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Οι Μνήμες
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This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Greek song "Oi Mnimes" (Οι Μνήμες), which was sung by Eleftheria Arvanitaki. 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 Eleftheria ArvanitakiEleftheria Arvanitaki, the original artist for this song, is a Greek folk singer known for singing rebetiko, laiko, and jazz musical styles. Born in 1957, she started her singing career as a member of the ensemble Opisthodromiki Kompania (Retrograde Company) that performed rebetiko music. She then spun off to launch a solo singing career in 1984 with an album that bore her name. She has toured extensively to perform at festivals and other live music events. Arvanitaki performed in the closing ceremony for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens. |
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Song: Oi Mnimes (The Memories), 2019 Lyrics: Lida Roumani Music: Themis Karamouratidis Original Artist: Eleftheria Arvanitaki with backup vocals by Themis Karamouratidis Dance Style: Belly Dance Album: Ee Mnimes (The Memories) (single) |
Τραγούδι: Οι Μνήμες, 2019 Στίχοι: Λήδα Ρουμάνη Μουσική: Θέμης Καραμουρατίδης Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Ελευθερίας Αρβανιτάκη Χορός: Οριεντάλ, Χορό Της Κοιλιάς, Ανατολίτικο Χορό, Τσιφτετέλι, Χανούμικο, Κελικός Χορός Άλμπουμ: Οι Μνήμες (single) |
Lyrics
Numbers in parentheses refer to footnotes that appear at the bottom of the translation.
Greek Lyrics |
Pronunciation |
English Translation |
| Η μνήμη χθες | ee mnimi htes | Yesterday, memory |
| με πήρε απ'το χέρι | me pire ap' to heri | took me by the hand. |
| δε' μ' άφησε στιγμή | de' m' afise stigmi | It didn't for a moment let me |
| να κλείσω μάτι | na kliso mati | close my eyes. (1) |
| προτίμησε να 'ρθει το μεσημέρι | protimise na 'rthi to mesimeri | It preferred to come in [the] afternoon, |
| και άραξε χωρίς να κρύψει κάτι | ke araxi horis na kripsi kati | and linger out in the open. (2) |
| Στο πάρτυ που | sto parti pou | At the party, |
| σε είδα να διαλέγεις | se ida na dialegis | I saw you choose, |
| και ξέμεινα χωρίς φιλί στην άκρη | ke xemina horis fili stin akri | and I was left off to the side with no kiss. (3) |
| στο πάθος που ζητάς να κυριεύεις | sto pathos pou zitas na kirievis | You demand to dominate the passion, |
| μα δε' σου κλείνει πάντοτε το μάτι | ma de' sou klini pandote to mati | but it doesn't always blink the eyes. |
Chorus |
Chorus |
Chorus |
| Μόνο τις μνήμες να φοβάσαι | mono tis mnimes na fovase | You should only be afraid of memories |
| που ζητάνε | pou zitane | that are asking you |
| να τις κρατήσεις ζωντανές | na tis kratisis zondanes | to keep them alive, |
| και σε πονάνε | ke se ponane | and are hurting you. |
| Μόνο τις μνήμες να φοβάσαι | mono tis mnimes na fovase | You should only be afraid of memories |
| που μιλάνε | pou milane | that speak — |
| αυτές που γίνονται θεριό | aftes pou yinonde therio | those that become wild |
| και σε χτυπάνε | ke se htipane | and strike you. |
| Και είναι εκεί | ke ine eki | And it is there |
| για να κοιτάνε | ya na kitane | so they watch. |
| και όσα δεν θες | ke osa den thes | And everything you don't want, |
| στάχτη τα καις | stahti ta kes | you burn to ashes, |
| και πάνε | ke pane | and it's all gone. |
| Η μνήμη χθες | ee mnimi htes | Yesterday, memory |
| μου πήρε το κεφάλι | mou pire to kefali | took my head. |
| δε' μ' άφησε στιγμή | de' m' afise stigmi | It didn't leave me even for a moment |
| να ξεμυτίσω | na xemitiso | to get away at all. |
| με κέρασε, κaι εγώ | me kerase, ke ego | It treated me [to drinks], and |
| σε παραζάλη | se parazali | in a [drunken dizzy] daze. |
| προτίμησα να πιώ | protimisa na pio | I opted to drink |
| και να λυγίσω | ke na liyiso | and break down. (4) |
Chorus |
Chorus |
Chorus |
| Μόνο τις μνήμες να φοβάσαι | mono tis mnimes na fovase | You should only be afraid of memories |
| που ζητάνε | pou zitane | that are asking you |
| να τις κρατήσεις ζωντανές | na tis kratisis zondanes | to keep them alive, |
| και σε πονάνε | ke se ponane | and are hurting you. |
| Μόνο τις μνήμες να φοβάσαι | mono tis mnimes na fovase | You should only be afraid of memories |
| που μιλάνε | pou milane | that speak — |
| αυτές που γίνονται θεριό | aftes pou yinonde therio | those that become wild |
| και σε χτυπάνε | ke se htipane | and strike you. |
| Και είναι εκεί | ke ine eki | And it is there |
| για να κοιτάνε | ya na kitane | so they watch. |
| και όσα δεν θες | ke osa den thes | And everything you don't want, |
| στάχτη τα καις | stahti ta kes | you burn to ashes, |
| και πάνε | ke pane | and it's all gone. |
- Literally, just one eye, but here in this song it refers to both eyes.
- Literally, "it stayed around without hiding anything".
- Literally, "I ran out with no kiss on the side."
- This refers to becoming weak. "Ligizo" means "to bend."
Translations of Songs Recorded by
Eleftheria Arvanitaki On This Site
Translations on this web site of songs performed by Eleftheria Arvanitaki include:
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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:
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