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Φεριχά, Κοντά στο Νείλο
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This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Greek song "Feriha, Konda Sto Neelo" (Φεριχά, Κοντά στο Νείλο), which was sung by Sophia Vembo. 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 SongThe song is known both as simply "Feriha", and also as "Konda Sto Neelo". Although Sofia Vembo was the original artist, I prefer the version by Babis Tsertos because it sounds more clear. It has a beautiful Old World feeling. If I were going to incorporate this song into a belly dance performance, I would choose the version by Tsertos. About Sofia VemboSofia Vembo (real name Sofia Bebou), was a legendary singer and actress who became known by the nicknames "Singer of Victory" and "Efi". Pol Nor, whose real name was Nikos Nikolaidis, gave her the stage name of Sofia Vembo. Vembo was born in the Anatolian region (in modern-day Turkey) of Thraki on February 10, 1910. She was one of four children. They were raised in Constantinople, but quickly quickly became refugees when the Greeks fled Turkey. The family arrived in Greece and eventually settled in Volos. ABOUT THE PHOTO: This photo of Sofia Vembo with her beloved guitar was her very first promotional photo. It was advertising her appearance at the Kentrikon Theater, where she dressed as a Romani girl and debuted the song "Tsigana Mavromata" ("Black-Eyed Gypsy Woman) in 1933. |
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Vembo went on to perform as a singer and actress throughout Greece. She was considered the voice of war music in the 1940s, and became highly respected for her monetary donations to the Hellenic Army, which is how she acquired the nickname "Singer of Victory". Her career continued through the “metapolemika” post-war music era of the 1950s. After her academic studies, Vembo developed an interest in music and fell in love with the guitar. She was discovered by Konstantinos Tsibas (who was actually a German spy). He was one of the most famous talent agents and businessmen that promoted many famous and upcoming artists, and Vembo came to his attention when she was on a road trip en route to Thessaloniki to visit her brother. Sofia also appeared in the famous 1955 movie Stella alongside Melina Merkouri. She opened her own theater in 1949 called ‘Theatro Vembo’ (Vembo Theater). This theater still stands to this day, and it remains very active with the arts community. Sofia Vembo was laid to rest on March 11, 1978. ABOUT THE PHOTO: Sofia Vembo, as a young woman. |
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This is a translation of an excerpt from a September 1966 interview by journalist Taso Koutsothanasi for the magazine Proto:
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Song: Konda Sto Neelo (Near the Nile), also known as Feriha, 1939 Lyrics: Kostas Kofiniotis Music: Mihalis Souyioul Original Artist: Sophia Vembo Has Also Been Recorded By:
Dance Style: Belly Dance |
Τραγούδι: Κοντά στο Νείλο | Φεριχά, 1939 Στίχοι: Κώστας Κοφινιώτης Μουσική: Μιχάλης Σουγιούλ Άλλοι Ερμηνευτές: Μπάμπης Τσέρτος Χορός: Οριεντάλ, Χορό Της Κοιλιάς, Ανατολίτικο Χορό, Τσιφτετέλι, Τσιφτετέλια, Χανούμικο, Κελικός Χορός |
Lyrics
Numbers in parentheses refer to footnotes that appear at the bottom of the translation.
Greek Lyrics |
Pronunciation |
English Translation |
| Κοντά στου Νείλου τα νερά | konda stou Neelou ta nerα | Near the Nile waters, |
| την καρτερούσε με χαρά | tin karterousa me hara | he was waiting for her with joy |
| και χτυποκάρδια | ke htipokardia | and beating heart |
| να της χαϊδέψει τα μαλλιά | na tis haidepsi ta malia | to caress her hair, |
| να τη' γιομίσει με φιλιά | na ti' yiomisi me filia | to fill her with kisses, |
| με χίλια χάδια | me hilia hadia | with thousands of caresses. |
| Και το φεγγάρι τ' αργυρό | ke to fegari t' aryiro | And the silver moon (1) |
| τους έβλεπε μεσ' στο νερό | tous evlepe mes' sto nero | was watching them in the water |
| φιλιά ν' αλλάζουν | filia n' alazoun | exchanging kisses. |
| και με τη' βάρκα των χαδιών | ke me ti' varka ton hadion | And in the boat of caresses |
| στη' χώρα των παραμυθιών | sti' hora ton paramithion | in the land of fairy tales |
| κρυφά ν' αράζουν | krifa n' arazoun | secretly they lay. |
| Και όταν προς το ξημέρωμα | ke otan pros to ximeroma | And when dawn was drawing near, |
| χωρίζανε έλεγε αυτός | horizane eleye aftos | [and] they were separating, he said |
| στα μάτια που δακρύζανε | sta matia pou dakrizane | to the eyes that were tearing up: |
| Φεριχά, στα μετάξια θα σε ντύσω | Feriha, sta metaxia tha se diso | "Feriha, in silks I will dress you, |
| και παλάτια θα σου χτίσω | ke palatial tha sou htiso | and I will build you palaces |
| να το θέλεις μοναχά | na to thelis monaha | as long as you want it." |
| Φεριχά, πλούτη δόξες σου τα δίνω | Feriha, plouti doxes sou ta dino | "Feriha, wealth [and] glory I give to you, |
| μπρος τα πόδια σου τ' αφήνω | bros ta podia sou ta' afino | by your feet I leave it |
| να το θέλεις μοναχά | na to thelis monaha | as long as you want it." |
| Φεριχά, και στην άκρια του κόσμου | Feriha, ke stin akria tou kosmou | "Feriha, and until the ends of the earth |
| έρχομαι μαζύ σου, φως μου | erhome mazi sou, fos mou | I come with you, my light, |
| να το θέλεις μοναχά | na to thelis monaha | as long as you want it." |
| Φεριχά, και στην άκρια του κόσμου | Feriha, ke stin akria tou kosmou | "Feriha, and until the ends of the earth |
| έρχομαι μαζύ σου, φως μου | erhome mazi sou, fos mou | I come with you, my light, |
| να το θέλεις μοναχά | na to thelis monaha | as long as you want it." |
| να το θέλεις μοναχά | na to thelis monaha | "As long as you want it." |
- This could mean either silver, shiny, or bright.
Translations of
Sofia Vembo's Songs On This Site
Translations on this web site of songs performed by Sofia Vembo include:
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:
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