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

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Greek song Άναψε το τσιγάρο (Anapse to Tsigaro), which was sung by Spiros Zagoreos. Also included is a pronunciation guide to the Greek lyrics so you can sing along if you like.

For more information about the laiko and rebetiko styles of music, see Introduction to Laiko / Rebetiko Music elsewhere on this web site.

Spiros Zagoreos was a very popular and favorite singer of Laika style Greek music. He was born in Athens on June 23, 1928. When he was 15 years old, playing with classmates, a hand grenade exploded near him and he lost a hand. He started recording his music in 1952.

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 Poly Panou

Poly Panou, whose birth name was Polytimi Koliopanou, was a beloved Greek singer in the rebetiko and laiko styles. She was given her nickname of Poly Panou by Grigoris Bithikotsis, the legendary Greek singer who discovered her.

Panou was born in 1940, and made her first recording in 1952, a song composed by Bithikotsis. She started singing professionally in her late teens. In an interview published in the September 1998 issue of Symbol magazine, Panou said she was the original artist to perform the song "Ta Pedia Tou Pirea", which went on to become the Oscar-winning song that Melina Merkouri sang in the movie Never on Sunday. At age 26, she owned her own record company.

She lost her battle with cancer in 2013 at age 72.

Lyrics: Haralambos Basiliadis (Tsantas)

Music: Gerasimos Klouvatos

Original Artist: Spiros Zagoreos

Other Recording Artists:

• Keti Grey
• Poly Panou
• Marinella
• Sotiria Bellou

Dance Style: Syrtos or Tsiftetelli

Στίχοι: Χαράλαμπος Βασιλειάδης, Τσάντας

Μουσική: Γεράσιμος Κλουβάτος

Πρώτη εκτέλεση: Σπύρος Ζαγοραίος

Sung by Spiros Zagoreos

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

Verse

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Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Verse

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Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Verse

Verse

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Chorus

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Listen to Clip

Artist: Spyros Zagoraios
CD Title: Anapse to Tsigaro

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.