our time. His music and words never get old. He was of Asia Minor and Pondian (Greek Anatolian) descent. Stelios or, as many love to call him, Stelara, was also loved due to his character and simplicity in life. Sadly, he did not make much from profit from his career as others took advanatage of him.

Stelios' music is all about love, immigration, pain, refugee, and poverty as is most music of this time. He is considered one of the fathers of Laiko music. Stelara has touched many people's lives. He remained so humble and simple until cancer took his last breath in 2001.

“I sing for the poor, the immigrants and the suffering people… generally for the lower social classes. They can’t go to the expensive night clubs. They buy my discs and they regard them as their Gospels.” – Stelios Kazantzidis

Personal notes by the translator:

The music of Stelios Kazantzidis is very dear to my heart. My grandmother and grandfather were often referred to as the young Kazantzidis and Marinella, while singing at family gatherings. Marinella was Stelios' first wife, and his biggest love.

If you want to impress Greeks, you need to remember Stelios' name. As much as Princess Diana was loved, so was Stelios. People cry black tears to his music.

About Giorgos Koros

Together with Vaggelis Skourtaniotis, Giorgos Koros was one of the composers of the music for this song. Vaggelis Skourtaniotis was an oud player and a composer.

Giorgos Koros was born into a talented religious family on the beautiful Greek island of Evia on March 19, 1923. His father was a highly respected Greek Byzantine chanter in church who also played the oud and mandolin. It was through this exposure that would inspire young Giorgos to consider a future in music.

This second-generation, self-taught talent went on to become one of the greatest legends ever to represent the Greek folkloric and Laiko music. The main instrument afor which he is known for was the violin.

Giorgos was not only a performer, but also a talented composer who managed to fuse tradition Greek country music with Laiko/Rebetiko tunes. His first performing experience was at the tender age of 12 at a local dance celebration called “Paniyiri”. Often, a “Paniyiri” is an outdoor/indoor festival that takes place in honor of a church that is celebrating its name. There are also Paniyiria that take place in connection with a holy day.

After moving to Athens, Giorgos Koros met and collaborated with another legend, Giorgo Papasideri. Papasideri was intrigued with his talent after seeing him perform at a local venue in the early 1950s. Through this connection, Papasideri became one of the most influential people in Koros' life.

After having paid his dues as an up and coming artist, Koros was offered the greatest opportunity in his life, that of joining the Greek Columbia Records. This opened the doors for Giorgos to join and collaborate with the biggest celebrities of his time. Several of his roughly 1,500 compositions went on to earn him platinum and gold records.

Koros was not only popular in the 50s, but also very loved by the newer generations, which invited him to compose and create new hits! His daughter Katerina Korou is also an accomplished and highly respected musician. Koros passed away on January 8, 2014 at the age of 91.

Lyrics: Hlias Kiriakopoulos

Music: Giorgos Koros & Vaggelis Skourtaniotis

Στίχοι: Ηλίας Κυριακόπουλος

Μουσική: Γιώργος Κόρος & Βαγγέλης Σκουρτανιώτης

Πρώτη εκτέλεση: Στέλιος Καζαντζίδης

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

Verse

Verse

Verse

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Verse

Verse

Verse

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Verse

Verse

Verse

• 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)

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.