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 "Mesa Stin Erimo" (Μέσα Στην Ερημιά), which was sung as a duet by Yiota Lydia and Hristakis. 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 this Song

Those of us from regions that speak Greek, Arabic, and Turkish have exchanged countless songs with each other through licensing the music and creating lyrics in our own languages. These include both current pop music and classics. The song translated on this page is an example of one – it originally appeared in Egypt as "Aziza", featured in the 1954 movie Aziza in a dance scene performed by Naima Akef. "Aziza" was composed by Mohamed Abdel Wahab.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: The photo shows Mohamed Abdel Wahab, the composer of the original Egyptian version of this song.

The Greek version of this song was released under the name "Mes Stin Erimo" as a duet by Yiota Lydia and Hristakis.

About Yiota Lydia

Yiota Lydia, (sometimes spelled as Giota 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 Hristakis Sirpos

Hristos Sirpos, nicknamed Hristakis, performed this song as a duet with Yiota Lydia.

Hristakis was born in Konstantinoupoli (present day Istanbul) in 1924. Due to devastation of war, the family fled to Greece and built their life in Northern Greece's region of Drama.

It didn't take long for his talents to get noticed, as he was not only a singer but also a self-taught instrument player. His specialties included baglamadaki, bouzouki, and guitar.

I can't even explain to you how much I love this artist and enjoy watching his video footage. He had a very special personality, like none other, and was considered to be the Greek Johnny Holiday. His presentation on stage was comical, yet serious. But it wasn't just any kind of comical — it wasn't forced or planned, it was natural. When he played his instruments his whole body followed along with his funny faces.

Greek movie productions also noticed his unique personality and signed him to appear on many major Greek black and white movies.

Despite all his fame and fortune, he spent his later years penniless. Sadly, like many legends, his worth and memory started to grow again years later after his sudden death due to a stroke in 1981.

Song: Mesa Stin Erimo (In The Desert), 1961

Lyrics: Kosta Virvou

Original Egyptian Music: Mohamed Abdel Wahab

Greek Adaptation of Music: Stratos Attalidi and Kostas Papadopoulos with Lakis Karnezis on bouzoukia

Original Artist for Greek Version: Yiota Lydia and Hristakis

Dance Style: Belly dancing

Τραγούδι: Μέσα Στην Έρημο (Αζίζα)

Στίχοι: Κώστα Βίρβου

Μουσική: Μοχάμεντ Άμπντελ Ουαχαμπ, (Στράτος Ατταλίδη)

Κώστας Παπαδόπουλος & Λάκης Καρνέζης (Μπουζούκια)

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Παναγιώτα Μανταράκη (Γιώτα Λύδια) & Χρήστος Σύρπος (Χρηστάκης)