Rotsa Tvalts’in Midgas Art’nis Didi Mtebi

(scroll down for English translation)

Rotsa tvalts’in midgas art’nis didi mtebi   

Tovliani ch’ala, ch’alas didi kvebi                

Rotsa tvalts’in midgas k’okht’a satibebi     

T’qe sitsotskhlit savse, mts’vane satibebi   

Gashlili ch’ala, tovliani mtebi                      

Da tsiv ts’qaros k’ldeze khavsiani kvebi     

Ai mashin sikharulit da sitsotskhlit vk’vdebi     

Rotsa chamdzakhian sevdiani khmebi         

T’k’bilad ch’ik’ch’ik’eben balk’omsshi mertskhlebi   

Chems ezoshi nazad norchi qvavilebi        

Chach’k’nebian male, rom aghar viknebi    

Momik’itkhavs ia, momik’itkhavs vardi      

Gauchndebat imat chemzed didi dardi.     

Translation:

When out front lies Artani’s¹ big mountains

The snowy grove and the grove’s big rocks

When out front lies beautiful grasslands

And the forest, full of life

The open grove, the snowy mountains

The cold springs by the cliffs, the mossy rocks

Ah, then with love and joy I will die

As the swallows chirping sweetly

Caling me with sorrowful voices

In my yard, tenderly youthful flowers 

Fade fast and disappear

The violet greets me, the rose greets me

They see within me my big sorrows

¹Leila's village, looking out over the mountains of Pshavi. 

There are no lyrics available for this song. If you are able to provide more information, please include it in an email to TsutisopeliProject@gmail.com and we will update the page.

For a rough translation of the lyrics, refer to the About Song section.

Saingiloze

(scroll down for English translation)

O sakartvelos niavi

Dakrole saingilosk’en

Kurmukhis ts’minda santlebo

Saingiloze ilotse

Shen shegvets’ie giorgi

Shen shegvets’ie ts’mindao

Kartveli davarche kartvelad

Me met’i ara mindao

Gulo ar chakre iare

Sulo ar chakre iare

Chven gavamteleb chvens mamuls

Chven moushushuebt iarebs

O sakartvelos niavo

Dakrole saingilosk’en

Kurmukhis ts’minda santlebo

Saingiloze ilotse

Translation:

Georgia’s breeze

Blows towards Saingilo¹

Kurmukhi’s² sacred candles –

Pray for Saingilo

Save us, Giorgi

Save us, Saint

I don’t want more

Than for Georgians to remain Georgian

Heart, don’t be quelled – walk

Soul, don’t be quelled – walk

We will restore our fatherland

Georgia’s breeze

Blows towards Saingilo

Kurmukhi’s sacred candles –

Pray for Saingilo

¹A territory in western Azerbaijan, historically linked to Georgia by way of politics and culture. The territory was disputed between 1918-1920, when both Azerbaijan and Georgia claimed it. Under Soviet rule the territory was allocated to Azerbaijan, but as borders were fluid, travel and cultural exchange were possible. Since the mid 1990’s many points along the border have closed and passing across has become much more difficult.  The district of K’akh, which borders Georgia, has a rich Christian inheritance from the Middle Ages. Today there are many people in Saingilo who identify with Georgia culturally and religiously. Read more about Saingilo here.  

²An old Georgian settlement in present-day Azerbaijan, outside the city of Kakh which was historically Georgian territory. There is an old Georgian Orthodox church there called Kurmukhi’s Church of Saint George.

Sait Midikharto Pshavlebo

Sait midikharto pshavlebo

Tskhenkhetkitao rialitao

Lasharisio jvaris droshisa

Samadao shrialitao

Translation:

Where Are You Going, People of Pshavi? 

Where are you going, people of Pshavi?¹

With the raucous sound of horses

With the flag of Lashari’s Cross²

Rustling mercifully 

¹A highland in northeastern Georgia where the singer is from. Read more about Pshavi here.

