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

Ο Φαντάρος or Έλα Στην Παρέα Μου Φαντάρε
(O Fandaros, also known as Ela Stin Parea Mou Fandare)

(The Soldier, also known as Join Our Company, Soldier)

 

 

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Greek song "O Fandaros" (Ο Φαντάρος) Lyrics Translation into English), which was sung by Haris Alexiou. A later name for this song is "Ela Stin Parea Mou Fandare" (Έλα Στην Παρέα Μου Φαντάρε).

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

In Greece, military service is mandatory for men, but not women. Often, Greek men born in the diaspora opt to skip application for Greek citizenship because doing so would require them to perform the mandatory service.

Usually a man's service begins by age 18. A musician may be given the option to serve in the band, and someone who is headed to university may be allowed an extension to serve after graduation.

Soldiers are sworn in typically on a Sunday in front of friends, family and their lovers! Loyal girlfriends of teenage love patiently wait for their boyfriend or fiancé to be released and so… we have many love songs and political ones that mention soldiers. Typically all the soldier songs, regardless of release date, are hugely popular. And most people know these songs. Many who hear these are brought back to both happy and difficult memories.

Soldier-related songs are great for national holidays, as well as for any Greek parties such as birthdays or celebrations that may be honoring men who have served… even if they served in a nation other than Greece, such as the USA. If the song mentions soldiers and has a fun loving flavor, it can be an excellent choice for a belly dancer to incorporate into her playlist!

There have also been two different Turkish songs released with the same melody but different lyrics from each other. A 1997 version by Aşkın Nur Yengi featured lyrics by Şehrazat Kemalî Söylemezoğlu and was released under the name "Kanım Akmaz" on the album Haberci. A 2011 version by Bekir Ünlüataerl with the band Eşref Vakti was released under the name "Sevda Yolları" on the album Gözlerinin 7 Rengi.

About Haris Alexiou

Haris Alexiou was born in 1950 in Greece. She became successful as a rebetiko singer in the 1970's, and today is considered one of the most popular vocalists in Greece. She has recorded more than 30 albums of her own, and more than 20 of those have achieved either gold or platinum status.

Haris Alexiou

Song: O Fandaros, also known as Ela Stin Parea Mou Fandare (The Soldier, also known as Join Our Company Soldier), 1979

Lyrics: Manolis Rasoulis

Music: Manos Loizos

Original Artist: Haris Alexiou

Has Also Been Recorded By:

  • Aşkın Nur Yengi, 1997, in Turkish ("Kanım Akmaz").
  • Bekir Ünlüataerl, 2011, in Turkish ("Sevda Yolları"). On album Gözlerinin 7 Rengi

Dance Style: Belly Dance

Τραγούδι: Ο Φαντάρος or Έλα Στην Παρέα Μου Φαντάρε, 1979

Στίχοι: Μανώλης Ρασούλης

Μουσική: Μάνος Λοίζος

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Χάρις Αλεξίου

Άλλοι Ερμηνευτές:

  • Ασκιουν Νουρ Γενγκι, 1997, Στα Τουρκικά ("Κανιμ Ακμαζ")
  • Μπεκιρ Ιουνλιουαταερλ, 2011, Στα Τουρκικά ("Σεβντα Γιολλαρι")

Χορός: Οριεντάλ, Χορό Της Κοιλιάς, Ανατολίτικος Χορός, Τσιφτετέλι, 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

Απόψε πήρε άδεια apopse pire adia Tonight he took [the evening] off (1)
και με την τσέπη άδεια ke me tin tsepi adia and with empty pockets
τραβάει για την πόλη travai ya tin poli he is heading towards the city.
ρίχνει ένα γεια σου, στο φρουρό rihni ena yiasou, sto frouro He says a good-bye, to the guard,
σαλτάρει σ' ένα φορτηγό saltari s' ena fortigo he jumps into a truck,
κaι ο χάρος δε' γλιτώνει ke o Haros de' glitoni and the Grim Reaper (2) doesn't escape death.
     

