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 song "Fige, Fige" (Φύγε Φύγε), which was sung by Stratos Dionisiou and Giota Lydia. 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 this Song

In 1997 the Turkish version of this song, named "Çapkın," was released by former Turkish belly dancer Candan Erçetin. The word "Çapkın" translates to "womanizer". Candan is one of my favorite singers. She is also well known for her work in singing and recording Greek songs in Greek and also in Turkish.

There was a 1964 motion picture in Turkey named Çapkın Efe and there was a 1963 motion picture in Turkey named Çapkın Kiz.

About Stratos Dionisiou

Stratos Dionisiou's parents were refugees who had fled Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) to escape the genocide, and when he was only 13 years old, his father died. As a young man, while working as a tailor in Thessaloniki, Stratos Dionisiou also performed in the nightclubs as a musician. He moved to Athens to advance his singing career, recording his first song in 1959. He began achieving commercial success with a series of hits in the 1960's, followed by a successful U.S. tour.

Just as it seemed his career was taking off, he was arrested in 1973 on charges of possessing a gun and cannabis, and imprisoned for two years. He resumed his music career after serving his time.

His success continued into the 1980's.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Stratos Dionisiou was the original artist to record the Greek version this song.

About Giota Lydia

Giota Lydia, (sometimes spelled as Yiota Lydia) was the stage name of Panayiota Mantaraki. She was born in Greece, in a Greek Anatolian refugee district known as Nea Ionia, on February 24, 1934, and came from a family of singers. Her parents were refugees from Smyrna, which today is known as Izmir in Turkey.

Lydia began her career as a singer at the young age of 11, and she became one of the most renowned singers in the laiko genre of music.

Lydia has been a very prolific artist, known for her work as a recording artist. She recorded over 1,000 songs of all musical styles, on 350 record albums. Her final album, Kathara Kai Xaspera, was released in 1986.

She married her husband, Stratos Attalidi, when she was only 14 years old. He was also an artist and composer, and he promoted her career as a singer. They often appeared together as a duet act. They had a son named Stavros.

About Theodoros Derveniotis

The lyricist for this song, Theodoros Derveniotis, (nickname ‘O Hondros’), was born in 1922 in Zagora, a village in Greece. In the custom of Greeks to name children after their father's parents, O Hondros was named after his grandfather, Theodoros D. Derveniotis, a legendary folk musician.

Although the younger Theodoros appreciated folk music, he gradually fell in love with Byzantine and European music. Starting at age five, he was a Byzantine chanter at his church. Around the 1950's, Theodoros decided to try his luck as a music composer. He was self taught in several Greek instruments and reading music.

Derveniotis went on to work and collaborate with some of the biggest stars in Greek Rebetiko/Laiko music, including the great singer Stelios Kazantzidis. In 1959, this partnership came to an end due to Derveniotis deciding he'd had enough of the low income of 300 drachmas on his compositions.

When one door closes, another opens. Derveniotis moved on to his next venture of opening up a Laiko/Light musical school. His fame continued to grow, and he created countless new compositions for some of the greateast stars of Greek music. Theodoros Derveniotis passed away in 2004.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: This photo shows Theodoros Derveniotis, the legendary composer of many songs in the Greek rebetiko/laiko genre.

Song: Fige Fige (Leave Leave), 1960

Lyrics: Theodoros Derveniotis

Music: Stratos Attalidis

Original Artists: Stratos Dionisiou and Giota Lydia

Dance Style: Belly Dance

Album: Anathema Se Xenitia and Fiye Fiye (Damn You Foreign Lands and Leave Leave), Single vinyl 45 rpm, with one song on each side

Has Also Been Recorded By:

• Candan Erçetin, 1997, in Turkish ("Çapkın") on an album also titled Çapkın. Turkish lyrics were written by Ahmet Baki Çallıoğlu.

Τραγούδι: Φύγε Φύγε, 1960

Στίχοι: Θεόδωρος Δερβενιώτης

Μουσική: Στράτος Ατταλίδης

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Στράτος Διονυσίου k Γιώτα Λύδια

Χορός: Οριεντάλ, Χορό Της Κοιλιάς, Ανατολίτικο Χορό, Τσιφτετέλι, Χανούμικο, Κελικός Χορός

Άλμπουμ: Ανάθεμά Σε Ξενητειά / Φύγε Φύγε (single)

Άλλοι Ερμηνευτές:

• Τζαντάν Ερτσετίν, 1997, Στα Τουρκικά ("Τσιαπκιν"). Turkish lyrics were written by Αχμετ Μπακη Τσαλλιογλου.