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 "Onira" (Όνειρα), which was sung by Lena Zevgara. The song title is sometimes spelled as "Oneira". 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.

Comments About this Song's Chorus

The lyrics of this song's chorus reference this very famous saying in Greek:

Όταν ο άνθρωπος κάνει σχέδια, ο Θεός γελάει.

which means:

"When a person is making plans, God is laughing."

Many Greeks live by this. I do as well. I learned about setting goals from my American friends and peers. Meaning, of course, things go wrong when you make plans. Also, don't overbook yourself because you'll be disappointed if some of the plans don't fall through. Or, if something ends up going wrong someone will remind you, "When a person is making plans, God is laughing!"

No matter how well organized things are, life happens, and things just won't go as planned.

About Lena Zevgara

Lena Zevgara was born in 1992 in the prefecture of Karditsa, Greece. She graduated from the Department of Economics at the University of Macedonia. Although her first commercial release was in 2015, the song that launched her into stardom was "Ela, Ela" (Come, Come), released in 2019.

Zevgara is considered one of the rising stars of Greek laiko music. She has been featured in the Greek gossip tabloids and Greek television talk shows, not only for her amazing classic laiko-style voice, but also for her personal choice of wardrobe!

Typically in the Greek music scence, the laiko singers who work in bouzoukia (a particular type of live music clubs that feature laiko music) opt for a very sexy wardrobe, with mini-skirts, exposed cleavage, etc. The same is true of club-goers — when I go to bouzoukia, I dress like I'm going to the bouzoukia!

However, such is not the case with Zevgara. She chooses to be more modest and allow her voice to take center stage. Typically, the more modest wardrobe is seen among the women who perform the old rebetiko style music from the early 20th century. I'm proud to see a young modern Greek woman stick to her views and values instead of conforming to what the record companies want. Brava Zevgara!

About Mihalis Touradzidis

Mihalis Touradzidis comes from Pontian Anatolian Greek heritage.

About Jenny Tsiko

Jenny Tsiko is the stage name for Jenny Tsikopoulou (Τζένη Τσικοπούλου).

About Vasilis Karras

Vasilis Karras is the stage name for Vasileos Kesoglidis (Βασίλειος Κεσογλίδης), one of the lyricists who created this song. He is a very renowned laiko singer of Pontian Anatolian Greek descent.

Karras began achieving success in the 1970's, singing throughout northern Greece, and released his first album in 1980. In 1996 he collaborated with the renowned songwriter Fivos to create his album Tilefonise Mou. It went platinum twice, and has remained his most successful work so far. The two built on their success by releasing another album in 1999, Epistrefo.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Vasilis Karras By Erud, CC BY 3.0.

Song: Onira, 2018

Lyrics: Vasilis Karras, Jenny Tsiko

Music: Mihalis Touradzidis

Original Artist: Lena Zevgara with backup vocals by Kostas Aggelou and Eleni Karanikola

Dance Style:

• Belly Dance
• Syrtos
• Syrtos-Tsifteteli

Album: Onira

Τραγούδι: Όνειρα, 2018

Στίχοι: Βασίλης Καρράς, Τζένι Τσίκο, Αργύρης Αράπης

Μουσική: Μιχάλης Τουρατζίδης

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Λένα Ζευγαρά
Συμμετέχουν: Κώστας Αγγέλου, Ελένη Καρανικόλα

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

Άλμπουμ: Όνειρα