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Έλα στην παρέα μας φαντάρε ela stin parea mas fadare Come join our company, soldier.
κάτσε, κaι ένα ποτηράκι πάρε katse, ke ena potiraki pare Sit, and take a small cup
ξέχνα στρατώνες και σκοπιές xehna stratones k skopies forget about army bases and skopies (3)
κaι απο το μπρούσκο ke apo to brousko and from the brousko (4)
της καρδιάς μας πιες tis kardias mas pies drink our heart
ξέχνα στρατώνες και σκοπιές xehna stratones k skopies forget about army bases and skopies (3)
κaι απο το μπρούσκο ke apo to brousko and from the brousko (4)
της καρδιάς μας πιές tis kardias mas pies drink our heart.
     
Η πόλη σαν τη' γόησσα ee poli san ti' goisa The city, like a temptress,
σαν την παλιά αρχόντισσα san tin palia arhondisa like a noblewoman of olden times,
ανάβει τα κολιέ της anavi to kolie tis turns on her seduction.
μα, σα' τον φέρνει στα στενά ma, sa' ton ferni sta stena Well, as she is bringing him toward the side streets,
τον κουβεντιάζει η μοναξιά tou kouvendiazi ee monaxi she is striking up a conversation with him about loneliness, (5)
τον παίρνει αγκαζέ της ton perni agaze tis she is walking with him arm in arm. (6)
     

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Έλα στην παρέα μας φαντάρε ela stin parea mas fadare Come join our company, soldier.
κάτσε, κaι ένα ποτηράκι πάρε katse, ke ena potiraki pare Sit, and take a small cup
ξέχνα στρατώνες και σκοπιές xehna stratones k skopies forget about army bases and skopies (3)
κaι απο το μπρούσκο ke apo to brousko and from the brousko (4)
της καρδιάς μας πιες tis kardias mas pies drink our heart
ξέχνα στρατώνες και σκοπιές xehna stratones k skopies forget about army bases and skopies (3)
κaι απο το μπρούσκο ke apo to brousko and from the brousko (4)
της καρδιάς μας πιές tis kardias mas pies drink our heart.
     
Οι δρόμοι τον κουράσανε ee dromi ton kourasane The roads have tired him.
παράπονα τον πιάσανε parapona ton piasane He is feeling grumpy.
στο ταβερνάκι μπαίνει sto tavernaki beni He goes into the tavern
κάποιον να βρει για ένα πιοτό kapion na vri ya ena pioto to find someone for a drink
να 'χουν τον ίδιο τον καημό na 'houn to idio ton kaimo who will have the same sorrow
μαζί να δουν' που βγαίνει mazi na doun' pou vgeni so they see together how it will turn out. (7)
     

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Έλα στην παρέα μας φαντάρε ela stin parea mas fadare Come join our company, soldier.
κάτσε, κaι ένα ποτηράκι πάρε katse, ke ena potiraki pare Sit, and take a small cup
ξέχνα στρατώνες και σκοπιές xehna stratones k skopies forget about army bases and skopies (3)
κaι απο το μπρούσκο ke apo to brousko tis and from the brousko (4)
της καρδιάς μας πιες tis kardias mas pies drink our heart
ξέχνα στρατώνες και σκοπιές xehna stratones k skopies forget about army bases and skopies (3)
κaι απο το μπρούσκο ke apo to brousko tis and from the brousko (4)
της καρδιάς μας πιές tis kardias mas pies drink our heart.
  1. The Greek word "adia" can also mean permission. Here, in this song, it is saying he received permission to have the evening off.
  2. Haros refers to Charon, was the son of Erebus (darkness) and Nyx (goddess of the night) in ancient Greek mythology. In modern Greek the word Haro (referencing Charon) is frequently in the same way the Grim Reaper or Death might be referenced in English. For example – "Htipise o Haros tin porta" means "Death was knocking on my door."
  3. Skopies are soldier security points.
  4. Brousko is a strong tasting wine. Brousko is a also a famous Greek drama television series, which lasted many seasons. It was filmed mostly on the island of Crete and Cyprus.
  5. Literally, "loneliness is chatting with him".
  6. Literally, "she is taking him in her embrace", but in this case it's referring to the positioning of the arm, as in walking arm and arm linked together.
  7. "Vgeni" means "going out", but here the meaning is "where it will lead to".

 

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Translations of
Haris Alexiou's Songs On This Site

Songs performed by Haris Alexiou that have translations on this web site include:

  • Kegome, Kegome (I'm Burning, I'm Burning). There are several different songs with this title. This refers to the one featured in the movie Rembetiko.
  • Mana Glikia (Sweet Mother)
  • Mia Einai I Ousia (The Point Is)

 

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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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