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 "Ligo Ligo tha me Sinithisis" (Λίγο λίγο θα με συνηθίσεις). It was sung by Nikos Xanthopoulos in the 1965 movie Kardia Mou Papse Na Ponas (Καρδιά μου πάψε να πονάς), which means My Heart, Stop Being in Pain. Also included is a pronunciation guide for the Greek lyrics so you can sing along if you like.

In 1969, the Turkish singer Semiramis Pekkan (a younger sister of Ajda Pekkan) released a version in Turkish named "Olmaz Olmaz Bu İş Olamaz".

The 1959 Bollywood movie Ujala featured a Hindi version of this song titled "Jhoomta Mausam Mast Mahina", sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Manna Dey.

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 Nikos Xanthopoulos

Nikos Xanthopoulos, an ethnic Pontian (Greek Anatolian from present day Turkish Black Sea), is one of my all time favorites. He was born in Athens on March 14, 1934. He rose to fame as a highly accomplished actor, singer and bouzouki player. He sang in nearly all the movies he was featured in.

Xanthopoulos is also a war survivor of the German Nazi occupation in Greece. Those years were devasting, not only for the Jewish people, but also for the Greeks as well. Full villages of ethnic Greeks were wiped out.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: The caption on the photo of Xanthopoulos says, "To agapimeno paidi tou laou," which means, "The most beloved kid of the people."

The roles Xanthopoulos played consistently depicted a hard life in poverty, and falling in love with someone from a different social class. The Greek people were truly able to relate to him as conditions in the country were extremely poor and depressing. Everyone could relate to his characters, and thus led the whole country to fall in love with him!

About Eftihia Papagiannopoulou

Eftihia Papagiannopoulou was the lyricist for this song. Her nickname was EE Gria (the old lady).

The legendary Eftihia Xatzigeorgiou (Papayiannopoulou) was born in 1893, in the city of Aydin, which is close to Smyrna (today known as Izmir in Turkey). As a Greek Anatolian refugee, she felt the life, pain and suffering. Her talents as a lyricist in the 1950s through 1960s drew the attention of some of the greatest Laiko – Rebetes of that time. Her collaborations Apostolos Kaldaras, Stelios Kazandzidis, Vasilis Tsitsanis and Manos Hadjidakis, Manolis Hiotis, Babis Bakalis, to name a few.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Eftihia Papayiannopoulou.

Eftihia had a falling out with Stelios Kazandzidis and Vasilis Tsitsanis regarding lyrics and intellectual property rights. In this era, women were not highly regarded and respected. The man always dominated and had the final word. Many of these men did not want others to know that there was a women behind their successful songs.

There is much judgment and criticism againt Eftihia Papayiannopoulou because she was an avid tzogadora (gambler). She lost her husband and daughter all within a close period, which led her to turn to it. Gambling is an addiction, and they should not be judged. In her desperation to have fast money she felt the need to sell the rights to her songs as opposed to retaining the rights to obtain a commission.

One of Eftihia's favorite quotes:

“Efhome stous neous na stadiodromisoun sto Laiko tragoudi, pou to opio pote den tha pethani efoson iparxoune Ellines”

(Εύχομαι στους νέους να σταδιοδρομήσουν στο Λαικό τραγούδι, που το οπίο δεν θα πεθάνη ποτέ εφόσον υπάρχουν Έλληνες).

“I hope for the young to follow careers in Laiko song/music, that in which will never die, as long as there are Hellines/Greeks”.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Eftihia Papayiannopoulou.

Eftihia is credited for writing hundreds of songs; however, it is unknown how many additional songs she wrote that were never credited to her. In her honor, actress Nena Mendi, produced a theatrical play in Greece called The Unkown Eftihia Papagiannopoulou.

Panayiota compiled the above information from her personal library of books, music albums, videos, and magazines, as well as through conversations with musician family members.

About Apostolos Kaldaras

Apostolos Kaldaras was a musician who composed, wrote lyrics, sang, and played bouzouki (a stringed musical instrument). He was born in Trikala, Greece in 1922, at the time refugees from Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) began to arrive in mainland Greece. He was exposed to the rebetiko music and the bouzouki as a child, as a result of the contact he had with the refugees, and it lit a fire that lasted his whole life.

Over the course of his music career, Kaldaras worked with many of the great artists of the rebetiko genre. He passed away in 1990.

Lyrics: Eftihia Papagiannopoulou

Music: Apostolos Kaldaras

Original Artists: Mihalis Menidiatis & Sofia Kollitiri (duet)

Has Also Been Recorded By:

• Nikos Xanthopoulos, 1965, in Greek, in the movie Kardia Mou Papse Na Ponas
• Sofia Papazoglou
• Lata Mangeshkar and Manna Dey, 1959, in Hindi ("Jhoomta Mausam Mast Mahina"), in the Bollywood movie Ujala
• Semiramis Pekkan, 1968, in Turkish ("Olmaz Olmaz Bu İş Olamaz")

Dance Style: Belly Dancing

Στίχοι: Ευτυχία Παπαγιαννοπούλου

Μουσική: Απόστολος Καλδάρας

Πρώτη εκτέλεση: Μιχάλης Μενιδιάτης

Άλλοι Ερμηνευτές:

• Nίκος Ξανθόπουλος
• Σοφία Κολλητήρη (Ντουέτο)
• Σεμιραμις Πεκκαν, 1968, Στα Τουρκικά ("Ολμαζ Ολμαζ Μπου Ις Ολμαζ")

Χορός: Οριεντάλ, Χορό Της Κοιλιάς, Ανατολίτικος Χορός, Τσιφτετέλι, Χανούμικο, Κελικός Χορός

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Instrumental

Instrumental

Instrumental

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

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.