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

Φτάνει Να Μ' Αγαπάς
(Ftani Emena Na M' Agapas)

(As Long As You Love Me)

 

 

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Greek song "Ftani Emena Na M' Agapas" (Φτάνει Να Μ' Αγαπάς), which was sung by Makis Hristodoulopoulos. Also included is a pronunciation guide for the Greek lyrics so you can sing along if you like.

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 This Song

Those of us from regions that speak Greek, Arabic, and Turkish have exchanged countless songs with each other through licensing the music and creating lyrics in our own languages. These include both current pop music and classics. The song translated on this page is an example of one – it originally appeared in Turkey in 1985 as "Mavi Mavi", sung in a movie also titled Mavi Mavi by Ibrahim Tatlises.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: The photo shows Ibrahim Tatlises, the original artist for this song.

Versions with Greek and Arabic soon followed. See below for a list of the many artists who have recorded this song in Turkish, Greek, and Arabic.

The Turkish version lyrics were written by Burhan Bayar (Μπουρχαν Μπαγιαρ) & Yilmaz Tatlises (Γιλμαζ Τατλισες). Music composition by Burhan Bayar (Μπουρχαν Μπαγιαρ).

About Vasilis Saleas

Vasilis Saleas, a Romani Greek, created the music for the Greek adaptation of the original Turkish song "Mavi Mavi". He is the foremost clarinet player in Greece. He was born in Mesedogi in 1958, and his family moved moved to Athens when he was a small child. His father and uncle taught him how to play the clarinet at the age of 9, and he performed his first club concert two years later. By the age of 14 he had mastered the clarinet and recorded his first disc. Music is more than a profession for him, it's a way of life.

About Makis Hristodoulopoulos

The artist who popularized the Greek version of this song is the Greek Romani musician Asimakis Makis Hristodoulopoulos, who used the stage name of "Makis Hristodoulopoulos". Born in 1948, he learned to play guitar and clarinet from a young age.

Hristodoulopoulos began his career singing folk songs for festivals, where he was discovered by Vasilis Saleas. He has written and composed songs for many renowned Greek artists such as Glykeria and others. His music broke records and turned our world upside down.

Song: Ftani Emena Na M' Agapas (As Long As You Love Me), 1987

Greek Version of Lyrics: Andreas Spiropoulos

Music Adaptation for Greek Version: Vasilis Saleas

Original Greek Artist: Makis Hristodoulopoulos

Album: Ragismeni Matia (Cracked Glance)

Has Also Been Recorded By:

In Greek
  • Yiannis Floriniotis. 1987. Different lyrics from the song by Hristodoulopoulos translated on this page. Released under song title "Pes To, Pes To".
  • Nihat Nazar. 2009. Lyrics in both Greek and Arabic. Released with Vasilis Sales as track 19 on the album Mia Vradia Stou Salea.
In Turkish, as Song Titled "Mavi Mavi"
  • İbrahim Ibo Tatlıses. 1985.
  • John Bilezikjian. 1994. "Mavi Mavi" is first song in a medley.
  • Mary Ellen Donald and Mimi Spencer. 1999. On Gems of the Middle East, Volume III.
  • Işın Karaca. 2010.
  • Sibel Cangüre. 2016.
  • Yara Band. 2019.
In Arabic:
  • Aboud Fouad. 1986. Under song title "Mavi Mavi".
  • Semi Semir. 1995. Under song title "Mavi Mavi".
  • Maher Halabi, a Palestinian artist. 1997. Under song title "Mani Mani".

Dance: Belly Dance

Τραγουδι: Φτάνει Να Μ' Αγαπάς, 1987

Στίχοι: Ανδρέας Σπυρόπουλος

Μουσική: Βασίλης Σαλέας

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Ασημάκης Μάκης Χριστοδουλόπουλος

Άλμπουμ: Ραγισμένα Μάτια

Άλλοι Ερμηνευτές:

In Greek
  • Γιάννης Φλωρινιώτης. 1987. Under the song title "Πες Το, Πες Το".
In Turkish, as Song Titled "Μάβι Μάβι"
  • Ιμπραχαιμ Ίμπο Τατλισες. 1985.
  • Ισιουν Καρακα. 2010.
  • Σιμπελ Τζαν. 2016.
In Arabic
  • Άμπουντ Φουάντ. 1986.
  • Σεμι Σεμιρ. 1995.

