Η μπαλάντα του κυρ Μέντιου [I mpalanta tou kyr-Mentiou] [English translation]

These old worn legs aren't bending

and the pain just isn't mending

hobble once and hobble twice

through this life's ordeal and vice

everyone's beating: slaves and master

daylong toil that won't go faster

they won't let me take a breath

and they let me starve to death

and they let me starve to death

Up the village, down the village

uphill, back and then for tillage

rain or shine no matter what

till the soul fell out my butt

Twenty years of age a burro

bore a stone pit clean and thorough

and I've built up on the verge

of the village the new church

of the village the new church

[Chorus:] x2

Giddyap loser, giddyap sucker

giddyap symbol of the gutter

Should you wake up, you dumb dunce

you'll keel o'er the world at once

you'll keel o'er the world at once

And paired with the ox, what matcher,

-diff'rent gait and diff'rent stature-

I have ploughed all through ravines

my master's acres by all means

Lastly when the war erupted

I bore machine guns undisrupted

for the people to get killed

and my master's dish got filled

and my master's dish got filled

(chorus) x2

Look around the others set out

the creation swift they red out

a new sun now rose so grand

o'er some sea, some other land

(chorus) x2

Chords:

Am

These old worn legs aren't bending

G

 and the pain just isn't mending

Dm

hobble once and hobble twice

E

 through this life's ordeal and vice

Am

everyone's beating: slaves and master

G

 daylong toil that won't go faster

Dm

they won't let me take a breath

E

 and they let me starve to death

Dm                        Am

and they let me starve to death

Am

Up the village, down the village

G

 uphill, back and then for tillage

Dm

rain or shine no matter what

E

 till the soul fell out my butt

Am

Thenty years of age a burro

G

 bore a stone pit clean and thorough

Dm

and I've built up on the verge

E

 of the village the new church

Dm                     Am

of the village the new church

[Chorus:]

Am

Giddyap loser, giddyap sucker

G

 giddyap symbol of the gutter

Dm

Should you wake up, you dumb dunce

E

 you'll keel o'er the world at once

Am

Giddyap loser, giddyap sucker

G

 giddyap symbol of the gutter

Dm

Should you wake up, you dumb dunce

E

 you'll keel o'er the world at once

Dm                            Am

you'll keel o'er the world at once

Am

And paired with the ox, what matcher,

G

-diff'rent gait and diff'rent stature-

Dm

I have ploughed all through ravines

E

my master's acres by all means

Am

Lastly when the war erupted

G

I bore machine guns undisrupted

Dm

for the people to get killed

E

 and my master's dish got filled

Dm                       Am

and my master's dish got filled

(chorus)

(pause)                        (G)

Look around the others set out

                               (Dm)

the creation swift they red out

                           (E)

a new sun now rose so grand

o'er some sea, some other land 

Am

Look around the others set out

G

 the creation swift they red out

Dm

a new sun now rose so grand

E

 o'er some sea, some other land 

Dm                        Am

o'er some sea, some other land 

(chorus)

• Artist:Nikos Xilouris