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

Κάψε Με, Κάψε Με
(Kapse Me, Kapse Me)

(Burn Me, Burn Me)

 

 

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Greek song "Kapse Me, Kapse Me" (Κάψε Με, Κάψε Με), which was sung by Poly Panou. Her name is sometimes spelled as "Poli Panou" or "Polly Panou". Also included is a pronunciation guide for the Greek lyrics so you can sing along if you like.

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 Poly Panou

Poly Panou, whose birth name was Polytimi Koliopanou, was a beloved Greek singer in the rebetiko and laiko styles. She was given her nickname of Poly Panou by Grigoris Bithikotsis, the legendary Greek singer who discovered her.

Panou was born in 1940, and made her first recording in 1952, a song composed by Bithikotsis. She started singing professionally in her late teens. In an interview published in the September 1998 issue of Symbol magazine, Panou said she was the original artist to perform the song "Ta Pedia Tou Pirea", which went on to become the Oscar-winning song that Melina Merkouri sang in the movie Never on Sunday. At age 26, she owned her own record company.

She lost her battle with cancer in 2013 at age 72.

About Apostolos Kaldaras

Apostolos Kaldaras was a musician who composed, wrote lyrics, sang, and played bouzouki (a stringed musical instrument). He was born in Trikala, Greece in 1922, at the time refugees from Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) began to arrive in mainland Greece. He was exposed to the rebetiko music and the bouzouki as a child, as a result of the contact he had with the refugees, and it lit a fire that lasted his whole life.

Over the course of his music career, Kaldaras worked with many of the great artists of the rebetiko genre. He passed away in 1990.

Song: Kapse Me, Kapse Me (Burn Me, Burn Me), 1961

Greek Lyrics: Apostolos Kaldaras

Composer: Apostolos Kaldaras

Original Artist: Poli Panou

Dance Style: Belly Dance

Τραγούδι: Κάψε Με, Κάψε Με, 1961

Στίχοι: Απόστολος Καλδάρας

Μουσική: Απόστολος Καλδάρας

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Πόλυ Πάνου

Χορός: Ορίενταλ, Χορός Της Κοιλιάς, Ανατολίτικος Χορός, Τσιφτετέλι, Τσιφτετέλια, Χανούμικο, Κελικός Χορός

 

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Lyrics

Numbers in parentheses refer to footnotes that appear at the bottom of the translation.

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

Αφού θες να με κάψεις afou thes na me kapsis Since you want to burn me,
αφού θες να με κάψεις afou thes na me kapsis since you want to burn me,
πιο καλά να μ' αλλάξεις pio kala na m' alaxis better to change me,
πιο καλά να μ' αλλάξεις pio kala na m' alaxis better to change me.
     
Ας καώ στη' φωτιά σου as kao sti' fotia sou I might as well burn in your fire,
ας καώ στη' φωτιά σου as kao sti' fotia sou I might as well burn in your fire,
να χαρεί και η καρδία σου na hari ke ee kardia sou so your heart also in joy,
να χαρεί και η καρδία σου na hari ke ee kardia sou so your heart also in joy.
     
αααααχχχχχ aaaahhhhh Aaaahhhhh
     
Ποτέ κανένας pote kanenas Never did anyone
δε' με έχει νιώσει de' me ehi niosi ever feel [for] me
λίγη αγάπη δε' liyi agapi de' a little love, never.
μου 'χει δώσει mou 'he dosi He had given me,
με 'χούνε κάψει me 'houne kapsi they have burned me
τόσο κ τόσοι toso k tosi so much and so many.
     
αααααχχχχχ aaaahhhhh Aaaahhhhh
     
Κάψε με, κάψε με kapse me, kapse me Burn me, burn me,
είναι τώρα και ine tora ke and now it's
η σειρά σου ee sira sou your turn.
κάψε με, κάψε με kapse me, kapse me Burn me, burn me,
αγάπη μου και εσύ agapi mou ke esi and you too, my love.
     

Instrumental

Instrumental

Instrumental

     
Κάψε με, κάψε με kapse me, kapse me Burn me, burn me,
τώρα είναι και tora ine ke and now it's
η σειρά σου ee sira sou your turn.
κάψε με, κάψε με kapse me, kapse me Burn me, burn me,
αγάπη μου και εσύ agapi mou ke esi and you too, my love.
     
Αφού θες να μ' αφήσεις afou thes na m' afisis Since you want to leave me,
αφού θες να μ' αφήσεις afou thes na m' afisis since you want to leave me,
τράβα μ' άλλη να ζήσεις trava m' ali na zisis go live with another woman, (1)
τράβα μ' άλλη να ζήσεις trava m' ali na zisis go live with another woman. (1)
     
Δε' πειράζει θα φύγω de' pirazi tha figo It's okay, I will leave,
δε' πειράζει θα φύγω de' pirazi tha figo it's okay, I will leave,
και ας καώ λίγο λίγο ke as kao ligo ligo and let me burn little by little,
και ας καώ λίγο λίγο ke as kao ligo ligo and let me burn little by little.
     
αααααχχχχχ aaaahhhhh Aaaahhhhh

 

   
Ποτέ κανένας pote kanenas Never did anyone
δε' με έχει νιώσει de' me ehi niosi ever feel [for] me
λίγη αγάπη δε' liyi agapi de' a little love, never.
μου 'χει δώσει mou 'he dosi He had given me,
με 'χούνε κάψει me 'houne kapsi they have burned me
τόσο κ τόσοι toso k tosi so much and so many.
     
αααααχχχχχ aaaahhhhh Aaaahhhhh
     
Κάψε με, κάψε με kapse me, kapse me Burn me, burn me,
είναι τώρα και ine tora ke and now it's
η σειρά σου ee sira sou your turn.
κάψε με, κάψε με kapse me, kapse me Burn me, burn me,
αγάπη μου και εσύ agapi mou ke esi and you too, my love.
     
Κάψε με, κάψε με kapse me, kapse me Burn me, burn me,
είναι τώρα και ine tora ke and now it's
η σειρά σου ee sira sou your turn.
κάψε με, κάψε με kapse me, kapse me Burn me, burn me,
αγάπη μου και εσύ agapi mou ke esi and you too, my love.
  1. Literally, "someone else".

 

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Translations of
Apostolos Kaldaras' Songs On This Site

  • Tora Kles Yati Kles. Apostolos Kaldaras composed the music and wrote the lyrics for this song.

 

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Translations of
Poly Panou's Songs On This Site

  • Anapse To Tsigaro (Light the Cigarette). Although not the original artist, Poly Panou was one of the artists who recorded this.
  • Kapse Me, Kapse Me (Burn Me, Burn Me). Poly Panou was the original Greek artist for this song.

 

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About the Translator

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.

Panayiota

 

 

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