 

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Lyrics

Numbers in parentheses refer to footnotes that appear at the bottom of the translation.

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

Τα καλά όλου του κόσμου ta kala olou tou kosmou All the good [things] of the world —
θα τα κάνω εγώ δικά σου tha ta kano ego dika sou I will make them yours,
φτάνει εμένα μόνο, φως μου ftani emena mono, fos mou my light, as long as (1)
να 'χεις πάντα στην καρδιά σου na 'his panda stin kardia sou you always have [me] in your heart.
φτάνει εμένα ν' αγαπάς ftani emena n' agapas As long as you love me (1),
και ό'τι θες, ό'τι ζητάς ke o'ti thes, o'ti zitas and whatever you want, whatever you ask for.
     
Φτάνει, φτάνει να μ' αγαπάς ftani, ftani na m' agapas It's enough, it's enough if you love me
και στα μάτια να με κοιτάς ke sta matia na me kitas and look into my eyes.
και θα γίνω, αν το ζητάς ke tha yino, an to zitas And if you ask, I will become
και χαλί να με πατάς ke hali na me patas a rug for you to step on.
Φτάνει, φτάνει να μ' αγαπάς ftani, ftani na m' agapas It's enough, it's enough if you love me
και στα μάτια να με κοιτάς ke sta matia na me kitas and look into my eyes.
και θα γίνω, αν το ζητάς ke tha yino, an to zitas And if you ask, I will become
και χαλί να με πατάς ke hali na me patas a rug for you to step on.
     
Θα περάσεις στο πλευρό μου tha perasis sto plevro mou By my side, you will experience
μια ζωή παραμυθένια mia zoi paramithenia a fairy tale life,
φτάνει να 'μαι εγώ, μωρό μου ftani na 'me ego , moro mou as long as I am, my baby
η μοναδική σου έννοια ee monadiki sou enia the only one you think about —
φτάνει εμένα ν' αγαπάς ftani emena n' agapas as long as you love me,
και ό'τι θες, ό'τι ζητάς ke o'ti thes, o'ti zitas and whatever you want, whatever you ask for.
     
Φτάνει, φτάνει να μ' αγαπάς ftani, ftani na m' agapas It's enough, it's enough if you love me
και στα μάτια να με κοιτάς ke sta matia na me kitas and look into my eyes.
και θα γίνω, αν το ζητάς ke tha yino, an to zitas And if you ask, I will become
και χαλί να με πατάς ke hali na me patas a rug for you to step on.
Φτάνει, φτάνει να μ' αγαπάς ftani, ftani na m' agapas It's enough, it's enough if you love me
και στα μάτια να με κοιτάς ke sta matia na me kitas and look into my eyes.
και θα γίνω, αν το ζητάς ke tha yino, an to zitas And if you ask, I will become
και χαλί να με πατάς ke hali na me patas a rug for you to step on.
     

Instrumental

Instrumental

Instrumental

     
Φτάνει, φτάνει να μ' αγαπάς ftani, ftani na m' agapas It's enough, it's enough if you love me
και στα μάτια να με κοιτάς ke sta matia na me kitas and look into my eyes.
και θα γίνω, αν το ζητάς ke tha yino, an to zitas And if you ask, I will become
και χαλί να με πατάς ke hali na me patas a rug for you to step on.
Φτάνει, φτάνει να μ' αγαπάς ftani, ftani na m' agapas It's enough, it's enough if you love me
και στα μάτια να με κοιτάς ke sta matia na me kitas and look into my eyes.
και θα γίνω, αν το ζητάς ke tha yino, an to zitas And if you ask, I will become
και χαλί να με πατάς ke hali na me patas a rug for you to step on.
  1. The word ftani can mean "enough". But when it appears with another word, as it does in the first verse of this song, the meaning can change. Ftani emena can mean "as long as", which is what it means here.

 

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Related Translations

This song has been released in more than one language. Versions translated on this web site include:

  • Mavi Mavi (Blue, Blue). By İbrahim Tatlıses.

 

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Translations of
Makis Hristodoulopoulos' Songs On This Site

 

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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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