Here you find lyrics and descriptions to the songs from the CD "May I kiss your hand".


  1. Kéren Chave (fast version) - Roma-gypsy song from Eastern Europe.
  2. Kaltotaszegi Legényes (in C minor) music played for a solo dance by young gypsies in Kalotaszeg.
  3. Medved na lancu - Serbo-Croatian song based on the children's poem "The Bear On The Chain".
  4. Lulu-Valse - gypsy-swing waltz by Lulu Reinhardt.
  5. Feljött a Nap / Romanian Dance #3 - slow Hungarian song followed by our version of one of Bela Bartoks sompositions inspired by Hungarian folk songs.
  6. Nu Face Bine / Romanian Hora (in B minor) - gypsy melody from Sarretudvarri followed by an accordion melody from Romania.
  7. Szerelem / Lörincreve (in A) - slow Hungarian song about love, followed by an archaic melody from Lörincreve.
  8. Mori Shej, Sabina - ballad by Joszef Balogh about a beloved little daughter.
  9. Gankino Horo - a traditional dance from Bulgaria.
  10. Mysterieuse - French gypsy guitar piece in the tradition of the Valse Musette.
  11. Anii Mei - Romanian song a life that has passed away.
  12. Dance from Gyimes - ancient piece from the eastern-Transylvanian village of Gyimes.
  13. Eddig Vendég - universal story about a drunken man who refuses to leave the bar.
  14. Keserves / Székelyföldy - Lament and dance from Transylvania.
  15. Kalotaszegi Legényes (in F) - another Hungarian lads' dance from Transylvania.
  16. Cinege - very old song from the northern part of Hungary.
  17. Szatmári / Csókolom / Szatmári - two old tunes from Transylvania sung in Hungarian.
  18. Kéren Chave (slow version).
  19. Jánoska / Szatmári - Hungarian children's song and fast dance from from Szatmár.
  20. Lörincreve in G - Anti's arrangement of a melody from Lörincreve.




1. Kéren Chave (fast version)
(trad./arr. Anti von Klewitz)

Anti von Klewitz heard this Roma-gypsy song from Eastern Europe for the first time in Berlin from a Hungarian musician. Some time later she came across this piece again being played by gypsies in Hungary. This version is Anti' s arrangement.

   
   Amari szi, amari,    She is ours, she is ours,
   Amari cini bóri    She is our little daughter-in-law
   Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj,    Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj,
   Amari szi, amari,    She is ours, she is ours,
   Amari cini bóri    She is our little daughter-in-law
   Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj.    Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj.
   
   Dúj, dúj, desudúj,    Two, two, twelve
   Csumidau me lako múj    I'll kiss her mouth
   Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj,    Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj,
   Dúj, dúj, desudúj,    Two, two, twelve
   Csumidau me lako múj    I'll kiss her mouth
   Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj.    Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj.
   
   Lako múj szi rupuno,    Her mouth is of silver
   Puske trubulia dino    She has to be shot
   Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj,    Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj,
   Lako múj szi rupuno,    Her mouth is of silver
   Puske trubulia dino    She has to be shot
   Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj.    Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj.
   
   Keren, savorále, drom    Make way, children,
   Te khelei o phuro rom    Let the old man dance
   Phuro rom te keleia    When the old man dances
   Bistayek gyás malavia    He taps on for twenty-one days
   
   Hoi, te merau    O let me die
   Ta na csaksipó phenau!    If I don't tell the truth
   Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj,    Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj,
   Hoi, te merau    O let me die
   Ta na csaksipó phenau!    If I don't tell the truth
   Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj.    Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj.
   
   Amari szi, amari,    She is ours, she is ours,
   Amari cini bóri    She is our little daughter-in-law
   Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj,    Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj,
   Amari szi, amari,    She is ours, she is ours,
   Amari cini bóri    She is our little daughter-in-law
   Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj.    Aj, lalalalala la la laj laj.
   


2. Kaltotaszegi Legényes (in C minor)
(trad./arr. Anti von Klewitz)

This music is played for a solo dance by young gypsies in Kalotaszeg, a Transylvanian region with a considerable ethnic Hungarian population and a very rich musical heritage. The dance resembles the German "Schuhplattler", with a lot of clapping and foot stamping.


3. Medved na lancu (The Bear On The Chain)
(music: Anti von Klewitz, lyrics: trad.)

Based on the children's poem "The Bear On The Chain" from the former Yugoslavia, Anti remembers this song from her childhood. The language is Serbo-Croatian.

   
   Jednoc sam sa svojim djedom    Once me and my Grandfather
   sreo Cigu sa medvjedom    We came upon a Gypsy
   ide Cigo na*im klancem,    On our village's road
   za njim medo, vezan lancem.    Tugging a bear at a chain.
   
   Pokloni se Cigo djedu,    The Gypsy bows to my Grandfather
   *apnu tiho svom medvjedu:    and whispers the bear into it's ear:
   "Igraj medo, zloco stara,    "Come on, old lad,
   hopa-cupa, bit ce para!"    Dance, there'll be money!"
   
