In the straits of the Bosphorus

Yiánis sobs at sunset

And Mehmet by his side

drinks and sings to him

And Mehmet by his side

drinks and sings to him

A Turk I am and you are Greek (Romiós)

I belong to a people and you belong to a people too

You Christ and I Allah

But we both sigh "ááh" and "váh" (it means both sigh with melancholy, the blues)

You Christ and I Allah

But we both sigh "ááh" and "váh"

With a little love (agápi) and wine (krasì)

I Intoxicate myself and you Intoxicate yourself

Drink a little from my cup

My brother (adelfi) and my kardasi too

Drink a little from my cup

My brother (adelfi) and my kardasi too

A Turk I am and you are Greek (Romiós)

I belong to a people and you belong to a people too

You Christ and I Allah

But we both sigh "ááh" and "váh"

You Christ and I Allah

But we both sigh "ááh" and "váh"

Some translations of the words in the song. The words are written in English characters and indicate where to put the emphasis.

stená = straits, Vospórou = Bosphorus, Tùrkos = Turk, Romiós = another word for a Greek, adèlfi = brother, ááh = a sigh in despair, sad sound, váh = a sigh in despair, sad sound, kè = and, Yiánis = John, kley = sobs, agápi = love, krasì = wine

The Turkish word in the song: kardási = brother