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 rebetiko song "Serah" (Σεράχ), which was sung by Marika Ninou, Yiannis Salasidis, Athanasios Giannopoulos, and Vasilis Tsitsanis. Also included is a pronunciation guide for the Greek lyrics so you can sing along if you like.

Although the lyrics of this song are sad, it could still be appropriate to use it when performing tsifteteli (belly dance).

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 Marika Ninou

Marika Ninou was one of the original quartet of musicians who debuted this song.

Marika Ninou was an Armenian-Greek rebetiko singer. She began her musical training as a child in school, learning to play the mandolin and becoming a chanter at the Armenian church. After she married Nikos Nikolaides in 1944, the couple became known as the Duo Nino. As others in the music industry heard her sing, she was offered additional opportunities to advance her career. By 1949, Ninou was working with Vasilis Tsitsanis at Fat Jimmy's, a club that provided continued opportunities for both. Tragically, Ninou became ill with cancer. Although she was still recording new music as of 1955, her health was already declining, and she died in 1957 at the young age of 39.

About Vasilis Tsitsanis

Vasilis Tsitsanis was the composer and lyricist for this song, and also one of the quartet of original artists that introduced the song to the world.

Tsitsanis was a versatile musician who learned to play violin, mandola, mandolin, and bouzouki. He collaborated with a number of singers to record the songs he had composed, with him accompanying them on bouzouki. His music helped launch several of his collaborators to fame and successful careers.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Vasilis Tsitsanis as a young man.

About Eleftheria Arvanitaki

Eleftheria Arvanitaki, one of the artists to record 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: Serah (Serah), 1946

Lyrics: Vasilis Tsitsanis

Music: Vasilis Tsitsanis

Original Artists: Marika Ninou, Yiannis Salasidis, Athanasios Giannopoulos & Vasilis Tsitsanis

Has Also Been Recorded By:

• Eleftheria Arvanitaki

Dance Style: Belly Dancing

Τραγούδι: Η Σεράχ, 1946

Στίχοι:  Βασίλης Τσιτσάνης

Μουσική:  Βασίλης Τσιτσάνης

Πρώτη εκτέλεση:  Μαρίκα Νίνου, Γιάννης Σαλασίδης, Αθανάσιος Γιαννόπουλος & Βασίλης Τσιτσάνης

Άλλοι Ερμηνευτές:

• Ελεύθερία Αρβανιτάκη

Greek Lyrics

Pronunciation

English Translation

Verse

Verse

Verse

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Verse

Verse

Verse

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

• Ala Tourka Horepse Mou (Dance for Me in Turkish Style)
• Arapiko Louloudi (Arabian Flower)
• Arapines, Nihtes Magikes (Arab Women, Magical Nights)
• Gia Kita Kosme Ena Kormi (Why, Look! What a Body!)
• Gülbahar
• Kavourakia (The Little Crabs)

• Serah
• Ximeroni Ke Vradiazi (Dawn Comes and Nightfall Comes)
• Zaira

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.