
Lyrics – Transliteration
(Greek folk song)
[Other students sing]
Den pernas kyra Maria,
den pernas, den pernas,
Den pernas kyra Maria,
den pernas, pernas?
[One student (“Maria”) sings]
Tha ypago is tous kipous,
Den perno, den perno,
Tha ypago is tous kipous,
Den perno, perno.
[Other students sing]
Ti tha kanis is tous kípous,
Den pernas, den pernas,
Ti tha kanis is tous kípous,
Den pernas, pernas?
[One student sings]
The na kopso dyo violetes,
Den perno, den perno,
The na kopso dyo violetes,
Den perno, perno.
English Translation – Won’t You Pass, Mistress Mary
Won’t you pass, Mistress Mary,
Won’t you pass, won’t you pass,
Won’t you pass, Mistress Mary,
Won’t you pass, pass?
I will go to the gardens,
I won’t pass, I won’t pass,
I will go to the gardens,
I won’t pass, pass.
What will you do in the gardens,
Won’t you pass, won’t you pass,
What will you do in the gardens,
Won’t you pass, pass?
I will cut two violets,
I won’t pass, I won’t pass,
I will cut two violets,
I won’t pass, pass.
Greek – Δεν περνάς κυρά Μαρία
Δεν περνάς κυρά Μαρία,
δεν περνάς, δεν περνάς,
Δεν περνάς κυρά Μαρία,
δεν περνάς, περνάς;
Θα υπάγω είς τους κήπους,
Δεν περνώ, δεν περνώ,
Θα υπάγω είς τους κήπους,
Δεν περνώ, περνώ.
Τι θα κάνεις είς τους κήπους,
Δεν περνάς, δεν περνάς,
Τι θα κάνεις είς τους κήπους,
Δεν περνάς, περνάς;
Θε να κόψω δυο βιολέτες,
Δεν περνώ, δεν περνώ,
Θε να κόψω δυο βιολέτες,
Δεν περνώ, περνώ.
Game
Formation: One student, “Maria,” is “It.” Other students join hands in a line and face “It.”
First and third paragraphs, students sing and walk forward (toward “It”) as they sing.
Second and fourth paragraphs, students walk backward while “It” sings.
See also
- Country: Greece
- Activities: game songs
- Harmony: chords I & V
- Melody: solo singing
- Meter: 4
- Scale: hexatonic
- Tones: drmslt
- Source: Folk Songs of Greece, Susan & Ted Alevizos, Oak Publications, 1968
YouTube
- PDF of song with chords
- MIDI file
- Listen to the melody

