I make (the sound) e e e ….
Nani (my baby) nani nani
and wherever it hurts will heal.
Nani to my baby, whom I enjoy
as the olive of its leaf.
As the little birds of the water
and the mountains of the sun.
E…e…e…e

Κάμω ε ε ε…
�άνι μο� το νάνι νάνι
κι όπου μου πονεί να γιάνει.
�ανι το, που να το χα�ώ,
σαν η ελιά το φ�λλο.
Σαν τα πουλάκια το νε�ό
και τα βουνά τον ήλιο.
Ε ε ε ε…

About Nani Mine, Nani Nani
This lullaby originates from the Island of Kalymnos, one of the Dodecanese Islands situated in the south-eastern Aegean Sea. This island combines the beauty of the mountains, the scents of oregano and thyme together with crystal waters. In this particular lullaby, the lyrics are influenced by the beauty of nature. Kalymnos is also famous for sponge fishing and the production of olive oil. This explains the references to olive trees and the sun, which is essential to islanders. Apart from the words nani-nani, we also have the sound e e e in this lullaby, a very common and popular motive of Greek lullabies.
As in all traditional Greek lullabies its year of origin is unknown as well as the composer and the lullaby’s lyricist.

About Nani nani my child
This lullaby originates from mountainous Kastoria, a Greek city situated in Western Macedonia. Many crops are cultivated in the region which is especially famous for its vineyards, as mentioned in the lullaby. Livestock breeding is also very common there, which explains references to the lamb, goat and sheepcote. Another interesting element here is the use of diminutives, e.g. little sheep, little goat, etc. Diminutives are used in the Greek language to indicate not only smallness but also deep affection.
As in all traditional Greek lullabies its year of origin is unknown as well as the composer and the lullaby’s lyricist.

Ύπνε, που παί�νεις τα μικ�ά
έλα, πά�ε και το�το.
Μικ�ό- μικ�ό σου το ‘δωσα,
μεγάλο φέ�ε μο� το.

Μεγάλο σαν ψηλό βουνό,
ίσιο σαν κυπα�ίσσι.
Κι οι κλώνοι του ν’ απλώνονται
σ’ Ανατολή και Δ�ση.

My Sleep, take it from me
and take it to the gardens
and fill its apron
with roses and roses.

The red roses for its mother,
the red roses for its father
and the white roses
for its godfather.
and the white roses
for its godfather.

Ύπνε μου, επά�ε μο� το
κι άμε το στα πε�βόλια
και την ποδιά του γέμισε
τ�ιαντάφυλλα και �όδα.

Τα �όδα να’ν’ της μάνας του,
τα �όδα του κυ�ο� του
και τ’ άσπ�α τ�ιαντάφυλλα
να’ναι του σάντουλο� του
και τ’ άσπ�α τ�ιαντάφυλλα
να’ναι του σάντουλο� του.

About My Sleep, take it from me
This lullaby originates from Southern Italy. Greek-speaking populations have lived in that part of Italy since the 8th century B.C., when the first Greek colonies were established in the regions of Salento, Calabria, Taras and Metapontio. These areas have a large production of roses, which somehow explains the references to roses and their assortments in the lullaby. The word santoulos is of Italian origin and means godfather.
As in all traditional Greek lullabies its year of origin is unknown as well as the composer and the lullaby’s lyricist.