²Lashari, Also referred to as Lashari's Cross, a sanctuary to Saint George of Lashari.  Located in the northeast highland of Pshavi and famous throughout Georgia, the mountaintop shrine used to be the political and religious center for Pshavs. The festivals of Lasharoba and Tamaroba (the latter referring to Lashari's sister shrine at Tamar-Ghele) are still celebrated every July in Pshavi.  

Sakartvelo

(scroll down for English translation)

Sakartvelo dedamits’is qvavilnari

Silamazit zghap’radtkmuli nat’vristvalia

/Sinarnarit p’irimzit da p’irimtvarisa

Sap’at’ardzlo samk’auli zurmukht’-lalisa/

Ar momk’vdara tsotskhalia upro mshvendeba

Tsotskhalia arasodes ar daberdeba

/Sakartvelo gulshi vardada aqvavebia

Maszed met’ad tvit sitsotskhlets ar mqvarebia/

Bevrjer siskhlit shegvighebes mt’k’vari rioni

Magram monad ver aktsies k’avk’asioni

/Sakartvelo rustavelis t’k’bili mshobeli

Erek’les da saak’adzis ts’armomshobeli/

Translation:

Georgia

Georgia, mother earth’s flower garden

Like a fairytale in her beauty

Georgia, the face of the sun and the moon

A bride, adorned with emeralds and rubies

She is alive! She is becoming ever so beautiful!

She is alive and she is ageless!

Georgia, blooming as a rose in my heart

I love her more than my own life

Many times were painted

The Mtkvari¹ and Rioni² red with blood

But still they did not enslave the Caucasians!

Georgia, Rustaveli's³ sweet parent

Creator of Erekle4️⃣ and Saakadze 

¹ The largest river in Georgia, the Mtkvari flows through Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan before it enters the Caspian Sea.

² The largest river in western Georgia, the Rioni flows from the Caucasus mountains of Rach'a westward into the Black Sea.

³ Shota Rustaveli was a poet in the 12-13th centuries, and one of the most important contributors to Georgian literature. His most famous piece is a national epic poem called Knight in the Panther's Skin.

4️⃣King Heraclius II united the Kingdoms of Kartli and K’akheti during his rule in the 18th century.

Sakartvelos Kalebi

(scroll down for English translation)

Mshvidobis mt’redi aprinda nair perovan mdelodan

Mshvidobis momkhre khalkhebo salami sakartvelodan

/Salami sakartvelo da/

Dzvelad turme, rotsa mt’rebis utvalavi jarebi

Modiodnen rom gaeghot sakartvelos k’arebi

Mamak’atsebs gverdit hqavdat, vit poladis parebi

/Da mt’rebs mattan ertad stsemdnen sakartvelos kalebi/

Ise mt’k’itse iqvenen, turme, vit met’ekhis k’edeli

Gmiri tamar vashlovneli da maia ts’qneteli

Mati khmali tsetskhls aprkvevda, mt’eri trtoda verani

/Sakartvelos tsis pers hgavda peri mati meranis/

Mamulistvis daikhotsnen vazhk’atsobis msakhvelni

/Sakartvelo iqo mati uts’mindes sakheli/

Translation:

Georgia's Women
 

The dove of peace flew up from the meadow

The supporter of peace, greetings from Georgia

In ancient times

When uncountable armies of enemies

Were coming to open the doors of Georgia

Men had shields of steel

Georgian women were fighting, too

Wherever they wanted to be, they were

Always beloved and accepted

Georgia was theirs

The place of their dreams

The heroines were standing as strong

As the walls of Metekhi Fortress

Tina from Ts’avk’isi, Maia from Tskheneti

Their swords sparked and the enemies were frightened

The color of their horses resembled the Georgian sky

The color of pegasus

They died for their fatherland, without regret

And Georgia was the place of their dreams

Sakartvelos Kalebi

(scroll down for English translation)

