Tasos Kofodimos & Yvonne Melissa feat. Laia Escartin - Drama Köprüsü (To gefyri tis Dramas)

Tasos Kofodimos & Yvonne Melissa feat.Laia Escartin - Drama Köprüsü (To gefyri tis Dramas) Live at Paradijs Kerk Rotterdam
Music - Traditional Turkish Alevitic song
Lyrics (in greek version) - Maria Thoidou
This version of the song is featured on the album "Tis Nychtas ta Makria Mallia" (The Long Hair of the Night) by Maria Thoidou and Sokratis Malamas, under the title "To Gefyri tis Dramas" (The Bridge of Drama).
The song "The Bridge of Drama" is based on a legend connected to Hassan, a figure from the Ottoman Empire period, likely a bandit or captain. Known for redistributing the wealth he stole from the rich to the poor, Hassan was beloved by locals. However, his life ended tragically at the bridge in Drama, and this event became the subject of the song. The "bloodied" bridge symbolizes his fate and death.
The legend, in its various versions, always emphasizes the tragic heroism of Hassan. In the song, Hassan is depicted as approaching the bridge, with the music amplifying the melancholic and sorrowful mood. The lyrics of the song focus on the themes of sacrifice, fate, and an untimely death.
This song portrays vivid, symbolic imagery and evokes strong emotions of conflict and despair. The themes of betrayal and fate are expressed through the figure of Hassan, drawing on elements of Greek folk music tradition.
The version of the song performed by Maria Thoidou and Sokratis Malamas in 2004 provides a modern take on the legend while retaining traditional musical elements.
LYRICS (greek)
Στο ποτάμι σύρε Χασάν
Στο γεφύρι βγες βρε Χασάν, στο γεφύρι βγες
Ματωμένο σε προσμένει
Να διαβείς δε θες
Στο ποτάμι σύρε Χασάν
Μια γουλιά να πιεις βρε Χασάν
Παγωμένο σε κοιτάζει
Μα `συ μην το δεις
Του θυμού τη φλόγα Χασάν
Σου τ’ ορμήνεψαν βρε Χασάν
Πως τη σβήνει το αίμα Χασάν
Σε ξεγέλασαν
Τα φτερά σου χτύπα Χασάν
άτυχο πουλί, βρε Χασάν
Πιο στενό κι απ’ το γεφύρι
Είναι το κελί
LYRICS (english translation)
Hassan, drag yourself to the river
Step onto the bridge, Hassan, step onto the bridge
Bloodstained, it calls you
Yet you hesitate to cross
Drag yourself to the river, Hassan
Take a sip, Hassan
Frozen, it watches you
But you must not look upon it
The flame of wrath, Hassan
They warned you, Hassan
How blood will quell it, Hassan
They deceived you
Spread your wings, Hassan
Unlucky bird, Hassan
Tighter than the bridge
Is the prison’s grasp
Tasos Kofodimos - voice, lute
Yvonne Melissa - violin
Laia Escartin - viola
Nicholas Cimadevila, Mikołaj Bigaj - sound engineering
Maciej Müller - video
Special thanks to the Paradijs Kerk for hosting the concert and to Batavierhuis for their support and collaboration.