Karagouna – English lyrics update

Three different melodies are currently used to accompany the dance Karagouna. Each melody has many variations. One is wordless – Svarniara.

For more YouTube examples, see https://folkdancefootnotes.org/music/karagouna-svarniara-music-youtubes-greece/

The other two both have the word Karagouna in the title. The most popular today sounds like and is likely the oldest – “Karagouna goes to wash”.

For more YouTube examples, see https://folkdancefootnotes.org/music/karagouna-svarniara-music-youtubes-greece/

The other Karagouna is the song best-known outside Greece. As is typical of folk songs, there are many sets of lyrics. Here’s one that matches Festival  F-3510  [45rpm]  Folk Dances of Greece. Thanks to Michael Kuharski of Madison for matching my lyrics with his record.

For more YouTube examples, see https://folkdancefootnotes.org/music/karagouna-svarniara-music-youtubes-greece/

Here’s another set of lyrics:

Another set of lyrics comes with the posting below. Anyone care to translate it?

A quote taken from this site https://www.allthelyrics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88661 [Karagouna] “is a really really old traditional greek song. The composer, singer, etc are unknown because they used to sing it from place to place during celebrations which everyone could participate, sing and dance. It was sung originally by the women of central greece (thessaly) that had a very special way to dance it. The word that you here is not zambosda-zambbizda (hahha too funny for me, sorry) but “ki am pos da, ki am ti da”, speacial dialect of the area to sing “ke pos ida, ke ti ida” which means “and how I saw, and what I saw”. The song’s name is Karagouna which is a special name that the women of the area were called that has many explanations. Anyway, I won’t present the whole history of the area right now so here are the lyrics in greek and latin letters. There are some more verses but I can’t remeber them right now… If you also need a translation let me know and I’ll see what I can do because I’m sure many words can’t be translated. Cheers! “

1.Ainte karagou- ouna karagouna
Anite me sagia – Sagia ke me segounia

Chorus a. Ki am pos da, ki am ti da, Tin prokopi s’tin ida
Ki am pos da, di am ti da, Kana kalo den ida

2. Ainte perase ena kalokeri, Ainte ke den mou- De mou stiles hamberi

3. Ainte ti hambe- hamberi na sou stilo
Ainte pou piases, Kenourio filo

1. Άιντε Καραγκού- ούνα Καραγκούνα
Άιντε με σαγιά– σαγιά και με σεγκούνια

Chorus a. Κι αμ πως ’δα, κι αμ τι ’δα, Την προκοπη σ’ την είδα
Κι αμ πως ’δα, κι αμ τι ’δα, Καν’α καλό δεν είδα

2. Άιντε πέρασε ένα καλοκαίρι, Άιντε και δεν μου – δε μου ‘στειλες χαμπέρι

Chorus b. Κι αμ πως ’δα, κι αμ τι ’δα, Στο μπαλκονάκι σ’ είδα
Κι αμ πως ’δα, κι αμ τι ’δα, Σε γέλασα σε πήρα

3. Άιντε τι χαμπέ- χαμπέρι να σου στείλω,
Άιντε που ‘πιασες καινούργιο φίλο.

Chorus c. Κι αμ πως ’δα, κι αμ τι ’δα, Στο παραθύρι σ’είδα.
Κι αμ πως ’δα, κι αμ τι ’δα, Καν’α καλό δεν είδα.