Dzvelad turme rotsa mt’rebis utvalavi jarebi

Modiodnen rom gaeghot sakartvelos k’arebi

Mama-k’atsebs gverdshi hqvada vit poladis parebi

/Da mt’rebs mattan ertad stsemdnen

Sakartvelos kalebi/

Sadats unda qopili iqvenen,  Marad daudzrakhveli

/Sakartvelo iqo mati, Sautsnebo sakheli/

Isev mt’k’itset idgnen turme vit met’ekhis k’edeli

Gmiri tina ts’avk’iseli, da maia ts’qneteli

Mati khmali tsetskhls aprkvevda mt’eri k’rtoda veragi

/Sakartvelos tsitspers hgavda, peri mati meranis/

Mamulistvis daikhotsnen,  marad daudzrakhvelni

/Sakartvelo iqo mati,  sautsnebo sakheli/

Translation:

Georgian Women
 

In ancient times

When uncountable armies of enemies

Were coming to open the doors of Georgia

Men had shields of steel

Georgian women were fighting, too

Wherever they wanted to be, they were

Always beloved and accepted

Georgia was theirs

The place of their dreams

The heroines were standing as strong

As the walls of Metekhi Fortress 

Tina from Tsavkisi, Maia from Tskheneti

Their swords sparked and the enemies were frightened

The color of their horses resembled the Georgian sky

The color of pegasus

They died for their fatherland, without regret

And Georgia was the place of their dreams

Sakartvelos Saamaqo Dzmebo

(scroll down for English translation)

Ikneb deda genat’rebat dzmebo

Ezo-k’arits genat’rebat ikneb

Eh ra ari bedists’era gergot

Tmakhuch’uch’a p’irmtsinare bich’ebs

Tkven k’i gdzinavt moigonebt rames

Ik misuli otsnebebshits mihkrit

Tskhra ap’rili ar gak’mares dzmebo

Agvist’oshits gaghvrevines siskhli

Sakartvelos saamaqo dzmebo

Samudamod chvens gulebshi darchit

Translation:

Georgia's Glorious Brothers

Brothers, perhaps you miss your mother

You miss your home, perhaps

What fate fell upon you that cursed you so?

Curly-haired, ever-smiling boys…

You are reminded of something in your sleep

You fly there in your dreams

April 9th1 was not enough, Brothers

For in August you were bloody, too.

Georgia’s glorious brothers –

You are always in our hearts

¹A reference to the Tbilisi Massacre that occurred on April 9th, 1989.  Twenty people died and hundreds were injured when the Soviet Army dispersed an Anti-Soviet Demonstration. 

Sakartveloze

(scroll down for English translation)

Vdzebne vdzebne ver movdzebne

Otsnebashi dakhat’uli moqme

Minda viqo tavank’ara gazapkhuli

Chemi mits’is sadghegrdzelos movqve

Mumli mukhas ekhveoda

Qoranivit dagvrchkhaoda mt’eri

Lets’es lets’es magram maints ver dalets’es

Sakartvelos miuvali bch’eni

Lets’es lets’es ver dalets’es

Gana martla tavze chamogvektsa

Varsk’vlavebis chikht’ik’op’it mokarguli

Sakartvelos madliani zetsa

Vdzebne vdzebne ver movdzebne

Otsnebashi dakhat’uli moqme

Minda viqo tavank’ara gazapkhuli

Chemi mits’is sadghegrdzelos movqve

Translation:

Georgia

I was looking for and could not find

A countryman drawn in dreams

I want to be a pure spring

And say toasts for my land

A fly embraced the oak tree

The enemy was shrieking at us like a raven

It was beating but could not break through 

Georgia’s unconquerable gates

It was beating but could not break through

Georgia’s graceful sky

Embroidered with a crown of stars -

Has it really fallen on our heads?

