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 "Mi Mou Lete Ya Afti" (Μη μου λέτε γι'αυτή), which was sung as a duet by Stelios Kazantzidis and Marinella. 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 THE PHOTO: Stelios Kazantzidis and his wife Marinella, the original artists to perform this song.

About Stelios Kazantzidis

The legendary Stelios Kazantzidis was born August 29, 1931 in Athens Greece, specifically Nea Ionia. He is among the most beloved musicians of our time. His music and words never get old. He was of Asia Minor and Pondian (Greek Anatolian) descent. Stelios or, as many love to call him, Stelara, was also loved due to his character and simplicity in life. Sadly, he did not make much from profit from his career as he was taken advantage of.

Stelios' music is all about love, immigration, pain, refugee, and poverty as is most music of this time. He is considered one of the fathers of Laiko music. Stelara has touched many people's lives. He remained so humble and simple until cancer took his last breath in 2001.

“I sing for the poor, the immigrants and the suffering people… generally for the lower social classes. They can’t go to the expensive night clubs. They buy my discs and they regard them as their Gospels.” – Stelios Kazantzidis

In 1964, Kazantzidis married an up-and-coming young singer, Kyriaki Papadopoulou, who used the stage name of Marinella. Unfortunately, the marriage eventually ended in divorce.

Personal notes by the translator:

The music of Stelios Kazantzidis is very dear to my heart. My grandmother and grandfather were often referred to as the young Kazantzidis and Marinella, while singing at family gatherings. Marinella was Stelios' first wife, and his biggest love.

If you want to impress Greeks, you need to remember Stelios' name. As much as Princess Diana was loved, so was Stelios. People cry black tears to his music.

About Marinella

Marinella's real name was Kyriaki Papadopoulou. She was born in Thessaloniki, Greece, the daughter of refugees from Constantinople (present-day Istanbul). The famous singer-songwriter Tolis Harmas discovered this rising star at a young age in the 1950s, and gave her the stage name Marinella, inspired by his song of that title. It was during this time when Stelios Kazantzidis saw her and fell in love with her. Marinella later joined Stelios on tours. They eventually got married, and in the eyes of many they were the greatest duet in Greece, unsurpassed even today.

Unfortunately, the marriage didn't last, and they divorced in 1966. Marinella then went on to launch a solo career.

Marinella is one of the greatest living legends of Greece still actively performing, popular, and still very relevant in the Greek music scene.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Stelios Kazantzidis and Marinella with a guitar.

About Pythagoras Papastamatiou

Pythagoras Papastamatiou, often credited by just his first name of Pythagoras, was the lyricist for this song. He was born in 1930, to parents who had met in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) shortly before the Greek genocide.

In 1945, he moved to Athens in order to attend drama school at the Athens Conservatory. In addition to writing song lyrics, he was also a playwright.

Pythagoras died of a heart attack in 1979.

About Glykeria

Another artist who recorded this song was Glykeria Kotsoula. She is the sweetheart of Greece and one of the greatest legends of our time. She was born in 1953 in Serres, Greece. Her musical style is modern laika (rebetika & folk), while still always paying tribute to the great Rebetes of the past.

Panayiota, the translator of this song, offers this personal perspective on what Glykeria's music means to her:

Glykeria's music always has and always will inspire me both on and off the stage. I admire her simplicity and humbleness despite her fame and success. While most kids were learning standard lullabies, my mother would sing all her songs to me, since I was a baby. My mother Evangelia is a huge fan and loves singing her songs. On family road trips, my mother played all her tapes over and over again. Those cassette tapes are what made me fall in love with Laika/Rebetika style music at the age of ten. Thank you Glykeria, thank you Mama! Enjoy!

Most of Glykeria's records have gone platinum. She has gained fame and respect through out the world. Glykeria collaborates with many notable international musicians, including the Turkish living legend, Omar Farouk Tekbilek.

About Giorgos Dalaras

Giorgos Dalaras was another artist who recorded this song, in 1969.

He featured "Pou 'Ne Ta Hronia" on his debut album titled Giorgos Dalaras, and this song became the biggest hit on it. His first true big break didn't arise until 3 years later, when an album he recorded with Haris Alexiou went gold.

In 1975, he decided to release an album titled 50 Years of Rebetiko Songs. It proved to be an immediate success, and created a revival of interest in rebetiko music.

Dalaras is a versatile musician who not only sings, but also can play the the guitar, bouzouki, baglamas, tzouras and oud.

About Nikos Vertis

Nikos Arvanitidis, also known by his stage name Nikos Vertis, is a newer artist to perform this song. He is not only a singer, but also started playing the bouzouki at age 7. Vertis is a successful Greek diasporan born in the Netherlands to an Anatolian Greek family (Pontian parents). He not only sings laiko music, but he also performs several Pontian songs in his concerts.

Generally, anything Vertis releases becomes very successful, and Greeks appreciate his music not only in Greece, but also in the diaspora. He has also won the hearts of the Israeli people, has collaborated several times with Sarit Hadad of Israel, and is frequently invited to perform there in concert. His work also includes Arabic language cover songs that have become hits.

Lyrics: Pythagoras Papastamatiou

Music: Stelios Kazantzidis & Nakis Petridis

Original Artists: Stelios Kazantzidis and Marinella (duet)

Has Also Been Recorded By:

• Glykeria
• Giorgos Dalaras & Gerasimos Andreatos (duet) (2002)
• Nikos Vertis & Sarit Hadad (modern Greek/Israeli collaboration)
• Ülkü Aker, in Turkish ("Yüzünde De")

Στίχοι: Πυθαγόρας Παπασταματίου

Μουσική: Στέλιος Καζαντζίδης & Νάκης Πετρίδης

Πρώτη εκτέλεση: Στέλιος Καζαντζίδης & Μαρινέλλα (ντουέτο)

΄Αλλες εκτελέσεις:

• Γλυκερία
• Γιώργος Νταλάρας & Γεράσιμος Ανδρεάτος (ντουέτο) (2002)
• Νίκος Βέρτις & Σαρίτ Χαντάντ (μοντέρνο Ελληνοϊσραηλινή συνεργασία)
• Ιουλκιου Ακερ, Στα Τουρκικά ("Γιουζουντε")

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Verse

Verse

Verse

Verse

Verse

Verse

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Verse

Verse

Verse

Verse

Verse

Verse

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)

• Agapi Hioni (in duet with Natacha Atlas)
• Apo Xeno Topo (From Foreign Lands). Traditional Anatolian song. Same melody as the Turkish song Üsküdar'a Giderken.
• Boufedzis (Buffet). A Greek song which uses the music from the refrain "How dry I am" from Irving Berlin's song "The Near Future".
• Bournovalia
• Feredze Foro
• Hamopoulia
• Kanis Edo Den Tragouda (same song as Ragizi Apopse ee Kardia, just a different title)
• Kegome Kegome (Rebetiko version)
• Mana Mou Einai I Anatoli
• Me Bounatses Ke Boforia
• Mesa Sto Erimo Spitaki (Inside the Deserted Little Home). Duet with Giorgos Dalaras, 1984.
• Mi Mou Lete Ya Afti
• Mia Melaxrini
• Misirlou (includes translations of 8 Greek versions, including the one Glykeria recorded in 1998)

• Na Xanarthis (Come Back)
• Pare Me Apopse Pare Me
• Piga se Magisses (I Went to Witches)
• Ragizi Apopse ee Kardia (same song as Kanis Edo Den Tragouda, just a different title)
• Sti Mayemeni Arapia
• Ta Pentoxiliara

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.