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 "Perasmena Xehasmena" (Περασμένα Ψεχασμένα), which was sung by Keti Garbi. 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

Keti Garbi's song shares the same melody as "Wana Amel Eh" (وأنا أعمل إيه), also sometimes called "Wana Wana"), which was released in 1994 by the Egyptian singer Hisham Abbas (Χισαμ Αμπας), featuring Alia (Αλια). His version's lyrics were written by Hasan El Sayed (Χασαν Ελ Σαγεντ), and the composer who is credited for it is Ibrahim Fahmy (Ιμπραχιμ Φαχμη). It appeared on the 1994 album Taala.

Some Greeks say the melody was originally a traditional song from Jordan, and show the composer as "unknown".  Often, the composition is credited to a renowned Lebanese composer named Romeo Lahoud. There is also a similar Hindu version of the song.

As for the Greeks, the story doesn't end just yet! It took almost two decades for the truth to come out. Typically, record labels license music from one of their star singers, including lyrics and composition, for recording by other artists. A large record company typically owns different labels, in different countries; however, there is one main umbrella company that owns the others, and therefore owns the song. In the case of this song; however, it didn't actually work out that way! We have Youtube and their battleground comments to thank for revealing more about the song's history!

It's common for Greeks, Turks, and Arabic-speaking people to argue over who owns which music. In reality, the record companies decide when different versions of a song will be released, and often these different versions appear within a few months of each other.

So, who originally wrote the music for "Perasmena Xehasmena"? On the video clip featuring Keti Garbi, it is listed as a traditional Jordanian song. But, is it? From my knowledge, growing up exposed to Turkish, Arabic, Greek, and Armenian music, I knew this song as both Egyptian and traditional Jordanian.

A few years ago, the lyricist revealed how this music came into Greek hands. It turns out he brought a bootleg cassette tape back to Greece with him after a recent trip he had taken to Jordan. The bootleg cassette showed no details of composers or lyricists. Despite this, they moved forward with releasing a Greek version! They claimed that well, there was no internet in the mid-1990's to aid with searching for the origins of the song. They were prepared to follow through properly once the creator eventually came forward.

I now assume it was incorrect to identify it as a traditional Jordanian song. I'm not an expert in Jordanian folk music, so I can't say for sure. Maybe the Greeks just assumed so since it was purchased in Jordan? Up until now, I always believed this was a traditional Jordanian song whose origins did not lie in Egypt. However, maybe I was wrong.

About Keti Garbi

Keti Garbi, the artist performing the version of this song with Greek lyrics, has been considered a queen of Laiko & Greek pop styles of music. She also robbed the cradle by marrying her younger colleague Dionisis Shinas (Διονύσης Σχοινάς).

Keti Garbi rose to fame in the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest, taking ninth place. She became one of the most successful Greek artists of the 1990's. She achieved great commercial success with the album To Kati, which was released in 2000. She has won 11 Pop Corn Music Awards (including 3 for Album of the Year) and one Arion Music Award.

To this day all her work is phenomenal.

Song: Perasmena Xehasmena (Past, Forgotten), 1996

Greek Lyrics: Yianis Doxas

Music: *** See notes in above section "About this Song"

Original Artist of Greek Version: Keti Garbi

Dance Style: Belly dancing

Album: Arhizo Polemo (I'm Starting a War)

Τραγούδι: Περασμένα Ψεχασμένα, 1996

Στίχοι: Γιάννης Δόξας

Μουσική: Παραδοσιακό Ιορδανίας

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Καίτη Γαρμπί

Άλμπουμ: Αρχίζω Πόλεμο