Panayiota

Τα Παιδία Του Πειραιά
(Ta Pedia Tou Pirea)

(The Guys of Pirea, or,
Never on Sunday)

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Greek song "Ta Pedia Tou Pirea", which was sung by Melina Merkouri and later Nana Mouskouri. The song is often referred to in English as "Never on Sunday" because it was the Academy Award winning song from the motion picture of that name. This was the first time a foreign-language film won the Oscar for Best Song. 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 Melina Merkouri Born in 1920, Melina Merkouri was the daughter of a member of Greek parliament. She graduated from the National Theater's drama school in 1944. She began her acting career on the theatrical stage. Later, in 1955, she was cast in her first motion picture role, the Greek film Stella. In 1960, her starring role in Never on Sunday brought her the Best Actress award at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival, along with an Oscar nomination.

About Giorgos Zampetas Giorgos Zampetas is renowned as one of the greatest bouzouki artists of the rebetiko era of Greek music. Although he didn't compose "Ta Pedia Tou Pirea", he contributed the bouzouki solo sections in the song. In 1932, as a self-taught 7-year-old child, he won his first prize, playing his first song in a school competition. At 13, Giorgos met his idol Vassilis Tsitsanis, one of the greatest figures in Greek music. His career as a songwriter began around 1952. The height of his career was in the 1950's and 1960's.

Listen to MP3 Clips of This Song

	Sung by Melina Merkouri
	Instrumental version on the Never on Sunday soundtrack
	Sung by Anastasia with the Bouzouki Kings
	Sung by Connie Francis (in English)

Lyrics

Footnotes:

1. In Greek, the word "pedia" can mean different things. Possible translations can be "children", "kids", "guys", or "men." She is singing about the "pedia" coming out at night, and in Greece all ages might do that. However, in the movie, Melina Merkour's character is a lady of the evening. When she mentions that Pirea becomes full of guys, she's thinking professionally about the business opportunity that presents.
2. In the Greek, the word "ha" is sung at the end of a line of the song, and is drawn out. It's actually the beginning of the word "handra", which means "bead", but the way the song is constructed this line doesn't finish the word. Its meaning is clarified in the next line of the song, which references a handra filahto (see next footnote)
3. In Greece, the word filahto means wearing something protective to avoid evil eye, avoid spirits, or bring luck. Handra filahto refers to the evil eye bead or just wearing a blue or turquoise bead around a bracelet/necklace. There is also religious filahto which resembles a tiny pillow that is blessed and typically is pinned under your clothes. The Greek Orthodox church does not believe in the evil eye; however, many Greeks continue to wear these beads either for fashion or belief.

Lyrics for the English Version

After the movie Never on Sunday and its hit song Ta Pedia Tou Pirea became popular, many musicians recorded their own versions of it. An English version with lyrics by Billy Towne became popular, and was sung by Connie Francis, Eartha Kitt, Petula Clark, and others.

This is the version by Connie Francis. Hers includes a few lines of chorus from the original Greek, then moves into Billy Towne's English lyrics:

Chorus

La la la laaaaaa la

La lala laaaaaa la laaaaa la

La lala laaaaaa la laaaaa la

La lala laaaaa lala

Όσο κι αν ψάξω (no matter how much I search)

δεν βρίσκω άλλο λιμάνι (I can't find another port)

τρελή να με ΄χει κάνει (that has made me crazy)

όσο τον Πειραιά (as much as Pirea)

Verse

Oh, you can kiss me on a Monday, a Monday, a Monday, it's very, very good.

Oh, you can kiss me on a Tuesday, a Tuesday, a Tuesday, in fact I wish you would!

Oh, you can kiss me on a Wednesday, a Thursday, a Friday, and Saturday is best

But never, never on a Sunday, a Sunday, a Sunday, 'cause that's my day of rest.

Chorus

Come any day and you'll be my guest,

Any day you say, but my day of rest.

Just name the day that you like the best

Only stay away on my day of rest!

Final Chorus

Come any day and you'll be my guest,

Any day you say, but my day of rest.

La la la laaaaaa la

La lala laaaaaa la laaaaa la

La lala laaaaaa la laaaaa la

La lala laaaaa lala!

Where to Get Recordings of this Song

	Listen to Clip	Artist: Melina Merkouri CD Title: Ta Pedia Tou Pirea
	Listen to Clip	Artist: Manos Hatzidakis CD Title: Never on Sunday Soundtrack
	Listen to Clip	Artist: Bouzouki Kings CD Title: Greek Musical Odyssey
		Artist: Eartha Kitt CD Title: Soul Sisters - Classic Female Black Performers, Vol. 2
	Listen to Clip	Artist: Connie Francis CD Title: Connie

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.

Copyright Notice

This entire web site is copyrighted. All rights reserved.

All articles, images, forms, scripts, directories, and product reviews on this web site are the property of Shira unless a different author/artist is identified. Material from this web site may not be posted on any other web site unless permission is first obtained from Shira.

Academic papers for school purposes may use information from this site only if the paper properly identifies the original article on Shira.net using appropriate citations (footnotes, end notes, etc.) and bibliography. Consult your instructor for instructions on how to do this.

If you wish to translate articles from Shira.net into a language other than English, Shira will be happy to post your translation here on Shira.net along with a note identifying you as the translator. This could include your photo and biography if you want it to. Contact Shira for more information. You may not post translations of Shira's articles on anybody else's web site, not even your own.

If you are a teacher, performer, or student of Middle Eastern dance, you may link directly to any page on this web site from either your blog or your own web site without first obtaining Shira's permission. Click here for link buttons and other information on how to link.