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 "Tora Kles, Yati Kles" (Τώρα Κλαίς, Γιατί Κλαίς), which was sung by Giorgos Hadziantoniou. 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 THE PHOTO: Giorgos Hadziantoniou was the original artist for this song.

About Nikos Xanthopoulos

Although not the original artist, Nikos Xanthopoulos was one of the singers to record this song. An ethnic Pontian (Greek Anatolian from present day Turkish Black Sea area), he is one of my all time favorites. He was born in Athens on March 14, 1934. He rose to fame as a highly accomplished actor, singer and bouzouki player. He sang in nearly all the movies he was featured in.

Xanthopoulos is also a war survivor of the German Nazi occupation in Greece. Those years were devasting, not only for the Jewish people, but also for the Greeks as well. Full villages of ethnic Greeks were wiped out.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: The caption on the photo of Xanthopoulos says, "To agapimeno paidi tou laou," which means "The most beloved kid of the people."

The roles Xanthopoulos played consistently depicted a hard life in poverty, and falling in love with someone from a different social class. The Greek people were truly able to relate to him as conditions in the country were extremely poor and depressing. Everyone could relate to his characters, and thus led the whole country to fall in love with him!

About Apostolos Kaldaras

Apostolos Kaldaras was a musician who composed, wrote lyrics, sang, and played bouzouki (a stringed musical instrument). He was born in Trikala, Greece in 1922, at the time refugees from Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) began to arrive in mainland Greece. He was exposed to the rebetiko music and the bouzouki as a child, as a result of the contact he had with the refugees, and it lit a fire that lasted his whole life.

Over the course of his music career, Kaldaras worked with many of the great artists of the rebetiko genre. He passed away in 1990.

Lyrics: Apostolos Kaldaras

Music: Apostolos Kaldaras

Original Artist: Giorgos Hadziantoniou

Has Also Been Sung By:

• Nikos Xanthopoulos

Dance Style: Belly Dancing

Στίχοι: Απόστολος Καλδάρας

Μουσική: Απόστολος Καλδάρας

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Γίωργος Χατζηαντωνίου

'Aλλους Eρμηνευτές:

• Νίκος Ξανθόπουλος

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.