   Uspravi se medo jadan,    Up rises the poor bear,
   tromo ple*e medvjed gladan.    Tired the hungry one dances,
   Primi Cigo gro* od djeda    The Gypsy takes Grandfathers nickels,
   i povede svog medvjeda.    and leads away the bear.
   
   Zapi Cigo gro*ic djedov,    The Gypsy spends on wine the nickels
   gro*ic djedov - il medvjedov?    - Grandfather's or those of the bear?
   "*teta gro*a" rekoh djedu,    "Too bad", I said, "You should have given
   "bolje kru*ke daj medvjedu!"    some pears to the bear instead."
   
   Ali nesta Cigo klancem,    But the road takes away the Gypsy
   nesta medo, vezan lancem.    and takes away the bear and the chain
   A ja gutam kru*ke djeda    and I'm eating Grandfather's pears with sad
   s tugom misloc na medvjeda...    thoughts in mind - remembering the bear.
   


4. Lulu-Valse
(Lulu Reinhardt; Hammer Music, Germany)

This gypsy-swing waltz was written by Lulu Reinhardt, guitarist with the Titi Winterstein Quintett.


5. Feljött a Nap (The Sun Has Risen) / Romanian Dance #3
(Bela Bartok/arr. Anti von Klewitz)

"The sun has risen; we'll have to go to other places and learn other customs"; the next song is a composition by Bela Bartok who transcribed and orchestrated many Hungarian folk songs. This one is played in a slightly different meter than usual.


6. Nu Face Bine (I'm Feeling Bad) & Romanian Hora (in B minor)
(trad./arr. Anti von Klewitz)

The first part of this piece is a gypsy melody from Sarretudvarri sung in Hungarian and in Romanian. The second part was originally an accordion melody from Romania.

   
   Be van Koloszvár kerítve,    There is a fence around Koloszvár,
   Nu face bine, hejde    I don't feel good
   Majd elmegyünk mink majd oda,    Let's go there,
   Nu face bine.    I don't feel good.
   Dadj-ra-di rad rad etc    Dadj-ra-di rad rad etc
   

(Possibly a song by a gypsy that would like to go to Koloszvár, but is not allowed to.)


7. Szerelem / Lörincreve (in A)
(trad./arr. Anti von Klewitz)

The first tune comes from Hungary. "Love is a curse; why don't the trees bloom any more? Love is like a rose - it does not want to bloom in a small garden." The second is from Lörincreve, a region in Transylvania with a lot of archaic music.


8. Mori Shej, Sabina (My Daughter Sabina)
(Joszef Balogh)

Balogh is a member of Kalyi Jag, a gypsy group from Hungary. This piece is sung in Roma, a language of the gypsies.

   
   Buter káj egy berseszki szán    You are only just one-year-old
   Móri drágo piko séj    Little, tiny dear daughter
   Vorbisz mánge káki-koki    You are chattering to me
   Móri drágo piko séj    Little, tiny dear daughter
   
   Áj mori séj, mori drago pikonyéj    Ay daughter, my dear tiny baby,
   Álálálá.....    Alalala.....
   Áj mori séj, mori drago pikonyéj    Ay daughter, my dear tiny baby,
   Álálálá.....    Alalala.....
   
   Kináu tuke szomnákáj    I'll buy some gold jewels for you
   Móri drágo piko séj    Dear tiny daughter
   Lá lumáko szomnákáj    All the gold jewels in the world
   Móri drágo piko séj    Dear tiny daughter
   
   Áj mori séj, mori drago pikonyéj    Ay daughter, my dear tiny baby
   Álálálá.....    Alalala.....
   Áj mori séj, mori drago pikonyéj    Ay daughter, my dear tiny baby
   Álálálá.....    Alalala.....
   
   Áldin dévlá murá sá    God bless my daughter
   Móri drágo pikonya    My tiny baby
   Móri drágo pikonya    My tiny baby
   Murá sukár szábiná    My beautiful Sabina
   
   Áj mori séj, mori drago pikonyéj    Ay daughter, my dear tiny baby
   Álálálá.....    Alalala.....
   Áj mori séj, mori drago pikonyéj    Ay daughter, my dear tiny baby
   Álálálá.....    Alalala.....
   


9. Gankino Horo
(trad./arr. Anti von Klewitz)

This piece is a traditional dance from Bulgaria.


10. Mysterieuse (Valse Musette)
(R. Varysse / J. Privat)

This French gypsy guitar piece is a nice example for the tradition of the Valse Musette.


11. Anii Mei
(trad./arr. Johnny Raducano; Navigator Music, Germany)

Anti sings this tune in the Romanian language.

   
   Anii mei si tineretea    The years of my life have past
   Uite-i doamne cum s-au dus    Lord, where have they gone?
   N-am stiut ce este viata    I didn't know what life is
   Si nimenea nu mi-o spus    And no one told me.
   Pot sti eu mindro cevrei    How can I know what you want
   Pot sti eu mindro de toate    How could I know anything at all
   Viata care ti s-o dus    The life that has passed away,
   Nici-obata ne se-ntoarce    It will never return.
   


