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

Είμαι Ερωτευμένος Με Τα Μάτια Σου
(Ime Erotevmenos Me Ta Matia Sou)

(I'm in Love with Your Eyes)

 

 

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Greek song "Ime Erotevmenos Me Ta Matia Sou" (Είμαι Ερωτευμένος Με Τα Μάτια Σου), which was sung by Chrisoula Stini and Nikos Gounaris. Also included is a pronunciation guide for 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.

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 Eleftheria Arvanitaki

Eleftheria Arvanitaki, another artist who has recorded this song, is a Greek folk singer known for singing rebetiko, laiko, and jazz musical styles. Born in 1957, she started her singing career as a member of the ensemble Opisthodromiki Kompania (Retrograde Company) that performed rebetiko music. She then spun off to launch a solo singing career in 1984 with an album that bore her name. She has toured extensively to perform at festivals and other live music events. Arvanitaki performed in the closing ceremony for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens.

Song: Ime Erotevmenos Me Ta Matia Sou (I'm in Love with Your Eyes), 1934

Lyrics: Kostas Kofiniotis

Music: Yiannis Bellas

Original Artist: Hrisoula Stini & Nikos Gounaris

Has Also Been Recorded By:

  • Eleftheria Arvanitaki, 1987, 1993

Album: Ta Romantika Tou Gramofonou #1 (The Romance/Romantic of the Gramophone)

Dance Style: Hasaposerviko

Τραγούδι: Είμαι Ερωτευμένος Με Τα Μάτια Σου, 1934

Στίχοι: Κώστας Κοφινιώτης

Μουσική: Γιάννης Βέλλας

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Χρυσούλα Στίνη & Νίκος Γούναρης

Άλλοι Ερμηνευτές:

  • Ελεύθερία Αρβανιτάκη, 1987, 1993

Άλμπουμ: Τα Ρομαντικά Του Γραμμόφωνου #1

 

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Lyrics

As noted above, the original version of this song was released in 1934, with Hrisoula Stini & Nikos Gounaris as the original artists. Half a century later, Eleftheria Arvanitaki re-released it in 1987.

 

Original 1934 Version by Chrisoula Stini & Nikos Gounaris

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

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

Για τα δυο σου μάτια τα γαλάζια
ya ta dio sou matia ta galazia for your two blue(1) eyes,
που 'ναι όλο χάδι και όλο νάζια
pou 'ne olo hadi ke olo nazia that's all about caresses and teasing.
κάθε μου αγάπη έδιωξα παλιά
kathe mou agapi edioxa palia I broke up with every one one of my lovers in the past (2),
και γυρνώ μες στα κρασοπουλιά ke yirno mes sta krasopoulia and I hang around the wine bars.
     
Τι και αν με ψευτιές με ξεγελούνε
ti ke an me psefties me xegeloune And if with lies the [eyes] trick me,
τι και αν με άλλους μ' έρωτα κοιτούνε
ti ke an me alous m' erota kitoune and if they [eyes] look at others with lust
δεν μπορώ στιγμή εγώ να τ' αρνηθώ
den boro stigmi ego na t' arnitho and can't for a second deny them [eyes]
και άλλα μάτια να ερωτευτώ ke ala matia na erotefto and other eyes for me to fall in love with.
     
Είμ' ερωτευμένος με τα μάτια σου ime erotevmenos me ta matia sou I'm in love with your eyes,
μάτια σου matia sou your eyes.
στο `χα πει και πάντα θα στο λέω sto 'ha pi ke panta tha sto leo I've told you, and I will always tell you,
στο λέω sto leo I tell you,
και αν τα χάσω, μπρος στα σκαλοπάτια σου

ke an ta haso, bros sta skalopatia sou and if I lose it, towards your steps.
οοο ποπο ooo popo ohhh my oohhhh
νύχτες αξημέρωτες θα κλαίω nihtes aximerotes tha kleo endless nights I will cry
     
Μπορώ να γίνω και φονιάς boro na yino ke fonias I can even become a killer,
και ας γελά μαζί μου ο ντουνιάς ke as yelai mazi mou o dunias and so let the world laugh with me.
     
