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

Παραδέχτηκα
(Paradehtika)

(I Acknowledge)

 

 

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Greek song "Paradehtika" (Παραδέχτηκα), which was sung by Alkistis Protopsalti. 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 Alkistis Protopsalti

Alkistis Protopsalti, the original artist to perform this song, is the stage name for Alkistis Sevasti Attikiouzel. She was born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt as an Egyptian Greek.  Due to political turmoil, her family eventually moved to Greece. She performed along with other singers at the closing ceremony for the Olympic Games when Greece hosted it in 2004. In 2015, she was the Deputy Minister of Tourism for Greece.

Song: Paradehtika (I Acknowledge), 1991

Lyrics: Lina Nikolakopoulou

Music: Goran Bregovic

Original Artist: Alkistis Protopsalti

Dance: Karsilamas

Album: Paradehtika (I Admit It)

Τραγούδι: Παραδέχτηκα, 1991

Στίχοι: Λίνα Νικολακοπούλου

Μουσική: Γοραν Μπρεγκοβικ

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση: Άλκηστις Σεβαστή Αττικιουζέλ (Άλκηστις Πρωτοψάλτη)

Άλμπουμ: Παραδέχτηκα

 

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Lyrics

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

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation
Παραδέχτηκα paradehtika I acknowledge
και ζωή και θάνατο ke zoi ke thanato both life and death.
σ' ονειρεύτηκα s' onireftika I dreamed of you
σαν λουλούδι αθάνατο san louloudi athanato like an eternal flower.
Παραδέχτηκα paradehtika I acknowledge
και ζωή και θάνατο ke zoi ke thanato both life and death,
Κaι άλλο δε' φοβάμαι πια ke alo de' fovame pia and no longer am I afraid.
     
Αχ, μια ξενιτιά ah, mia xenitia Oh, foreign lands,
'τούτη η φωτιά 'touti ee fotia this fire [burning me],
ψεύτη νοτιά psefti notia lying wind.
     
Παραδέχτηκα paradehtika I acknowledge
και ζωή και θάνατο ke zoi ke thanato both life and death,
Κaι άλλο δε' φοβάμαι πια ke alo de' fovame pia and no longer am I afraid.
     

Αααα, αααα, αααα, αααα

 Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh, ahhh Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh, ahhh
     
Παραδέχτηκα paradehtika I acknowledge
και ζωή και θάνατο ke zoi ke thanato both life and death,
Κaι άλλο δε' φοβάμαι πια ke alo de' fovame pia and no longer am I afraid.
     

Instrumental

Instrumental

Instrumental
     
Μονοπάτι μου monopati mou My path:
δυο τσιγάρα νότια dio tsigara notia two cigarettes [to the south].
για κρεβάτι μου ya krevati mou For my bed:
δυο χαρτοκιβώτια dio hartokivotia two [cardboard] cartons.
για κρεβάτι μου ya krevati mou For my bed:
δυο χαρτοκιβώτια dio hartokivotia two [cardboard] cartons,
κaι ένα γράμμα συντροφιά ke ena grama sidrofia and a letter as companion
     
Αχ, μια ξενιτιά ah, mia xenitia Oh, foreign lands,
'τούτη η φωτιά 'touti ee fotia this fire [burning me],
ψεύτη νοτιά psefti notia lying wind.
     
Παραδέχτηκα paradehtika I acknowledge
και ζωή και θάνατο ke zoi ke thanato both life and death,
Κaι άλλο δε' φοβάμαι πια ke alo de' fovame pia and no longer am I afraid.
     

Αααα, αααα, αααα, αααα

 Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh, ahhh Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh, ahhh
     
Παραδέχτηκα paradehtika I acknowledge
και ζωή και θάνατο ke zoi ke thanato both life and death,
Κaι άλλο δε' φοβάμαι πια ke alo de' fovame pia and no longer am I afraid.
     

Instrumental

Instrumental

Instrumental
     

Drum Solo

Drum Solo

Drum Solo
     
Παραδέχτηκα paradehtika I acknowledge
δυο σκυλιά που τρέχανε dio skilia pou trehane two dogs that were running.
κaι ότι ανέχτηκα ke oti anehtika And what I put up with
λίγο λίγο μ' έχανε ligo ligo m' ehane little by little was losing me.
κaι ότι ανέχτηκα ke oti anehtika And what I put up with
λίγο λίγο μ' έχανε ligo ligo m' ehane little by little was losing me
Μεσ' στην άσπρη συννεφιά mes' stin aspri sinefia in the white cloudiness.
     
Αχ, μια ξενιτιά ah, mia xenitia Oh, foreign lands,
'τούτη η φωτιά 'touti ee fotia this fire [burning me],
ψεύτη νοτιά psefti notia lying wind.
     
Παραδέχτηκα paradehtika I acknowledge
και ζωή και θάνατο ke zoi ke thanato both life and death,
Κaι άλλο δε' φοβάμαι πια ke alo de' fovame pia and no longer am I afraid.
     

Αααα, αααα, αααα, αααα

 Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh, ahhh Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh, ahhh
     
Παραδέχτηκα paradehtika I acknowledge
και ζωή και θάνατο ke zoi ke thanato both life and death,
Κaι άλλο δε' φοβάμαι πια ke alo de' fovame pia and no longer am I afraid.

 

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Translations of
Alkistis Protopsaltis' Songs On This Site

Translations on this web site of songs performed by Giorgos Alkaios 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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