Gerakina / Yerakina

folk song / traditional

Lyrics – Transliteration

(Greek folk song)

1. Kinise i Yerakina
Yia nero krio na feri

Refrain
Droum, droum, droum,
Droum, droum, droum,
Ta vrahiolia tis vrondoun. (repeat)

2. Kiepese mesto pigadi,
Kievgale foni megali Refrain

3. Kietrekse o kosmos olos,
Kietreksa kego o kaimenos. Refrain

4. Yerakina tha se vgalo
Ke yineka tha se paro. Refrain

English Translation – Yerakina (girl’s name)

Yerakina went to the well
To bring some cold water.

Refrain
Droum, droum, droum,
Droum, droum,
Her bracelets jingled.

And she fell into the well
And gave a loud cry.

All the people ran,
And I, poor soul, also ran.

Yerakina, I will rescue you
And take you for my wife. (source)

Greek – Γερακίνα

Κίνησε η Γερακίνα
Για νερό κρύο να φέρει.

Refrain
Ντρούμου, ντρούμου, ντρούμου
Ντρούμου, ντρούμου,
Τα βραχιόλια της βροντούν.

Κι έπεσε μες το πηγάδι
Κι έβαλε φωνή μεγάλη

Κι έτρεξε ο κόσμος όλος
κι έτρεξα κι εγώ καημένος

Γερακίνα θα σε πάρω
Και γυναίκα μου θα σε κάνω.

Dance

Formation – Students hold hands and stand in a “broken circle.” It’s like a cross between a line and a circle, where most students are holding hands, except the leader does not hold hands with the last person in the line/circle. (See dance video on the Gerakina page.)

Measure 1: Walk to the right (similar to grapevine step): (3/8)Step on R foot, (2/8)Step on L foot (in front of R), (2/8)Step on R foot
Measure 2: Step on L foot, touch R toe next to L foot with knee pointing in, touch R toe next to L foot, with knee pointing out
Measures 3-4: Repeat measures 1-2.
Measures 5-6: Repeat measures 1-2, this time traveling into the center, bringing hands up and forward to shoulder height.
Measure 7: Step back on R foot, Step back on L foot, Step back on R foot (backing out of the center)
Measure 8: Step back on L foot, Step back on R foot, Step back on L foot (continuing to back out of the center)
Measure 9: (Droum, droum, droum) Touch R toe next to L with R knee pointing in, Touch R toe next to L with R knee pointing out, Touch R toe next to L with R knee pointing in
Measure 10: (Droum) Touch R toe next to L with R knee pointing out, (Letting go of other students’ hands) Clap hands, Begin to turn clockwise in place
Measure 11: Finish turning clockwise in place
Measure 12: Hold hands again, R foot cross over L and tap
Measures 13-16: Repeat Measures 1-4.
(source)