Είμ' ερωτευμένος με τα μάτια σου ime erotevmenos me ta matia sou I'm in love with your eyes,
μάτια σου
matia sou your eyes.
στο `χα πει και πάντα θα στο λέω sto 'ha pi ke panta tha sto leo I've told you, and I will always tell you.
     

Instrumental

Instrumental

Instrumental

     
Σα' να έχουν ρθει απ' τα ουράνια
sa' na ehun 'rthi ap' ta ourania as if they came from skies
και κοιτούν με τόση περηφάνια
ke kitun me tosi perifania and are looking with such pride
τα ματάκια αυτά που ανάβουνε φωτιές
ta matakia afta pou anavoune foties these [cute little] eyes that light fires
όπου που λεν' του κόσμου τις ψευτιές opou pou len' tou kosmou tis psefties and where they tell the world's [biggest] lies.
     
Μπρός της χαμηλώνουνε τ' αστέρια
bros tis hamilonoune t' asteria in front of [her eyes] the stars are lowering
και έρχονται οι βλάμηδες στα χέρια
ke erhonde ee vlamides sta heria and the vlamides have taken up arms [fighting] (3)
μάτια όποιος τα  'δε μόνο μια βραδιά
matia opios ta 'de mono mia vradia eyes that if someone only saw one night
έπαθε ζημιά μες' στην καρδιά epathe zimia mes' stin kardia had damage inside the heart
     
Είμ' ερωτευμένος με τα μάτια σου im' erotevmenos me ta matia sou I'm in love with your eyes,
μάτια σου
matia sou your eyes.
στο `χα πει και πάντα θα στο λέω sto 'ha pi ke panta tha sto leo I've told you, and I will always tell you.
     
στο λέω sto leo I tell you.
και αν τα χάσω, μπρος στα σκαλοπάτια σου

ke an ta haso, bros sta skalopatia sou And if I lose it, towards your steps
οοο ποπο
ooo popo ohhh my oohhhh
νύχτες αξημέρωτες θα κλαίω nihtes aximerotes tha kleo endless nights I will cry.
     
Μπορώ να γίνω και φονιάς boro na yino ke fonias I can even become a killer
και ας γελά μαζί μου ο ντουνιάς
ke as yelai mazi mou o dunias and so let the world laugh with me
     
Είμ' ερωτευμένος με τα μάτια σου
ime erotevmenos me ta matia sou I'm in love with your eyes,
μάτια σου
matia sou your eyes.
στο `χα πει και πάντα θα στο λέω
sto 'ha pi ke panta tha sto leo I've told you, and I will always tell you,
  1. Galazio technically means a green and blue mix of color. It's part of the blue color family: a lighter shade, but not exactly light blue.
  2. The order of the words is a little different in Greek.
  3. Today the word vlamides is similar to the meaning of the word manga. (See the translation for Oi Mangas Den Yparxoun Pia for more information about mangas in Greek culture.) However, vlamides can also apply to two people who became a brotherhood via black magic, a priest or other ways.

 

1987 Version by Eleftheria Arvanitaki

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

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

Για τα δυο της μάτια τα γαλάζια
ya ta dio tis matia ta galazia for her two blue(1) eyes
που 'ναι όλο χάρι και όλο νάζια
pou 'ne olo hari ke olo nazia that's all about joy and teasing
κάθε μου αγάπη έδιωξα παλιά
kathe mou agapi edioxa palia I broke up with every one one of my lovers in the past (2),
και γυρνώ μες στα κρασοπουλιά ke yirno mes sta krasopoulia and I hang around the wine bars
     
Τι και αν με ψευτιές με ξεγελούνε
ti ke an me psefties me xegeloune And if with lies the [eyes] trick me,
τι και αν άλλους μ' έρωτα κοιτούνε
ti ke an alous m' erota kitoune and if they [eyes] look at others with lust
δεν μπορώ στιγμή εγώ να τ' αρνηθώ
den boro stigmi ego na t' arnitho and can't for a second deny them [eyes]
και άλλα μάτια να ερωτευτώ ke ala matia na erotefto and other eyes for me to fall in love with.
     
