This rebetiko by the legendary Roza Eskenazē was originally recorded in Athens with a Gramophone matrix for the HMV label but was released domestically as a dubbed copy on Victor’s Orthophonic label – which specialized in Greek recordings. It was later reissued on RCA Victor in the late 40s.
The tune was composed as a Zeibekiko by the santouri player, Manolis Chrysafakis, a man who went by the nickname Fystixis (Φιστιξή), or “Peanut”. The title translates to: “The Fight Over the Loot,” A street dispute over a found wallet (πετσί – literally: “Skin”) is performed as a back and forth between a protagonist (Kóllia) and an uncouth petitioner. Roza sings both parts to the song. After tense words, the protagonist resentfully shares the plunder after being told an unrevealed secret.
Lyrics:
Το πετσί που βρήκες Κόλλια, σκάστο, δωσ’ μου τα μισά.
The loot you found, Kóllia, cough it up and give me half!
Δεν σου δίνω πενταράκι, γιατί έχω συντροφιά.
I’m not giving you a single penny, not in front of my crew.
Κόλλια θα σου την καρφώσω, φέρτα κι άφησέ τα αυτά.
Kóllia, I’ll rat you out – hand it over and stop your nonsense!
Εγώ βλάμη δεν σου δίνω κοροϊδίστικα λεφτά.
Listen, pal, I’m not giving you money for nothing.
Στο ‘πα και στο ξαναλέγω, Κόλλια θα σου ‘ξηγηθώ.
I told you and I’m telling you again, Kóllia, I’m gonna straighten you out.
Λόγια εγώ πολλά δεν ξέρω, άντε, στρίβε από δώ.
I’m not one for big talk – now get lost!
Τότε ο βλάμης του το σκάει στο αυτί το μυστικό.
Then his buddy drops a secret in his ear.
Ναι, ο Κόλλιας του μετράει κι αυτουνού το μερδικό.
Yes, Kóllia begrudgingly counts out his cut as well.
Γειά σου Κόλλια τσίφτη!
Good for you, Kóllia, you slick bastard!
This disc sports a lovely store sticker from where it was originally purchased: Elliopulos Brothers, a purveyor of phonographs, records, and piano rolls on 803 S. Halsted Street in Chicago, Illinois – just south of what is now called Greektown. It came from a large collection of Greek discs owned by George Psiropoulos, who grew up in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin but moved to South Dakota to work as a restaurateur in the 1950s.
Recorded in Athens, Greece on December 15, 1934.
Released in the U.S. as Orthophonic S-336.
Originally released in Greece as His Master’s Voice AO-2226.
Credits:
Roza Eskenazē (Ρόζα Εσκενάζυ) – vocals
Dimitris Semsis (Δημήτρης Σέμσης) – violin (βιολί)
Unknown Artist – guitar (κιθάρα)
Manolis Chrysafakis (Μανώλη Χρυσαφάκης) – santouri (σαντούρι)
Tetos Demetriades (Τετος Δημητριαδης) – session supervisor
Sources:
https://rebetiko.sealabs.net/
DAHR – https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000250997/0GA122-O_kaugas_gia_to_petsi_
https://www.brewerfuneral.com/obituaries/George-Psiropoulos?obId=32501137
Translation assisted by AI.
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