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 "Pou 'Ne Ta Hronia" (Που 'Ναι Τα Χρόνια), which was sung originally by Grigoris Bithikotsis, and later by Giorgos Dalaras. 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 Grigoris Bithikotsis

Grigoris Bithikotsis, the original artist who recorded this song, was a popular Greek singer-songwriter. He was born in Athens in 1922, to a low-income family.

As a teen-ager, Grigoris Bithikotsis would play guitar and sing at a local tavern. One evening in 1937, he heard three legendary rebetiko musicians playing bouzouki and singing Greek songs. This sparked his lifelong love for rebetiko and laiko music. He acquired a bouzouki, the stringed instrument that the refugees introduced into Greece, as soon as he was able. However, because his father disapproved of rebetiko music, he needed to hide his bouzouki at a friend's house and practice in secret.

As a political prisoner in 1947, he formed his own band and entertained the army officers in the evenings. After his release, he started a band and entered the recording industry.

Bithikotsis is a major legend in Greek music, both as a singer and as a composer.

About Stavros Kouyioumtzis

Stavros Kouyioumtzis composed the music for this song. Other spellings frequently used for his surname include Kougioumtzis, Kouyoumtzis, or Koujioumtzis. He was born in Thessaloniki in 1932, the son of refugees who had fled Asia Minor to escape the Greek genocide after the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

Kouyioumtzis composed his first song in 1960, and became one of the most significant Greek composers of the 20th century.

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.

Lyrics: Akos Daskalopoulos

Music: Stavros Kouyioumtzis

Original Artist: Grigoris Bithikotsis with backup vocals by Haroula Labraki

Has Also Been Recorded By:

• Giorgos Dalaras, 1969

Dance Style:

• 9/8 Karsilamas
• Belly dancing (only for dancers trained in dancing to Greek 9/8 rhythm)

Album: Episimi Agapimeni

Στίχοι: Άκος Δασκαλόπουλος

Μουσική: Σταύρος Κουγιουμτζής

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Γιώργος Μπιθικώτσης

Συμμετέχουν: Χαρούλα Λαμπράκη

Άλλους Ερμηνευτές:

• Γιώργος Νταλάρας, 1969

Άλμπουμ: Επίσημη Αγαπημένη