Menousis Agas (1927) [O Menousis agas] by Dimitris Halkias (2024)

Menousis Agas (1927) [O Menousis agas]

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Ο μενούσησ ο μπιρμπίλησ κι ο μεμμέτ αγάσ
Σε κρασοπουλειό πηγαίναν για να φαν να πιουν

Κει που τρώγαν κει που πίναν κει που γλένταγαν
Κάπωσ πέσαν σε κουβέντα για τισ όμορφεσ

Όμορφη γυναίκα που 'χεισ βρε μεμμέτ αγά
Πού την είδεσ πού την ξέρεισ και τη μολογάσ

Χθεσ την είδα στο πηγάδι κι έβγαζε νερό
Και τήσ ζήτησα φιλάκι και μου το'δωσε

Ο μενούσησ μεθυσμένοσ πάει την έσφαξε
Το πρωί ξεμεθυσμένοσ πάει την έκλαψε

Σήκω πάπια μ' σήκω χήνα μ' σήκω κι άλλαξε
Να σε δουν τα παλικάρια και να καίγονται

The lyrics of Dimitris Halkias's song "Menousis Agas" tell a story of two men, Menousis and Memmet, who go to a tavern to eat and drink together. In this setting, where they are enjoying their food and drinks, they start talking about beautiful women. Memmet specifically mentions a beautiful woman he knows and admires, sparking a conversation about her between the two friends.

The lyrics then shift to a scene where Memmet recalls seeing this beautiful woman at a well, drawing water. He mentions asking her for a kiss, and she gives it to him. This moment adds a romantic element to the story, showing Memmet's admiration for the woman and their brief interaction at the well.

The mood changes dramatically in the following lines, as Menousis, presumably drunk, ends up killing the woman he and Memmet were discussing. The next morning, when he is sober, he regrets his actions and mourns her death. This sudden turn of events adds a dark and tragic twist to the narrative, revealing the consequences of Menousis's impulsive and destructive behavior.

The final lines of the lyrics suggest a sense of remorse and reflection, as Menousis is told to "wake up, duck, wake up, goose, wake up and change" by the singers. This may symbolize a call for Menousis to change his ways, to not let his actions be driven by jealousy or impulse, and to consider the impact of his behavior on others. The mention of other men watching and burning with envy could also highlight the destructive nature of jealousy and aggression. Overall, the song paints a complex picture of human emotions and actions, exploring themes of desire, jealousy, regret, and consequences.

Ο μενούσησ ο μπιρμπίλησ κι ο μεμμέτ αγάς
The well-known figure, Menousis, along with his companion Mehmet, are introduced as the central characters of this tale.

Σε κρασοπουλειό πηγαίναν για να φαν να πιουν
They visited a local wine tavern, a place filled with the promise of enjoyment and merriment through food and drink.

Κει που τρώγαν κει που πίναν κει που γλένταγαν
As they dined, drank, and celebrated, joy filled the air, their spirits lifted by the revelry around them.

Κάπωσ πέσαν σε κουβέντα για τισ όμορφεσ
Somehow, their light-hearted conversation turned towards the topic of beautiful women, sparking intrigue and admiration.

Όμορφη γυναίκα που 'χεις βρε μεμμέτ αγά
Menousis inquires of Mehmet regarding a beautiful woman he knows, indicating his interest in the subject and perhaps a hint of jealousy.

Πού την είδες πού την ξέρεις και τη μολογάς
He presses Mehmet about the details of this woman's identity—where he saw her and what he knows of her, eager for more details.

Χθεσ την είδα στο πηγάδι κι έβγαζε νερό
He reveals he saw her yesterday at the well, drawing water, a scene that emphasizes her beauty in a simple yet vibrant context.

Και τής ζήτησα φιλάκι και μου το'δωσε
He confidently approached her and asked for a kiss, to which she generously obliged, highlighting a moment of affectionate connection.

Ο μενούσησ μεθυσμένος πάει την έσφαξε
In a twisted turn of events, Menousis, inebriated, ends up harming her, possibly out of jealousy or misguided love.

Το πρωί ξεμεθυσμένος πάει την έκλαψε
When he came to his senses the next morning, he regretted his actions deeply and mourned for her, caught in remorse and sorrow.

Σήκω πάπια μ' σήκω χήνα μ' σήκω κι άλλαξε
He calls for her to rise and transform herself, suggesting a yearning for her to regain her confidence and allure after the tragedy.

Να σε δουν τα παλικάρια και να καίγονται
He wishes for the young men to see her beauty again and be captivated by her, symbolizing a desire for her to reclaim her vibrancy in life.

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