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

Χαλάλι
(Halali Sou)

(All for You)

 

 

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Greek song "Halali Sou" (Χαλάλι), which was sung by Eirini Papadopoulou. Her first name is sometimes spelled as Irini or Irina. 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

"Halali Sou" is the Greek cover version by Eirini Papadopoulou of a 2013 Albanian hit song "Te Ka Lali Shpirt" by Silva Gunbardhi, featuring Mandi & Dafi. This song was a huge hit in the Balkan regions.

In 2015, it was recorded in Arabic under the name "El Layali" by Lebanese singer and model Amal Hijazi. The Arabic lyrics are by Haitham Tarshishi (Χαιθαμ Ταρσισι).

About Eirini Papadopoulou

Eirini Papadopoulou, the original artist who recorded this song, was born in 1985 to Greek parents living in Kazakhstan at the time. The family relocated to Greece when she was a young child. In 2001, she and her older brother starred in the movie August 15th. Papadopoulou achieved her fame through competing on the television singing competition The X Factor Greece in 2008. After the show, she began working as a singer at a nightclub with other prominent Greek artists. Her first success came through a collaboration with composer/lyricist Fivos. She competed on the 2014-2015 season of Greece's Dancing with the Stars, coming in second.

A personal note from the translator regarding Papadopoulou:

I'm proud to say that Eirini is Pontian-born in Kazakhstan and came to Greece when she was 5. She spoke no Greek. Many Pontian families fled to Eastern European countries, and many returned to Greece in the 1990s as a result of war in Eastern Europe.

Eirini has been very vocal about the racism and bullying she received in mainland Greece as a child due to her being an Anatolian Greek child born in Eastern Europe. Many of our Anatolian people who were born in Eastern European countries don't actually identify with the countries where they were born. I have many friends and colleagues from Eastern Europe born to Anatolian Greek parents, and they are offended if you call them native to those regions.

The Anatolian Greeks play a major role in mainstream Greek music, both past and present. We are proud of our contribution.

Song: Halali Sou (All For You), 2019

Lyrics: Sofia Papavasiliou and Alfred Sula

Music: Alfred Sula

Original Artist: Eirini Papadopoulou
Featuring: Stamatis Houhoulis

Dance Style: Latin with Belly Dance Flair

Album: Halali (Single)

Τραγούδι: Χαλάλι, 2019

Στίχοι: Σοφία Παπαβασιλείου & Αλφρεντ Σουλα

Μουσική: Αλφρεντ Σουλα

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Ειρήνη Παπαδοπούλου
Συμμετέχουν: Σταμάτης Χουχούλης

Άλμπουμ: Χαλάλι (Single)

 

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Lyrics

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

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation
Για χαλάλι σου ya halali sou All for you, (1)
και χαλάλι μας ke halali mas and all for us, (1)
για χαλάλι, κι άλλα ya halali, ke ala all worth it, (1) and other things
θα 'κανα για μας tha 'kana ya mas I would do for us.
Για χαλάλι σου ya halali sou All for you (1)
και χαλάλι μας ke halali mas and all for us (1)
για χαλάλι τώρα ya halali tora all worth it now (1)
όπου κι αν γυρνάς opou ke an yirnas no matter where you wander to.
     
Λες πως με θέλεις, λες les pos me thelis, les You say you want me, you say,
μα, το πείσμα σου ma, to pisma sou but your stubbornness
άλλα δείχνει, δες ala dihni, des shows otherwise, you see.
πες τι ζητάς, τι θες pes ti zitas, ti thes Say what you're asking for, what you want.
με τουπέ μη' λες me toupe mi' les Don't say with attitude,
μόνο υπερβολές mono ipervoles only exaggerations.
     
Χαλάλι ΛαΛα halali lala Worth it (1), la la (2)
Λάλι Λα, Λα lali la, la Lali, la la (2)
Χαλάλι λέει η καρδιά halali lei ee kardia "All worth it," (1) says the heart.
Χαλάλι ΛαΛα halali lala Worth it (1), la la (2)
Λάλι Λα, Λα lali la, la Lali, la la (2)
Χαλάλι, κι ας με πονάς halali, ke as me ponas Worth it (1), even if you hurt me.
     
Για χαλάλι σου ya halali sou All for you, (1)
και χαλάλι μας ke halali mas and all for us, (1)
για χαλάλι, κι άλλα ya halali, ke ala all worth it, (1) and other things
θα 'κανα για μας tha 'kana ya mas I would do for us.
Για χαλάλι σου ya halali sou All for you (1)
και χαλάλι μας ke halali mas and all for us (1)
για χαλάλι τώρα ya halali tora all worth it now (1)
όπου κι αν γυρνάς opou ke an yirnas no matter where you wander to.
     
Πες, μόνο εμένα θες pes, mono emena thes Say [that] you only want me,
πως με ξέχασες pos me xehases that you forgot about me.
άκουσα να λες akousa na les I heard you say
φταις, που σε θέλω, φταίς ftes, pou se thelo, ftes it's your fault that I want you, your fault.
μοιάζω δυνατή miazo dinati I look strong,
μα δεν είμαι, δες ma den ime, des but I'm not, you see.
     
Χαλάλι ΛαΛα halali lala Worth it (1), la la (2)
Λάλι Λα, Λα lali la, la Lali, la la (2)
Χαλάλι λέει η καρδιά halali lei ee kardia "All worth it," (1) says the heart.
Χαλάλι ΛαΛα halali lala Worth it (1), la la (2)
Λάλι Λα, Λα lali la, la Lali, la la (2)
Χαλάλι, κι ας με πονάς halali, ke as me ponas Worth it (1), even if you hurt me.
     
Για χαλάλι σου ya halali sou All for you, (1)
και χαλάλι μας ke halali mas and all for us, (1)
για χαλάλι, κι άλλα ya halali, ke ala all worth it, (1) and other things
θα 'κανα για μας tha 'kana ya mas I would do for us.
Για χαλάλι σου ya halali sou All for you (1)
και χαλάλι μας ke halali mas and all for us (1)
για χαλάλι τώρα ya halali tora all worth it now (1)
όπου κι αν γυρνάς opou ke an yirnas no matter where you wander to.
  1. Greeks use the expression "halali sou" when they have done something for someone. They use it in the same way English speakers might say "No worries," or "It was nothing." However, the Greek expression implies something more valuable, because the person did something or gave something from the heart, selflessly, with no regrets. The one doing the good deed wants nothing in return, and is effectively saying, "My pleasure" or "It was all for your benefit, enjoy it." It could refer to sacrificing, offering, or spending something, "For you, all for you." It could be something of very high monetary value, something rare, or even nice gesture. The word comes from the Turkish and Arabic word halal. In Greek, it's a very common term. Although the above translation says, "All worth it," that's not a direct translation. The Greek word for "All worth it" is axize.
  2. These are just musical nonsense syllables, similar to "tra la la".

 

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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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