I sort of understand the words of this great song by Mitropanos. I get that it's about Roza Luxemburg and that Mitropanos was a lifelong Communist,, but my question is what does the song mean? I find it very beautiful but frustratingly obscure. Can anyone explain what it's about?
OK, here's my attempt at an English translation:
Roza
My dry and parched lips
Are searching for water on the asphalt
Vehicles pass close by me
And you tell me that a downpour is waiting for us
And drag me off to a dank club.
We walk together along the same road
But our cells are separated
We are going back to a magic country
I don't want to know any more what we are asking for
It's enough for you to give me two kisses.
You play me at roulette and you lose to me
In a nightmare fairy tale
My voice is now the voice of an insect
My life a climbing plant
You cut me off and throw me into the void.
How does need become history?
How does history become silence?
Why do you look at me, numbed, Roza?
Forgive me for not understanding
What the computers and numbers are saying.
My love made from coal and sulphur
How has time changed you like this?
Vehicles pass over us
and in the fog and the downpour
I sleep, hungry, by your side.
How does need become history?
How does history become silence?
Why do you look at me, numbed, Roza?
Forgive me for not understanding
What the computers and numbers are saying.
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Mitropanos - Roza
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Although in these lyrics there is something that make you think about it, there's no evidence to prove that Roza is actually Roza Luxemburg.
Mikroutsikos had asked Alkis Alkaios many times about the actual Roza but poet had refused to answer.
If you found some meaning in these lyrics it's the outcome of your personal effort over the lyrics of a poem which "made" you eager to analyze it.
Alkis Alkaios lyrics are full of enigmas, the same as Mano Eleftheriou's. Both of them denied to provide hints for a proper analysis of them.
The one thing that is kinda strange to my eyes is that "Roza" was handed to Mikroutsikos back in 1976.
Isn't it strange for a poet in Greece to write lyrics such as "What the computers and numbers are saying" when at the time there was no single computer in the whole country?...."Gilgamesh, where are you hurrying to?
You will never find that life for which you are looking.
When the gods created man they allotted to him death,
but life they retained in their own keeping" -
OK thank you very much for your reply.
Originally Posted by Amethystos
Sorry who is Mikroutsikos? Interesting that it may not be about Roza Luxemburg. I wonder how that connection was made? Did Mitropanos ever comment about who Roza is and what the song means or did he interpret it as about Roza L because of his political views? Yes it does seem odd about computers. -
You're welcome my friend. Originally Posted by αρτος
Mikroutsikos is the composer. Originally Posted by αρτος
All I'm saying is that we can't be positive about song's protagonist, although certainly Roza Luxemburg is a good candidate....
I can imagine that if Alkaios' beliefs was "leftish" that may have been the reason behind the myth.
I'm unaware about any Mitropanos comment concerning lyrics meaning. Mitropanos in any way is not responsible for it, his character was only the "medium" for the connection between song's creators and the public. Of course he was the absolute match btw..... Originally Posted by αρτος
As for the year .... well I'm currently not even sure about the decade.
Most of the sites write about the exact year as 1976 but Mikroutsikos has said that 10 years prior to Mitropanos' version, he had offered the song to Alexiou. If it was a new song, then we are talking about 1986 which is a period that people could buy some kind of computers."Gilgamesh, where are you hurrying to?
You will never find that life for which you are looking.
When the gods created man they allotted to him death,
but life they retained in their own keeping" -
Thanks so much once again for your help. Can you recommend any further reading / websites on Alkaios and his songs? I read Greek (not so fluently, but enough). Originally Posted by Amethystos
You're welcome my friend.
Mikroutsikos is the composer.
All I'm saying is that we can't be positive about song's protagonist, although certainly Roza Luxemburg is a good candidate....
I can imagine that if Alkaios' beliefs was "leftish" that may have been the reason behind the myth.
I'm unaware about any Mitropanos comment concerning lyrics meaning. Mitropanos in any way is not responsible for it, his character was only the "medium" for the connection between song's creators and the public. Of course he was the absolute match btw.....
As for the year .... well I'm currently not even sure about the decade.
Most of the sites write about the exact year as 1976 but Mikroutsikos has said that 10 years prior to Mitropanos' version, he had offered the song to Alexiou. If it was a new song, then we are talking about 1986 which is a period that people could buy some kind of computers. -
Some of his songs (There are some translations, just click on the english flag to the right column of the table) -> http://www.stixoi.info/stixoi.php?in...lyricist_id=72 Originally Posted by αρτος
Here's some kind of summary of his work -> http://www.ogdoo.gr/prosopa/afieroma...-grafi-tou-oli
And here's an effort by some enthusiasts to analyze "Erotiko" (in greek) -> http://www.12830.gr/forum/logotexnia...alkhs-alkaios/Last edited by Amethystos; 11-11-2017 at 07:08 PM.
"Gilgamesh, where are you hurrying to?
You will never find that life for which you are looking.
When the gods created man they allotted to him death,
but life they retained in their own keeping" -
Many thanks, Amethystos, for your help. I look forward to reading all of this! Originally Posted by Amethystos