I was looking for and could not find

A countryman drawn in dreams

I want to be a pure spring

And say toasts of my land

Sakartveloze

Text: Ioseb Noneshvili

(scroll down for English translation)

Davitsvat chveni kveqana

Did ts’inap’arta lamp’ari

Qana davitsvat shriala

Vazirka gadanaqari

         Ar dagvits’ikhlon samshoblo

         Mraval ch’ir-varam nanakhi

         Mama p’ap’ata saplavze

         Ar amovides balakhi

Gana imit’om ismoda

Mtidan qvirili kharisa

Shavi k’ldis tavze zhriali

Oja jurkhais parisa

         Mgheri bulbulis galoba

         Ilias sit’qva maradis

         Da rustavelis simghera

         Ts’asuli k’ari k’aremdis

Davitsvat chveni kveqana

Did ts’inap’arta lamp’ari

Qana davitsvat shriali

Vazirka gadanaqari

Chveni samshoblo davitsvat

Chveni bavshvebis ak’vani

Translation:

Georgia

Let’s protect our country

Our ancestors’ great light

Let’s defend the rustling cornfields

And the vineyards' thorns

My homeland

You have seen so much torment and plague

That grass no longer grows

On the graves of our ancestors

A cry was heard from the mountain

A bull screamed

There was noise from the black cliffs

It was the shield of Oja Jurkhai

The nightingale sweetly sings

Ilia's¹ eternal words

And Rustaveli's² song

Travels from door to door

Let’s protect our country

Our ancestors’ great light

Let’s defend the rustling cornfields

And the vineyards' thorns

Let’s protect our homeland

And the cradles of our children

¹ Ilia Chavchavadze (1837-1907) was a Georgian writer, poet, journalist and lawyer who spearheaded the revival of the Georgian national movement in the second half of the 19th century, during the Russian rule of Georgia. Today he is widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of modern Georgia.

² Shota Rustaveli was a 12-13th century poet and one of the greatest contributors to Georgian literature. His most famous piece is the national epic poem Knight in a Panther's Skin. 

Sakeipo Simghera

(scroll down for English translation)

Khonchebo riano

Khonchebo khonchebo genatsvale

Khoncheb khink’lebiano

Erda k’okht’a saqvareli

Sanam dak’argviano

Shampuro riano

Shampur shampur genatsavale

Shampur mts’vadebiano

Erda k’okht’a saqvareli

Sanam dak’argviano

Botlebo, riano

Botleb botleb genatsvale

Botleb arqebiano

Erda k’okht’a saqvareli

Sanam damk’argviano

Translation:

Party Song
 

Wooden sieve, what are you for?¹

Wooden sieve, wooden sieve, genatsvale²

Wooden sieve for our khinkali³

So dear and precious to us

Until we've gone through it all!
 

Roasting spit, what are you for?

Roasting spit, roasting spit, genatsvale

Roasting spit for our mtsvadi4️⃣

So dear and precious to us

Until we've gone through it all!

Bottles, what are you for?!

Bottles, bottles, genatsvale

Bottles for our araqi5️⃣

Once elegant and pretty

Until we've gone through it all!

¹A khonch is a traditional kitchen utensil, a sieve spoon (wooden spoon with holes in it) used for khinkali (dumplings). In this song, the singer is talking to the khonch.

²Literally me instead of you, (to take the hardships off of someone and onto oneself), it is used as a term of endearment.  In this stanza for example, the singer is doting upon the konch, the tool that he knows will bring dumplings to his plate.

³Dumplings, much praised in the moutains of northeastern Georgian.

4️⃣Another food of Georgia, specifically in the east: Pieces of pork roasted over the fire on spits, served sometimes with raw onion and pomegranate (shish kebab / shashlik)

5️⃣Hard liquor frequently made of apple or other fruits that grow in the mountains, but also made from grape sedements.