12. Dance from Gyimes
(trad./arr. Anti von Klewitz)

An arrangement of a piece from the eastern-Transylvanian village of Gyimes, where strange ancient music is played.


13. Eddig Vendég
(trad./arr. Anti von Klewitz)

This piece tells about a drunken man who refuses to leave the bar somewhere in a small village in Hungary. The story could take place anywhere in the world.

   
   Eddig vendég jól mulattál    Up to now, guest, you have had a good time
   Ha tetszenék, elindulnál,    If you would like to, you could leave
   Szaladj gazda, kapjál botra    Run, host, and take the stick
   S a vendéget indtsd útra    and get the guest moving
   Szaladj gazda, kapjál botra    Run, host, and take the stick
   S a vendéget inditsd útra    and get the guest moving
   
   Ettél, ittál, jól mulattál,    Up to now, you have drunk and had a good time,
   Ordög vigyen, indulhatnál,    Go to hell, leave now,
   Szaladj gazda, kapjál botra,    Run, host, and take the stick
   S a vendéget indtsd útra    and get the guest moving
   Szaladj gazda, kapjál botra    Run, host, and take the stick
   S a vendéget inditsd útra    and get the guest moving
   


14. Keserves / Székelyföldy
(trad./arr. Anti von Klewitz)

The first part of these two Hungarian songs from Transylvania is a lament originating at the end of the last century, when the Austrians lured young men with wine and music to send them to war. It shows how metaphorical the Hungarian language can be.

   
   Elment a madarka    The bird has flown away
   Üres a kalitka    The cage is empty
   Azt üzente vissza    A message has arrived
   Vissza jö tavaszra    Someone will return in springtime
   Azt üzente vissza    A message has arrived
   Vissza jö tavaszra    Someone will return in springtime
   
   Ha tavaszra nem jö    If he does not return in springtime
   Búza virulásra    He will return when the wheat is growing
   Ha akkorra sem jö    If he does not return when the wheat is growing
   Szölö lágyulásra    He will return when the grapes are turning soft
   
   Ha akkorra sem jö    If he does not return when the grapes are turning soft
   Tudd meg soha sem jö    You know he'll be gone forever.
   


15. Kalotaszegi Legényes (in F)
(trad./arr. Anti von Kolewitz)

Another Hungarian dance from Transylvania.


16. Cinege
(trad./arr. Anti von Klewitz)

A very old song from the northern part of Hungary.

   
   Hol jártal ez éjjel, cinegemadár?    Where have you slept last night, tomtit?
   Ablakodban háltam, gyönge violám.    In your window I slept, my dear violet.
   Miért be nem jöttel, cinegemadár?    Why did you not come in, tomtit?
   Féltem az uradtol, gyönge violám.    I was afraid of your husband, my dear violet.
   

("Tomtit" is a bird, "violet" a flower.)


17. Szatmári - Csókolom - Szatmári
(trad./arr. Anti von Klewitz)

Two old tunes from Transylvania sung in Hungarian. One of them was given the name of the band. "Csókolom" lyrics:

   
   Téged látlak mindig álmomban    I see you in all my dreams
   Álmom után minden dolgomban    And after my dream in all my things
   Ha sóhajtok, érted a panasz    When I'm sighing, you're my complaint
   Ha örölök, érted vagyon az    When I'm happy that is also for you
   Ha sóhajtok, érted a panasz    When I'm sighing, you're my complaint
   Ha örölök, érted vagyon az    When I'm happy that is also for you
   
   Jaj de sokat jártam, fátadtam    Oh, how much I walked and tried
   Mikor házasodni akartam    When I wanted to marry
   Nem találtam kedvemre valót    But I found no one I liked
   Csak az a szeretöm, aki volt lalala    My lover is still the same, lalala
   Nem találtam kedvemre valót    But I found no one I liked
   Csak az a szeretöm, aki volt lalala    My lover is still the same, lalala
   


18. Kéren Chave (slow version)
(trad./arr. Anti von Klewitz)

See Kéren Chave (fast version) for details.


19. Jánoska / Szatmári
(trad./arr. Anti von Klewitz)

Anti learned this Hungarian children's song from the gypsies in the rural regions of Hungary. The song can go on and on, and has countless verses. It is followed by a tune from Szatmár.

   
   Én szerettem Janoskat    I love Janoska
   Aj laj la laj laj    Aj laj la laj laj
   Mint a mézes pálinkat    Like the sweet palinka
   Janoska is engemet    Jánoska also loves me
   Letepi az ingemet    He takes off my shirt
   

("Palinka" is a famous Hungarian liquor.)


20. Lörincreve in G
(trad./arr. Anti von Klewitz)

Anti's arrangement of a melody from Lörincreve.



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