Filler
Photo of Shira

 

 

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

Μία είναι η ουσία
(Mia Einai I Ousia)

(The Point Is)

 

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Greek song "Mia Einai I Ousia" (Μία είναι η ουσία), which was sung by Haris Alexiou. 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 Haris Alexiou

Haris Alexiou is the professional name for Hariklia Roupaka (Χαρίκλεια Ρουπάκα). She was born in 1950 in Greece. She became successful as a rebetiko singer in the 1970's, and today is considered one of the most popular vocalists in Greece. She has recorded more than 30 albums of her own, and more than 20 of those have achieved either gold or platinum status.

Haris Alexiou

About Christos Nikolopoulos

According to imdb.com, Christos Nikolopoulos (Χρήστος Νικολόπουλος) was born on July 11, 1947 in Kamohori, Imathia, Greece. His first taste of learning to play music as a child came when his cousin showed him how to play a few things on the accordion. Later, he borrowed his older brother's bouzouki and learned to play that. Eventually, he attended music school, learning to read music and play by ear.

To help out his family financially, Nikolopoulos began to play professionally at the age of 14 years old. At age 16, he relocated to Athens to advance his musical career, often playing for just a meal. In 1968, his compositions came to the attention of famous singer Marinella. She introduced his songs to her ex-husband Stelios Kazantzidis. These connections helped Nikolopoulos achieve his first major hit song as a composer, "Νυχτερίδες κι αράχνες" ("Bats and Spiders"). He went on to compose many songs which have become part of Greece's cultural legacy.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Christos Nikolopoulos plays his bouzouki.

Christos Nikolopoulos
Song: Mia Einai i Ousia – The Point Is, 1984

Lyrics: Lefteris Hapsiadis

Music: Christos Nikolopoulos

Original Artist: Haroula (Haris) Alexiou
Τραγούδι: Μία είναι η ουσία, 1984

Στίχοι: Λευτέρης Χαψιάδης 

Μουσική: Χρήστος Νικολόπουλος

Πρώτη εκτέλεση: Χαρούλα Αλεξίου

 

---------------

Lyrics

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

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Μία είναι η ουσία Mia einai i ousia The point is (1),
δεν υπάρχει αθανασία  den iparhi athanasia there is no immortality.
Άιντε μία είναι η ουσία ainte mia ine ee ousia Come on now, the point is,
δεν υπάρχει αθανασία  den iparhi athanasia there is no immortality
     

Verse

Verse

Verse

Αχ και του παράδεισου η κοιλάδα ah ke tou paradisou ee kilada Ah, and in heaven's paradise valleys
δεν χωράει την Ελλάδα  den horai tin Ellada Greece doesn't fit. (2)
     
Να 'σουνα, Θεέ μου πότης na ‘souna, The-e mou potis God, if only you were an alcoholic,
να σωθεί η ανθρωπότης na sothi ee anthropotis so humanity could be saved.
στο μεθύσι σου απάνω sto methisi sou apano While you were intoxicated,
να μαχαίρωνες το Χάρο na maherones to haro you could stab the Grim Reaper (3)
     

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Μία είναι η ουσία Mia einai i ousia The point is,
δεν υπάρχει αθανασία  den iparhi athanasia there is no immortality.
Άιντε μία είναι η ουσία ainte mia ine ee ousia Come on now, the point is,
δεν υπάρχει αθανασία  den iparhi athanasia there is no immortality
     

Verse

Verse

Verse

Άιντε ν' αρρωστήσει ο Άγιος Πέτρος  ainde n’ arostisi o Agios Petros Come on, if only Saint Peter would get sick (4)
να τη βγάλουμε και φέτος na ti vgaloume ke fetos so we can survive this year
     
Να 'σουνα, Θεέ μου πότης na ‘souna, The-e mou potis God, if only you were an alcoholic
να σωθεί η ανθρωπότης na sothi ee anthropotis so humanity may be saved.
στο μεθύσι σου απάνω sto methisi sou apano While you were intoxicated,
να μαχαίρωνες το Χάρο na maherones to haro you could stab the Grim Reaper.
     
Να 'σουνα, Θεέ μου πότης na ‘souna, The-e mou potis God, if only you were an alcoholic
να σωθεί η ανθρωπότης na sothi ee anthropotis so humanity may be saved.
στο μεθύσι σου απάνω sto methisi sou apano While you were intoxicated,
να μαχαίρωνες το Χάρο na maherones to haro you could stab the Grim Reaper.
  1. The literal translation of the Greek is, "there is only one essence", but it means the same thing as the English expression "the point is".
  2. In other words, Greece doesn't fit inside the Garden of Eden, or Paradise.
  3. In ancient Greek mythology, Charon was the son of Erebus (darkness) and Nyx (goddess of the night). In modern Greek the word Haro (referencing Charon) is frequently in the same way the Grim Reaper or Death might be referenced in English. For example, "Htipise o Haros tin porta" means "Death was knocking on my door."
  4. In Christian folklore, Saint Peter sits at the gates of heaven to welcome those who have died.

 

---------------

Translations of
Haris Alexiou's Songs On This Site

Songs performed by Haris Alexiou that have translations on this web site include:

  • Kegome, Kegome (I'm Burning, I'm Burning). There are several different songs with this title. This refers to the one featured in the movie Rembetiko.
  • Mana Glikia (Sweet Mother)
  • Mia Einai I Ousia (The Point Is)

 

---------------

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

 

 

---------------

Copyright Notice

This entire web site is copyrighted. All rights reserved.

All articles, images, forms, scripts, directories, and product reviews on this web site are the property of Shira unless a different author/artist is identified. Material from this web site may not be posted on any other web site unless permission is first obtained from Shira.

Academic papers for school purposes may use information from this site only if the paper properly identifies the original article on Shira.net using appropriate citations (footnotes, end notes, etc.) and bibliography. Consult your instructor for instructions on how to do this.

If you wish to translate articles from Shira.net into a language other than English, Shira will be happy to post your translation here on Shira.net along with a note identifying you as the translator. This could include your photo and biography if you want it to. Contact Shira for more information. You may not post translations of Shira's articles on anybody else's web site, not even your own.

If you are a teacher, performer, or student of Middle Eastern dance, you may link directly to any page on this web site from either your blog or your own web site without first obtaining Shira's permission. Click here for link buttons and other information on how to link.

 

 

Explore more belly dance info:

Top >
Belly Dancing >
Middle Eastern Culture >
Index to Middle Eastern Music Section

 

Share this page!

On Facebook
 

 

 Top > Belly Dancing > Middle Eastern Culture > Index to Middle Eastern Music Section

| Contact Shira | Links | Search this Site |