Sakhumaro Avenisze

(scroll down for English translation)

T’irian tushi kalebi

Ar mogvividnen kmarebi

Vai nu dakhotses lek’ebma

Daaqrevines tavebi

Net’avi momk’la mtashia

Dammarkha bunebashia

Net’avi gamagebina

Ra gidevst gunebashia

Kalav gushin da gushints’in

Deda rad gijavrdeboda

Mesmoda sheni kvitini

Vakhshami mimts’ardeboda

Chamoskhdebian khevsurni

Ludis sasmelad banzeda

Kalau chventan gadmodi

Nu gamirbikhar ganzeda

Net’avi radme maktsia

Bulbulad gadamaktsia

Masts’avla bulbulis ena

Tkven baghebs shemomachvia

Kalav gushin da gushints’in

Deda rad gijavrdeboda

Mesmoda sheni kvitini

Vakhshami mimts’ardeboda

Khorkhor dagvt’oveb t’ialo

Ts’iplano da khilianao

Gadmogiare jijeto da

Serebiano t’qiano

Visi khar kali lamazi

Tvalch’relo ts’itelmiano

Visi khar kali lamazi

Tvalch’relo ts’iteltmiano

Translation:

A Joke Song From Avenisi

Tush women are crying:

Our husbands have not come back to us

May they not be killed by the Leks!¹

May they not be decapitated!
 

I want to die in the mountains

And be buried in nature

I wish I understood

Why you are so upset!
 

Woman, yesterday and the day before

Why was your mother so mad at you?

I heard you sobbing

And it ruined my supper
 

Khevsurs were sitting

Drinking beer on the rooftop, saying:

"Woman, come over to my house

Don’t run away from me!"
 

I wish I were something else

Turn me into a nightingale!

I will learn the nightingale’s language

And show up in your garden
 

Woman, yesterday and the day before

Why was your mother so mad at you?

I heard you sobbing

And it ruined my supper
 

Khorkhor left us, what a shame

Beech trees and fruits

I passed through Jijeti²

With its hills and forests

Whose are you, beautiful woman?

With dappled eyes and red hair

Whose are you, beautiful woman?

With dappled eyes and red hair

¹Leks / Lekebi = Hinukh people: One of the many tribes (together with Avars and Dargins) living in the North Caucasus region that is today called Dagestan. Leks were traditional enemies of Georgians during the 18th century, regularly invading and raiding the valleys of Kakheti. Today, Georgians refer to as lek all the tribes from Dagestan.

²A beautiful village in the hills of Ertso-Tianeti.

Sakorts’ilos Shairi

(scroll down for English translation)

Ertkhelis viqav korts’ilshi

Dzalian davitveri

Kalastan qopna momts’adda

Avdek da ts’amoveli

K’ardak’et’ilshi damikhvda

Erdoze gadavdzveri

Ts’amomiprinda beberi

Maqara tskhli dgheni

/She dasats’velo saidan

Ak sait gadmozdzveri

Mirt’qa da mirt’qa jokhebi

Amatreina ts’eli/

Translation:

Joke Song from a wedding
 

Once when I was at a wedding

I drank so much

I wanted to be with a woman

So I stood up and tried to grab her
 

She hid behind a locked door

So I climbed over the wall

An old man saw me fly over

And lit a fire below

You cow! Where'd you come from?

How did you climb over here?

She hit me over and over with a cane

Until my back was sore.

There is no English translation available for this song. If you are able to provide one, please include it in an email to TsutisopeliProject@gmail.com and we will update the page.