Είμ' ερωτευμένος με τα μάτια σου ime erotevmenos me ta matia sou I'm in love with your eyes,
Τα μάτια σου ta matia sou your eyes.
στο `χα πει και πάντα θα στο λέω sto 'ha pi ke panta tha sto leo I've told you, and I will always tell you,
και αν τα χάσω, μπρος στα σκαλοπάτια σου

ke an ta haso, bros sta skalopatia sou and if I lose it, towards your steps.
οοο ποπο ooo popo ohhh my oohhhh
νύχτες αξημέρωτες θα κλαίω nihtes aximerotes tha kleo endless nights I will cry
     
Μπορώ να γίνω και φονιάς boro na yino ke fonias I can even become a killer,
και ας γελά μαζί μου ο ντουνιάς ke as yelai mazi mou o dunias and so let the world laugh with me.
     
Είμ' ερωτευμένος με τα μάτια σου ime erotevmenos me ta matia sou I'm in love with your eyes,
Τα μάτια σου
ta matia sou your eyes.
στο `χα πει και πάντα θα στο λέω sto 'ha pi ke panta tha sto leo I've told you, and I will always tell you,
     
Σα' να έχουν έρθει απ' τα ουράνια
sa' na ehun erthi ap' ta ourania as if they came from skies
και κοιτούν με τόση περηφάνια
ke kitun me tosi perifania and are looking with such pride
τα ματάκια αυτά που ανάβουνε φωτιές
ta matakia afta pou anvoune foties these [cute little] eyes that light fires
και που λεν' του κόσμου τις ψευτιές ke pou len' tou kosmou tis psefties and who tell the world's [biggest] lies.
     
Μπρος τους χαμηλώνουνε τ' αστέρια
bros tous hamilonoune t' asteria in front of [the eyes] the stars are lowering
και έρχονται οι βλάμηδες στα χέρια
ke erhonde ee vlamides sta heria and the vlamides have taken up arms [fighting] (3)
μάτια που όποιος τα  'δε μόνο μια βραδιά
matia pou opios ta 'de mono mia vradia eyes that if someone only saw one night
έπαθε ζημιά μες' στην καρδιά epathe zimia mes' stin kardia had damage inside the heart
     
Είμ' ερωτευμένος με τα μάτια σου ime erotevmenos me ta matia sou I'm in love with your eyes,
Τα μάτια σου ta matia sou your eyes.
στο `χα πει και πάντα θα στο λέω sto 'ha pi ke panta tha sto leo I've told you, and I will always tell you,
στο λέω sto leo I tell you,
και αν τα χάσω, μπρος στα σκαλοπάτια σου

ke an ta haso, bros sta skalopatia sou and if I lose it, towards your steps.
οοο ποπο ooo popo ohhh my oohhhh
νύχτες αξημέρωτες θα κλαίω nihtes aximerotes tha kleo endless nights I will cry
     
Μπορώ να γίνω και φονιάς boro na yino ke fonias I can even become a killer,
και ας γελά μαζί μου ο ντουνιάς ke as yelai mazi mou o dunias and so let the world laugh with me.
     
Είμ' ερωτευμένος με τα μάτια σου ime erotevmenos me ta matia sou I'm in love with your eyes,
Τα μάτια σου Ta matia sou your eyes.
στο `χα πει και πάντα θα στο λέω sto 'ha pi ke panta tha sto leo I've told you, and I will always tell you,
  1. Galazio technically means a green and blue mix of color. It's part of the blue color family: a lighter shade, but not exactly light blue.
  2. The order of the words is a little different in Greek.
  3. Today the word vlamides is similar to the meaning of the word manga. (See the translation for Oi Mangas Den Yparxoun Pia for more information about mangas in Greek culture.) However, vlamides can also apply to two people who became a brotherhood via black magic, a priest or other ways.

 

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Translations of Songs Recorded by
Eleftheria Arvanitaki On This Site

Translations on this web site of songs performed by Eleftheria Arvanitaki include:

 

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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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