Lisa Jones wrote on Dec 13
th, 2017 at 12:22am:
Please play for me Genethlia.
It is the name of a Greek song last covered by Notis Sfakianakis.
The song is in the zeimbekiko music genre.
Its lyrics help me remember my ancestor's strong struggle to survive world wars and genocide.
There you go love, hard pressed to find a live version by Notis so pre-recorded is the go, sorry.
Song: Γενέθλια - Birthday
Artist: Notis Sfakianakis
Birthday GenethliaIn the pathways of longing Sta monopatia tou kaimou
At the bridge of sighs Sti gefura tou stenagmou
My mother made me M’ekan’eh, ei mana mou
One autumn night Mia phthinoporini vrathia
Life, in your cold heart Zoi tin krua sou cardia
My eyes had seen Eithan ta matia mou
With baby rattlers made of plastic Me kouthounistres plastikes
Beautiful and coloured Omorfes kai hromatistes
Which lulled me Me nanoupizane
And these small eyes Kai ta matakia ta micra
Saw the rancidity of the world Eithan tou cosmou t’agatha
And they agreed Kai seimfonisane
My milk was bitter Itan to gala mou pikro
And my water was brackish Kai to neraki mou glufo
Which I grew up on Pou meh megalone
In the other corner of my crib Ki apenanti sti kounia mou
My villainous fate Ei moira ei kakoupga mou
Was proud of me Kai meh kamarone
My crying was dull Itan to klama mou moundo
Like I wanted to say something San kati na’thela na po
But they didn’t sense it Ma the’h me niosane
One despairing breathe Mia lupimeni anapnoi
For the whore of a life Gia tin poutana ti zoi
Which was debted to me Pou mou hreosane
That’s how I started then Etsi xekinisa loipon
That’s how I started Etsi xekinisa
They didn’t ask me about life The’h me rotisane zoi
But I got used to it Ma se sunithisa
Like a wounded eagle on the ground San pligomeno aetopoulo sto homa
I search for the strength to still hold on Psahno ti thunami na kratytho akoma
Like a wounded eagle on the ground San pligomeno aetopoulo sto homa
I search for the strength to still hold on Psahno ti thunami na kratytho akoma
Upon mud and nails Pano se laspes kai karfia
In this unjust world’s fire St’adikou cosmou fotia
I took my first steps Proto perpatisa
A steady equilibrium Isorropia statheri
To anticipate life Gia na prolavo ti zoi
But I slipped Omos tin patisa
Only the "α" and the "χ" Mono to "α" kai to "χ"
During my school days Sti s’holiki mou epohi
Did I first syllabicate Proto sullavisa
That’s why the “ahh” and the “why” Gi’auto to “ahh” kai to “giati”
Where ever I go follow me Opou vretho m’akolouthei
Even in my forties Ki as Sarantarisa
Thus time went by Etsi pernouse o Kairos
And I sceptical on my journey Kai ego sto dromo mou skiftos
Had dreams Ekana oneira
It happened that I’m one of those Ete’he va’meh ap’auftous
Who swim in foam and Pou kolumpane stous afrous
And in muddy waters Kai sta lasponera
The blood of life drips Stazei to aima tis psihis
Like the drops of rain San tis stagones tis vrohis
But who cares Omos pios noiazetai
And this invisible wound Kai tin aorati pligi
Which inside me bleeds Pou mesa mou aimorragei
Who will share it Poios tin moirazetai
That’s how I started then Etsi xekinisa loipon
That’s how I started Etsi xekinisa
They didn’t ask me about life The’h me rotisane zoi
But I got used to it Ma se sunithisa
Like a wounded eagle on the ground San pligomeno aetopoulo sto homa
I search for the strength to still hold on Psahno ti thunami na kratytho akoma
Like a wounded eagle on the ground San pligomeno aetopoulo sto homa
I search for the strength to still hold on Psahno ti thunami na kratytho akoma
That’s how I started then Etsi xekinisa loipon
That’s how I started Etsi xekinisa
They showed me one thing Alla mou theixane
And I perceived another Kai alla ego antikrisa
My God if I knew the day of my death Thee mou ki as eiksera poia mera tha pethano
And for my death Kai tou thanatou mou
I would have a birthday Genethlia na kano
My God if I knew the day of my death Thee mou ki as eiksera poia mera tha pethano
And for my death Kai tou thanatou mou
I would have a birthday Genethlia na kano
The lass (Nantioula Nantiaki) who posted this video has also created her own Greeklish.