What's this Greek song?

June 29, 2014 3:41 AM

Asking for my ukulele teacher: This is, apparently, the favorite song of a Greek lady living in a nursing home he works with. He'd like to sing the whole song with her, but does not know the name, lyrics or even the whole melody, apart from a few parts that she sang for him (and the melody might not be 100% accurate). Here's an approximation on soundcloud. Apparently, the song is about riding the train and/or the bus. Does this ring a bell for anyone? Thanks!
posted by Skybly to Media & Arts (2 answers total)

I searched Musipedia--a generally useful resource for this kind of search--a few different ways, but without any positive hits. (Billy Boy seems the most similar tune--that probably doesn't help you much.)

I found stixoi.info, a database of Greek songs. A quick search of the terms λεωφορείο and τρένο found this--which I very much think might be the song you're looking for:

Με το ένα, με το δύο
με το τρία που θα σου πω
πάρε το τρένο, πάρε το πλοίο
κι έλα εδώ.

Μην κλαις, αγάπη μου
εγώ τα λάθη μου
δεν τα μισώ μα τ’ αγαπώ.
Μην κλαις, αγάπη μου
και στο κρεβάτι μου
μόνος κοιμάμαι, μόνος ξυπνώ.

Με το ένα, με το δύο
με το τρία που θα σου πω
πάρε το πρώτο λεωφορείο
κι έλα εδώ.

In English (courtesy of Google translate):

With one, with two
the three that will tell
Take the train, take the ferry
and come here.

Do not cry, my love
I my mistakes
not hate but love them.
Do not cry, my love
and in my bed
I sleep alone, alone awake.

With one, with two
the three that will tell
take the first bus
and come here.

It matches the topic and the type of song you are describing. In addition and more important, the rhyme scheme & rhythm of the lyrics seem to match well with the melody you provided. I think this might be it.
posted by flug at 8:03 AM on June 29, 2014

Response by poster: I found a sample of that song, but sadly, it's not it :( Thank you so much for your effort though! Musipedia and Stixoi are excellent finds, we will continue our search using them :)
posted by Skybly at 4:08 AM on July 1, 2014