Posted by Mike A. on June 17, 2001 at 08:07:56:
In Reply to: Re: greek song- geitonisa (bigalis) posted by Joanna on June 16, 2001 at 02:10:40:
: The following translation I admit I don't think is fantastic but it's the best I could do.
Joanna, as far as I can judge with my poor English, your translation is very good and there is no reason to doubt about its quality ;-)
I only would like to add the following comments:
: : κι ήταν τα χείλια σου καυτά
: : σαν δέκα θερμοφόρες
: and your lips were hot
: like ten hot-water bottles (this sounds ridiculous so I'm not sure of this line)
You are right - it sounds ridiculous. But that's exactly the lyrics. It's not your fault ;-)
: : Γειτόνισσα, γειτόνισσα
: : τις ομορφιές σου αλώνισα
: Neighbour, neighbour
: I've scattered your beauties
The word "αλώνισα" perhaps here does not have so much the meaning "scattered" but more something like "I wandered / I travelled through all your beauties", as "αλωνίζω" (also) means "γυρίζω από άκρη σε άκρη".
: : και μ’ έστειλες αδιάβαστο
: : το βράδυ του Σαββάτου
: and you sent me unread (?)
: on Saturday evening
"μ’ έστειλε αδιάβαστο", according to the dictionary by Babiniotis is an idiomatic phrase with the meaning: "με ξευτίλισε, με ταπείνωσε ή με έκανε να διαπιστώσω την άγνοιά μου ή την αδυναμία μου σε έναν τομέα"
So the english translation should perhaps be something like:
"you humiliated me on Saturday evening"
: : Γειτόνισσα, αχ, φόνισσα
: Neighbour, oh, I've murdered
No, no: Not "I've murdered ..." but: "You (my neighbour), oh, (are a) murderess" (φόνισσα is a noun, like γειτόνισσα)
: : Τα μάτια σου ανατολή
: : κι η αγκαλιά σου δύση
: Your eyes to the east
: and your embrace to the west
Here perhaps not the meaning "east - west", but "sunrise - sunset":
"Your eyes (are like) sunrise,
and your embrace (is like) sunset"
Mike A.