1963: When the Beatles Sung Mikis Theodorakis’ “The Honeymoon Song”

EDITOR’S NOTE (Nick Stamatakis): Our readers have noticed our efforts to dig out some hidden jewels of the wonderful – and very productive worldwide – magic time of the 1960s.  We have been exploring the encounter of modern Greek music with the World, starting with the “father” of modern Greek music, Manos Hadjidakis – but we are not yet done with him… At the same time, Mikis Theodorakis was well on his way to an international career, even before composing “Zorba” (1964).  In August 1963 the Beatles played one of his most beautiful songs, titled in Greek “If you remember my Dream”. It looks like Paul McCartney was the force behind this performance… Below you can read the story and enjoy the many versions of the song, starting with the Beatles’ rendering of the famous melody.

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In 1958, Mikis Theodorakis recorded a song for Michael Powell’s Spanish/flamenco dance film Honeymoon – Theodorakis had worked with Powell on Ill Met By Moonlight in 1957. The song was sung by Gloria Lasso and set to the poetry of Rafael de Penagos and was called Luna de Miel. In 1963, the Beatles recorded the song as the Honeymoon Song. In the meantime, a Greek version was made with lyrics by Nikos Gatsos, Αν θυμηθείς τ’ όνειρό μου (If you remember my dream), sung, first, by Giovanna and then by Mary Linda. Linda’s is the most famous version, though it has been sung and recorded by many, many Greek singers since – everyone from Marios Frangoulis to Anna Vissi. Above is the Beatles’ version, below is the Mary Linda version, followed by the Spanish version, a video with an excellent version by Photini Darra and Gatsos’ lyrics for the Greek song.

Αν θυμηθείς τ’ όνειρό μου
Στην αγκαλιά μου κι απόψε σαν άστρο κοιμήσου
δεν απομένει στον κόσμο ελπίδα καμιά
τώρα που η νύχτα κεντά με φιλιά το κορμί σου
μέτρα τον πόνο κι άσε με μόνο στην ερημιά

Αν θυμηθείς τ’ όνειρό μου
σε περιμένω να ‘ρθεις
μ’ ένα τραγούδι του δρόμου να ρθεις όνειρό μου
το καλοκαίρι που λάμπει τ’ αστέρι με φως να ντυθείς

In my arms tonight once more sleep like a star
There’s no hope left in the world
Now that the night is knitting your body with kisses
Measure the pain and leave me alone in the wilderness.

If you my remember my dream
I’ll wait for your return
With a song from the street, come, my dream
In summer, as a shining star clothes you in light.

MORE FAMOUS SINGERS SING THE FAMOUS MELODY

THE AMAZING YIANNIS PARIOS…

AND THE OPERA SINGER MARIO FRANGOULIS