Chemi Samshoblo  

(scroll down for English translation)

Amoshukdi amobrts’qindi
Mzeo okros tmebiano
Gaikhare sakartvelo
Tval uts’vdenel mtebiano

Or zghvas shua monarnare
Mits’avis ar qvarebia
Shotas mkhares, vazhas mkhares
Vin ar gaukharebia

Amoshukdi amobrts’qindi
Mzeo okros tmebiano
Gaikhare sakartvelo
Gagimarjot kartvelebo!

Translation:

My Homeland

Rise and shine in your magnificence

You, the golden-haired sun

Glory to you, Georgia

And to the boundless mountains

Existing between two seas¹

Is a land loved by everyone

Shota’s² side, Vazha’s³ side

Who is not joyful?

Rise and shine in your magnificence

You, the golden-haired sun

Glory to you, Georgia

And to the boundless mountains

¹The Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.

²A twelfth century Georgian poet, author of the famous Knight In The Panther's Skin, and one of the greatest contributors to Georgian Literature. Read more about Rustaveli here.

³Luka Razikashvili (1861-1916) was one of Georgia’s most famous poets and writers. He wrote under the pen name Vazha-Pshavela, which literally means son from Pshavi. He was born and raised in the village of Chargali where a museum for him, opened in 1961, exists today.

Samasi Aragveli

(scroll down for English translation)

Chokit movdivar k’rts’anisit

Tkven sadideblad gmirebo

Tkveni daghlili tvalebis

Chak’otsnas davap’irebo

Mt’ris urdos jikur ek’vetnen

Nap’erts’k’als qridnen tvalebit

Dzaghlik’ats jishis khevsurni

Gogoturivit pshavelni

Vai rom veghar aantet

Mibnelebuli bukhari

Aragvet veghar daliet

Aragvis ts’qali mkukhari

Pekhi ver dadgi ertkhela

Sak’utar k’eris zghurblzeda

Veghar gak’otsat dedama

Dach’ril dak’ech’nil shublzeda

Vepkhvebs da lomebs vjobivart

Algets lek’vebi mglisani

Mze chamovtskhrilet mits’aze

Mtvares vesrolet isari

Translation:

Three Hundred Aragvians¹

I am coming to Krtsanisi,² 

Dressed in a chokha³ 

To praise you, heroes

Your tired eyes

Will be kissed by my lips

You clashed with the enemy

The sparking eyes of

Those ferocious Khevsurs

Were like Gogoturi⁴ from Pshavi⁵

You no longer light

The fireplace anymore

You don’t drink

The water from the Aragvi⁶ anymore

You will no longer set foot

In the warmth of your own house

And your parents won’t kiss you 

On your wounded forehead any longer

Your fighting surpassed tigers, lions and

The Wolf cubs of Algeti⁷

You brought the sun down to the ground

And shot an arrow to the moon

¹The three hundred men from the highlands along the Aragvi River, that gathered together in 1795 and fought the Battle of Krtsanisi against the invading Qajar Army.  They pledged to fight until their death, and only a few returned home. Many famous Georgian authors have paid tribute to the men in their writing. In 2008 they were canonized as martyrs in the Georgian Orthodox Church.

²Where the Battle of Krtsanisi took place in 1795, outside of Tbilisi. Read more about the battle here. 

³Part of a traditional male dress of the Caucasus. There are four versions of the garment within Georgia, and it is linked to a strong sense of national pride. Read more about the chokha here. 

⁴Legendary Khevsur shaman, known for having a love affair with the goddess Samdzimari.

⁵A highland region in northeastern Georgia. Read more about Pshavi here. 

⁶The major river of the eastern Georgian highlands of Khevsureti, Pshavi and Mtiuleti. The 112 kilometer long Aragvi was dammed in Zhinvali in 1986, forming the Zhinvali Reservoir which provides power to much of Georgia. The river eventually flows into the Mtkvari at Mtskheta. 

⁷A village nearby Krtsanisi

Khel Mart'oobas Rom Schivi

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Khel mart’oobas rom schivi

Ara khar shesabralebi

Gaiar gamoiaret

Matodenia kalebi

Tu vinme mogets’oneba

Mere mets dagekhmarebi

Dilit mogit’an mzitevsa

Dilas davak’ar nalebi

Madlobeli var dedidzmav

Damkhmare mezoblisao

Vap’ireb tsolis moqvanas

Male gavmartav lkhinsao

Skhvas aras shevats’ukheb

Para damidis tskhvrisao

Magas k’i k’arg sakmes izam

Tu k’i matkhoveb virsao

K’ai nalebi dagik’rav

Chamoskhmul poladisao

Lursmnebi sadgha ishove

Albat dastale khisao

Translation:

You Complain That You Are Alone (joke song)

(uncle)

You complain that you are alone

But you’re not to be pitied

Going left and right

How many women have there been?

When you really like someone

Then I will help you

I'll bring the bride price in the morning

I’ll have the horseshoes ready

(nephew)

I am grateful, Uncle

You are a helpful neighbor

I plan to get married

And I will soon put on a party

I will not disturb anymore

I've got a flock

And you would be doing me a good deed

If you lend me your donkey

You have made such good horseshoes

Made of steel

But where did you find those nails?

Perhaps you carved them from wood…

Vertskhlis Tasadamts Maktsia 

(scroll down for English translation)

Vertskhlis tasadamts maktsia

Ro ghvinit agevsebodi

Shaperilim mkna ts’itlada

Shamsvamdi shagergebodi

Anam mkna vertskhlis satite

Ro khelze chagedebodi

An sheni namglis qana mkna

Ro pkhaze shagech’rebodi

Anam mkna vardi qoili

Ro gulze dageqrebodi

An sheni dzma mkna mots’ile

Arodis gageqrebodi

Vertskhlis tasadamts maktsia

Ro ghvinit agevsebodi

Shaperilim mkna ts’itlada

Shamsvamdi shagergebodi

Translation:

I Wish I Were A Silver Bowl

I wish I were a silver bowl

So that I could fill myself with wine for you

If I were of red color

You would drink me and be pleased

I wish I were a silver thimble

So that I could slip myself on your finger

Or for your sickle, a cornfield

Mowed down by your blade

I wish I were a rosebud

Spread over your heart¹

Or your brother

Never separated from you

I wish I were a silver bowl

So that I could fill myself with wine for you

If I were of red color

You would drink me and be pleased

¹Other variations on this song include : I wish I were a rosebud, so that I could shed my petals on your lips;  I wish I were a golden ball of wool, so that I could unravel myself on your lap; I wish I were a cambric shirt, so that I could melt on your heart...