Varvara Koutiva: Carl Orff Competition 2020 Pano stin kounia

Some words about the song, it is a swing song of Lesvos.
In Greece we have several traditional songs of “swing”,mostly we use to sing them in spring, at feasts that have to do with nature (we had several flower festivals in Ancient Greece). In nowadays these songs are mostly common during Easter days and in first day of May. The swing symbolises the resurrection of life and nature, that comes with spring. People used to come out of their houses and hung swings on trees (still do so, in some villages). Then boys used to sing songs of swing to girls. Young people had the opportunity to exchange compliments through singing, and meet each other.

Translation of lyrics

Πάνω στην κούνια κάτσανε / They sat on the swing
τζι κι τζι κι τζε λα τζι κι τζι κι τζο / phonetic syllables like la la la (without meaning)
τέσσερα μαύρα μάτια / four black eyes
ρομ πομ πομ καλέ ρομ πομ πομ / phonetic syllables (“καλέ” it may be translated to “Hey” "hey you")

Τέσσερα φρύδια σα σπαθιά / Four eyebrows that look like swords
τζι κι τζι κι τζε λα τζι κι τζι κι τζο / phonetic syllables
και δυο κορμια ρηγάτα / and two beautiful bodies (can't be sure about the definition of ρηγάτα, "ρήγας" means "king")
ρομ πομ πομ καλέ ρομ πομ πομ / phonetic syllables

Σίδερο είναι το σχοινί / The rope is made of steel
τζι κι τζι κι τζε λα τζι κι τζι κι τζο / phonetic syllables
καρδένιο το σανίδι / the wood is made of walnut
ρομ πομ πομ καλέ ρομ πομ πομ

Και τα κορίτσια που κουνώ / And the girls that I swing
τζι κι τζι κι τζε λα τζι κι τζι κι τζο / phonetic syllables
είναι καθάριο ασήμι / are made of valuable silver
ρομ πομ πομ καλε ρομ πομ πομ / phonetic syllables

The mp3 is not a live recording as you will understand, but as I fixed some sounds, it may be helpful.

As this is a traditional song, you may find several recordings of song in youtube, if you search the title Pano stin kounia. The first one at page (a song of Perperouna collection, Η περπερούνα), is work of Domna Samiou (with a children choir), who is the one that brought to recording -and to light- a large part of folk music.