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 "Ithela Na ‘Mouna Pasas" (Ήθελα να 'μουνα πασάς). The original artists were a trio consisting of Prodromos Tsaousakis, Rena Stamou, and Nikos Kallergis. 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.

This song was first performed as a trio by Prodromos Tsaousakis, Rena Stamou, and Nikos Kallergis.

About Prodromos Tsaousakis

Prodromos Tsaousakis was the stage name of Prodromos Moutafoglou, a highly respected laiko/rebetiko musician. He was born in 1919 in Constantinople (Istanbul). He arrived in Greece at the tender age of three. Prodromos began his performing career in Thessaloniki around the late 1940's by spending time in various venues, which eventually led to being hired. His first collaboration was with the legendary Vasilis Tsitsanis. He then went on to work with many additional notable artists. The then-young Stelios Kazantzidis was a major fan and follower of Prodromos. They went on to collaborate musically, but later had a fallout. Up until a heart attack ended his life in 1979, he was very successful throughout Greece as a singer and songwriter.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Prodromos Tsaousakis holds a bouzouki (musical instrument).

Rena Stamou

The beautiful Rebetisa, Rena Stamou, was born in Hania, Crete in 1930. Her birth name was Rena Daskalakaki-Sevdali. When she was a child, she lost her father, and needed to spend her early years in an orphanage. After moving to Athens with her mother and stepfather, she ran away from home never to return. She later found refuge through one of her future colleagues.

Despite her rough upbringing and a heartbreak relationship with another prominent Rebetiko musician, Rena managed to push through to great success. She performed and toured throughout Greece and abroad (Egypt, Turkey, Canada, USA, Paris, Australia to name a few) with many of Greece's most notable musicians.

Known for her grace, ethics, and class, Rena decided it was time to leave Greece. The scene was deteriorating, and the female singers were starting to lose respect. She was very proud of not being a drinker or smoker. She is quoted saying: “The women of the stage — aside from singing, they also were required to sell another type of show… and whatever else may come… I didn’t drink, I didn’t smoke, how would I make the patrons open bottles (of alcohol) for my favor? Abroad, I was acknowledged, and they respected me as an artist."

Rena Stamou eventually returned to Greece around the 1980's, during the time when newer generations began to take an interest in laiko/rebetiko music, and modern venues venues for it started to reopen. These venues were known as Rebetadika.

To learn more about this resilient living legend, check her latest biography called Mia Egiklopedia Tou Rebetikou (An Encyclopedia of Rebetikou), written by Nearho Georgiadi and Tania Rahmatoulina.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Rena Stamou, as a young woman.

Nikos Kallergis

Nikos Kallergis was born in Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1916, and was a notable and respected rebetiko singer and guitar player. Nikos had a very long and successful career touring with many other great artists. During one of his tours to the United States in the 1950's, he decided to stay for several years. He is noted for being one of the few post-war Laiko Rebetes to have recorded many rare songs in New York City in the 1960s.

About Eftihia Papayiannopoulou, the Lyricist

Contrary to popular belief, this song was not written by Stelios Hrisinis. It was actually written by a very famous Lyricist named Eftihia Papayiannopoulou, whose nickname was EE Gria (the old lady).

The legendary Eftihia Xatzigeorgiou (Papayiannopoulou) was born in 1893, in the city of Aydin, which is close to Smyrna (today known as Izmir in Turkey). As a Greek Anatolian refugee, she felt the life, pain and suffering. Her talents as a lyricist in the 1950s through 1960s drew the attention of some of the greatest Laiko – Rebetes of that time. Her collaborations Apostolos Kaldaras, Stelios Kazandzidis, Vasilis Tsitsanis and Manos Hadjidakis, Manolis Hiotis, Babis Bakalis, to name a few.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Eftihia Papayiannopoulou.

Eftihia had a falling out with Stelios Kazandzidis and Vasilis Tsitsanis regarding lyrics and intellectual property rights. In this era, women were not highly regarded and respected. The man always dominated and had the final word. Many of these men did not want others to know that there was a women behind their succuessful songs.

There is much judgment and criticism againt Eftihia Papayiannopoulou because she was an avid tzogadora (gambler). She lost her husband and daughter all within a close period, which led her to turn to it. Gambling is an addiction, and they should not be judged. In her desperation to have fast money she felt the need to sell the rights to her songs as opposed to retaining the rights to obtain a commission.

One of Eftihia's favorite quotes:

“Efhome stous neous na stadiodromisoun sto Laiko tragoudi, pou to opio pote den tha pethani efoson iparxoune Ellines”

(Εύχομαι στους νέους να σταδιοδρομήσουν στο Λαικό τραγούδι, που το οπίο δεν θα πεθάνη ποτέ εφόσον υπάρχουν Έλληνες).

“I hope for the young to follow careers in Laiko song/music, that in which will never die, as long as there are Hellines/Greeks”.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Eftihia Papayiannopoulou.

Eftihia is credited for writing hundreds of songs; however, it is unknown how many additional songs she wrote that were never credited to her. In her honor, actress Nena Mendi, produced a theatrical play in Greece called The Unkown Eftihia Papagiannopoulou.

Panayiota compiled the above information from her personal library of books, music albums, videos, and magazines, as well as through conversations with musician family members.

Stelios Hrisinis

Stelios Hrisinis was the composer of this song. He was one of the biggest gems in Rebetiko-Laiko music. Losing his sight at a very young age did not stop him from pursuing his dreams.

Many great artists of this time owe Stelios Hrisinis gratitude for their success. Stelios Kazantzidis was one of the artists who attributes his success to Hrisinis, as Hrisinis was his teacher in guitar and voice. Kazantzidis credits him for “teaching him the art of music”.

Stelios Hrisinis was born in 1916 in the port city of Pireas. He was a self-taught multi-talented musician, proficient in many instruments including mandolin, guitar, violin, laouto, baglama, bouzouki and piano, to name a few. He was not the only star in the family. Stelios shared the stage with his older brother, Panayiotis, who was also blind.

Stelios Hrisinis enjoyed an incredibly successful career working and recording with the top artists of his time. He was even granted a position working for “His Master’s Voice” and “Columbia Records” of Greece. During his time in this job, he alienated many other Greek composers and lyricists. Many sources have reported that he would often identify himself as the composer or lyricist for a piece of music that had actually been created by someone else. For this song, the original record album identified Hrisinis as the lyricist; however, the actual poet who created these lyrics was Eftihia Papayiannopoulou.

Because of Hrisinis' influence with the recording companies in his job, every song, from all artists, passed through his hands on the way to the studio. Sometimes he would modify the compositions "to make them better". Some artists were comfortable with the results, while others were rather displeased.

Hrisinis passed away in February of 1970.

Lyrics: Eftihia Papayiannopoulou

Music: Stelios Xrisinis

Performed by: Prodromos Tsaousakis, Rena Stamou, & Nikos Kallergis (trio)

Has Also Been Recorded By: Stelios Kazantzidis and many others

Στίχοι: Ευτυχία Παπαγιαννοπούλου

Μουσική: Χρυσίνης Στέλιος

Πρώτη εκτέλεση: Πρόδρομος Τσαουσάκης, Ρένα Στάμου, Νίκος Καλλέργης

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

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Chorus

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Chorus

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Verse

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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)

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.