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 "Ximeroni k Vradiazi" (Ξημερώνει Κ Βραδιάζει), which was sung by the trio of Marika Ninou, Vasilis Tsitsanis, and Prodromos Tsaousakis. 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 this Song

There is a 1970 version of this song with Turkish lyrics called "Bir Gün Elime Düşersin" (Μπιρ Γκουν Ελιμε Ντουσερσιν), sung by Semiramis Pekkan (Σεμιραμις Πεκκαν). She was a Turkish singer who made more than 30 single records, and she acted in 20 films from 1964-1975. She ended her career in show business after getting married.

About Vasilis Tsitsanis

Vasilis Tsitsanis was the composer and lyricist for this song, and was also one of the original trio of vocalists to record it.

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 Marika Ninou

Marika Ninou was one of the original trio 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 Prodromos Tsaousakis

Prodromos Tsaousakis was the stage name of Prodromos Moutafoglou, a highly respected laiko/rebetiko musician who was one of the trio of vocalists to record the original version of this song. He was born in 1919 in Constantinople (Istanbul). He arrived in Greece at the tender age of three. Prodromos began his performing career in Thessaloniki around the late 1940's by spending time in various venues, which eventually led to being hired. His first collaboration was with the legendary Vasilis Tsitsanis. He then went on to work with many additional notable artists. The then-young Stelios Kazantzidis was a major fan and follower of Prodromos. They went on to collaborate musically, but later had a fallout. Up until a heart attack ended his life in 1979, he was very successful throughout Greece as a singer and songwriter.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Prodromos Tsaousakis holds a bouzouki (musical instrument).

About Markos Vamvakaris

Markos Vamvakaris (Μάρκος Βαμβακάρης) was part of a second trio that recorded Ximeroni k Vradiazi later in 1949. He was born May 10, 1905 on the Greek island of Syros. Syros is located in the Aegean Sea. He was from a small village called Danakos. He is considered one of the fathers of Rebetiko music.

About Stella Haskil

Stella Haskil was one of the second trio to record this song in 1949. She was born in Thessaloniki in 1918 as Stella Gaegou, of Greek Jewish heritage. Her father came from a wealthy Thessaloniki family who lost all during the Nazi occupation of Greece. Her mother was born in Skopje, Macedonia, but moved to Greece with her family.

As a singer, Stella became renowned for having a smooth, velvety voice, recording 135 songs. She was also a songwriter, and is respected as one of the great Rebetises of Greek music.

Stella rose to fame in the 1940's and 1950's as a post-war artist. She died of cancer at age 36. Due to her death at a young age, not many Greeks from newer generations are familiar with her work.

Song: Ximeroni k Vradiazi, 1949

Lyrics: Vasilis Tsitsanis

Music: Vasilis Tsitsanis

Original Artists: Marika Ninou, Vasilis Tsitsanis, Prodromos Tsaousakis, 1949

Has Also Been Recorded By:

• Markos Vamvakaris, Vasilis Tsitsanis, Stella Haskil, 1949

Dance: Hasaposerviko

Τραγούδι: Ξημερώνει Κ Βραδιάζει

Στίχοι: Βασίλης Τσιτσάνης

Μουσική: Βασίλης Τσιτσάνης

Πρώτη Εκτέλεση (1949): Μαρίκα Νίνου, Βασίλης Τσιτσάνης, Πρόδρομος Τσαουσάκης

Άλλοι Ερμηνευτές:

• Μάρκος Βαμβακαάρης, Βασίλης Τσιτσάνης, Στέλλα Χασκήλ, 1949