In
each language you can hear a short sample of the lullaby . You can also
see some information about each lullaby (if available)
Nani
Mine, Nani Nani
The
sun sleeps on the mountains (Cyprus)
Nani
nani my child
Sleep, who takes little ones
My
Sleep, take it from me
Nani
Mine, Nani Nani
Νάνι
μού το νάνι νάνι
Sample (MP3 )
I
make (the sound) e e e ….
Nani (my baby) nani nani
and wherever it hurts will heal.
Nani to my baby, whom I enjoy
as the olive of its leaf.
As the little birds of the water
and the mountains of the sun.
E…e…e…e
Κάμω ε ε ε…
Νάνι μού το νάνι νάνι
κι όπου μου πονεί να γιάνει.
Νανι το, που να το χαρώ,
σαν η ελιά το φύλλο.
Σαν τα πουλάκια το νερό
και τα βουνά τον ήλιο.
Ε ε ε ε…
About
Nani Mine, Nani Nani
This lullaby originates from the Island of Kalymnos, one
of the Dodecanese Islands situated in the south-eastern
Aegean Sea. This island combines the beauty of the mountains,
the scents of oregano and thyme together with crystal waters.
In this particular lullaby, the lyrics are influenced by
the beauty of nature. Kalymnos is also famous for sponge
fishing and the production of olive oil. This explains the
references to olive trees and the sun, which is essential
to islanders. Apart from the words nani-nani, we also have
the sound e e e in this lullaby, a very common and popular
motive of Greek lullabies.
As in all traditional Greek lullabies its year of origin
is unknown as well as the composer and the lullaby’s lyricist.
Nani
nani my child
Νάνι
νάνι το παιδί μου
Sample (MP3 )
Nani nani
my child.
Come Sleep make it sleep
and sweetly lull it.
Come Sleep from the vineyards
take my child from the hands.
Take it to the sheepcote
to sleep like a little lamb,
to sleep like a little lamb,
and to wake up like a little goat.
Νάνι νάνι
το παιδί μου.
Έλα Ύπνε ύπνωσέ το
και γλυκά ‘ποκοίμησέ το.
Έλα ύπνε ‘πό τ’ αμπέλια,
πάρ’ το παιδί μου από τα χέρια.
Πάρ’ το σύρ’ το στα μαντράκια,
να κοιμάται σαν τ’ αρνάκια,
να κοιμάται σαν τ’ αρνάκια,
να ξυπνά σαν τα κατσικάκια.
AboutNani nani my child
This lullaby originates from mountainous Kastoria, a Greek
city situated in Western Macedonia. Many crops are cultivated
in the region which is especially famous for its vineyards,
as mentioned in the lullaby. Livestock breeding is also
very common there, which explains references to the lamb,
goat and sheepcote. Another interesting element here is
the use of diminutives, e.g. little sheep, little goat,
etc. Diminutives are used in the Greek language to indicate
not only smallness but also deep affection.
As in all traditional Greek lullabies its year of origin
is unknown as well as the composer and the lullaby’s lyricist.
Sleep, who takes
the little ones
come, take this one too.
Young - so young I gave it to you,
grown-up bring it back to me.
Tall as a high mountain,
straight as a cypress tree.
And its branches outstretched
to the East and West.
Ύπνε,
που παίρνεις τα μικρά
έλα, πάρε και τούτο.
Μικρό- μικρό σου το ‘δωσα,
μεγάλο φέρε μού το.
Μεγάλο σαν ψηλό βουνό,
ίσιο σαν κυπαρίσσι.
Κι οι κλώνοι του ν’ απλώνονται
σ’ Ανατολή και Δύση.
AboutSleep, who takes little ones
This lullaby, originally created on the Island of Thassos
(northern Aegean Sea) is heard all over Greece with numerous
variations. The element of Sleep (Ύπνος) is central. In
many Greek lullabies they address Sleep, who is kindly asked
to take the baby in his arms and help it go to sleep. According
to Greek mythology Ύπνος was the God of sleep. His mother
was the Night and his sons were the Dreams.
In this lullaby there are also references to the East and
the West which indicate the vastness of the world. The mother
wishes her baby to grow up, be as tall as a mountain and
as straight as a cypress tree, and to achieve great things
both in the East and the West, meaning all over the world.
As in all traditional Greek lullabies its year of origin
is unknown as well as the composer and the lullaby’s lyricist.
My Sleep, take
it from me
and take it to the gardens
and fill its apron
with roses and roses.
The red roses for its mother,
the red roses for its father
and the white roses
for its godfather.
and the white roses
for its godfather.
Ύπνε μου, επάρε μού το
κι άμε το στα περβόλια
και την ποδιά του γέμισε
τριαντάφυλλα και ρόδα.
Τα ρόδα να’ν’ της μάνας του,
τα ρόδα του κυρού του
και τ’ άσπρα τριαντάφυλλα
να’ναι του σάντουλού του
και τ’ άσπρα τριαντάφυλλα
να’ναι του σάντουλού του.
AboutMy Sleep, take it from me
This lullaby originates from Southern Italy. Greek-speaking
populations have lived in that part of Italy since the 8th
century B.C., when the first Greek colonies were established
in the regions of Salento, Calabria, Taras and Metapontio.
These areas have a large production of roses, which somehow
explains the references to roses and their assortments in
the lullaby. The word santoulos is of Italian origin and
means godfather.
As in all traditional Greek lullabies its year of origin
is unknown as well as the composer and the lullaby’s lyricist.
The
sun sleeps on the mountains
And the partridge in the woods
Let also my baby sleep
To get enough of sleep.
Whisper to her
Don’t wake her up.
The sun sleeps on the mountains
And the partridge in the snow
Let also my daughter sleep
On clean sheets.
To nani nai
my baby to heal
Τζοιμάται
ο ήλιος στα βουνά
τζι πέρτικα στα δάση
να τζοιμηθεί τζιαι το μωρόν
τον ύπνο να χορτάσει.
Σιγά σιγά μιλάτε της
μην μου την εξυπνάτε
Τζοιμάται ο ήλιος στα βουνά
τζι πέρτικα στα σιόνια
να τζοιμηθεί τζι η κόρη μου
σε καθαρά σεντόνια .
Να κάμει νάνι νάνι του
το βρέφος μου να γιάνει.
About
The sun sleeps on the mountains
This lullaby is of Greek origin. Its place of origin is
the island of Aegina situated near the city of Athens. Passed
on to the island of Cyprus it was converted to the Cypriot
dialect and also some lyrics were added. The original Greek
lullaby had only the first paragraph. There is no information
of its year of origin as well as of the composer and the
lullaby’s lyricist. We also do not know how it was introduced
and changed in Cyprus.
The lullaby talks about the time of sunset when both the
sun and the partridge sleep and so should the baby. The
mother lulls her baby trying to make her/him fall asleep.
Τhe baby should be surrounded only by whispers so that she/he
will not wake up. The lullaby also refers to the healing
qualities of sleep. The last verse “my baby to heal” shows
the conviction about sleep being a healer.
