Filler
Photo of Shira

 

 

PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

Αγωνία
(Agonia)

(Agony)

 

 

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Greek song Agonia (Αγωνία), which was sung by Tolis Voskopoulos. Also included is a pronunciation guide for the Greek lyrics so you can sing along if you like.

This emotional Greek love song became popular in 1969 when it appeared in a dramatic Greek film called Agonia.

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: The photo shows Tolis Voskopoulos, the original artist for this song.

Tolis Voskopoulos

About Giorgos Zampetas

Giorgos Zampetas , the composer of the melody for this song, is renowned as one of the greatest bouzouki artists of the rebetiko era of Greek music. In 1932, as a self-taught 7-year-old child, he won his first prize, playing his first song in a school competition. At 13, Giorgos met his idol Vassilis Tsitsanis, one of the greatest figures in Greek music. His career as a songwriter began around 1952. The height of his career was in the 1950's and 1960's.

Song: Agonia (Agony), 1969

Lyrics: Haralambos Vasiliadis (Tsantas)

Music: Giorgos Zampetas

Original Artist: Tolis Voskopoulos

Τραγούδι: Αγωνία, 1969

Στίχοι: Χαράλαμπος Βασιλειάδης (Τσάντας)

Μουσική: Γιώργος Ζαμπέτας

Πρώτη εκτέλεση: Τόλης Βοσκόπουλος

 

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Listen to MP3 Clips of This Song

Note

Sung by Harry Saroyan

 

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Lyrics

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

Verse

Verse

Verse

Η καρδιά μου πληγωμένη ee kardia mou pligomeni My heart wounded
σαν καμπάνα ραγισμένη san kabana ragismeni like a cracked/fractured bell
μυστικά με βασανίζει με μανία mistika me vasanizi me mania Secrets are torturing me in a manic state
η ζωή πριν μας χωρίσει ee zoi prin mas horisi life before she separates us
προσπαθώ να βρω μια λύση prospatho na vro mia lisi I try to find a solution
αγωνία, αγωνία agonia, agonia agony, agony
αγωνία, αγωνία agonia, agonia agony, agony
     

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Αγωνία με λαχτάρα agonia me lahtara agony with desire
να σε νοιάζομαι na se niazome to care about you
αγωνία δυστυχώς agonia distihos agony unfortunately
να σε μοιράζομαι  na se mirazome to share you
Αγωνία με λαχτάρα agonia me lahtara agony with desire
να σε νοιάζομαι na se niazome to care about you
αγωνία δυστυχώς agonia distihos agony unfortunately
να σε μοιράζομαι  na se mirazome to share you
     

Verse

Verse

Verse

Με καρδιά χίλια κομμάτια mia kardia hilia komatia With a heart in heart 1,000 pieces
σε κοιτάζω μες στα μάτια se kitazo mes sta matia I look into your eyes
αν εμένα αγαπάς να το διαβάσω an emena agapas na to diavaso if it is I you love for me to read (to see if I’m the one you love)
μια φωτιά με τριγυρίζει mia fotia me trigirizi a fire is surrounding me
η ζωή μου δεν θ' αξίζει ee zoi mou den th’ axizi my life won't be worth it
αν σε χάσω, αν σε χάσω an se haso, an se haso if I lose you, if I lose you
αν σε χάσω, αν σε χάσω an se haso, an se haso if I lose you, if I lose you
     

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Αγωνία με λαχτάρα agonia me lahtara agony with desire
να σε νοιάζομαι na se niazome to care about you
αγωνία δυστυχώς agonia distihos agony unfortunately
να σε μοιράζομαι  na se mirazome to share you
Αγωνία με λαχτάρα agonia me lahtara agony with desire
να σε νοιάζομαι na se niazome to care about you
αγωνία δυστυχώς agonia distihos agony unfortunately
να σε μοιράζομαι  na se mirazome to share you

 

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Where to Get Recordings of this Song

Saroyan Sings Cairo Album Cover

Note

Listen to Clip

Artist: Harry Saroyan
CD Title: Saroyan Sings "Cairo"

 

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About the Translator

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.

Panayiota

 

 

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