Salaghobo

Ts’qaros tavze gogo midis tsisk’arivita

Gogoa tu ts’qaros ts’qalma mze airida

Shen zghva khar da me am zghvaze daval t’ivita

Shen rom ara t’algha gulze gadamivlida

Gogoa tu mze gashlila ts’qaltan ia da

Gogoa tu gazapkhuli amomzianda

Shevkhede da gulis k’ari damcha ghiada

Mitkhar maints mosvla khom ar damagvianda

Aprenili k’ent’i ts’ero t’iris ghrublebtan

Ts’eroa tu chemi guli mzestana mivida

Modi prtebi dagiamo gulis ubita

Ts’qaros tavze gogo midis tsisk’arivita

Samamulo Omis Monatsileta 

Poetry by Mirza Gelovani

Dzmata saplavze tsetskhli inteba                

Shinmousvleli dzmebi gvakhsovdes           

Movalt nislebad movalt ts’vimebad                        

Jarisk’atsebad agharasodes                       

Kharobs samshoblo, mgheris buneba       

Aravis akhsovs mts’are ts’utebi                   

Dabrundebian budes mertskhlebi             

Chven k’i verasdros ver davbrundebit     

Ar davbrundebit, ver davbrundebit                      

Ver vagugunebt dzmobis k’erias    

Tkventvis vibrdzodit rotsa vibrdzodit       

Tkventvis vibrdzodit rats gvibrdzolia         

Erti qumbaro gveqo samives                       

Tkveni mzisatvis tavi gavts’iret                 

Bevrni viqavit erti samara                          

Tkhilis gulivit gavinats’ilet                           

Magram sitsotskhle isev grdzeldeba           

Shinmousvleli dzmebi gvakhsovdes           

Movalt nislebad, movalt ts’vimebad           

Jarisk’atsebad agharasodes                         

Translation:

There is a fire lit at the brothers' graves

We will remember these unripe men

We will come in fog, we will come in rain

But those soldiers will never come again

The homeland delights, nature sings

But no one remembers the bitter minutes

The swallows return to their nests

But we shall not

We won’t return, we can’t return

We can no longer light our brothers' hearths

We fought for you when we fought

What did we fight for?

One grenade was enough for three

We died for your light of day

We were many in one grave

Packed like nuts in a shell

But life goes on

May we remember our lost brothers

For we will come in fog, we will come in rain

But the soldiers will never come again

Instrumental.

Samasi Aragveli

Text: Shota Nishnianidze

Music: Khvicha Arabuli

(scroll down for English translation)

Hei sait midis mdumare lashkari

Siskhli abjarshi mjdari

/Aragvis t’ot’ivit damshrali

Pekh-kalamnianta jari/

Bat’oni ar hqavdat ertgulebs mepeta

Da lashkars medroshed vin udzghvis tavshi

/Samasmi arian da samas legendas

Natlis angelozi miudzghvis tsashi/

Mamulo egebis saplavshits pkhizloben

Larsharis, lomisis, gudanis qmebi

/Sheguebulni maradisobas

Rogorts karkashebs khmlebi/

Hei sait midis mdumare lashkari

Siskhli abjarshi

/Aragvis t’ot’ivit damshrali

Pekh-kalamnianta jari/

Translation:

Three Hundred Aragvians¹

Where is the silent army going?

Blood in armor

Clad in bast shoes²

Dry like the branches of the Aragvi River³

They did not serve a lord

But were devoted to the king

And who leads the army with the flag?

They are three hundred, the three hundred legends

Are led by angels in the sky
 

Homeland, they are awakened in their graves

The children of Lashari, Lomisi, Gudani’s serfs⁴ 

They are used to eternity

Like swords in a sheath
 

Where is the silent army going?

Blood in armor

Clad in bast shoes

Dry like the branches of the Aragvi River

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.

²Traditional shoes made of tree bark

³The 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. 

⁴Lasharis Jvari in Pshavi, Lomisi in Mtiuleti, and Gudani in Khevsureti are the principal sanctuaries to Saint George within those highland regions.

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

Samasi Aragveli

(scroll down for English translation)

Chokit movdivar k’rts’anisit

Tkven sadideblad gmirebo

Tkveni daghlili tvalebis

Dak’otsnas davap’irebo

Mt’ris urdos jikur ek’vetnen

Nap’erts’k’als qridnen tvalebit

Dzaghlik’ats jishis khevsurni

Gogoturivit pshavlebi

Vai rom daikhotseni

Mit’ots dagetsat lashkari

Tkven ro gadakhdil raindebs

Ghimit ver shekhvda lashkari

Veghar aantet k’eraze

Mibnerebuli 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

Ekhla rom ts’amogakhedat

Tvali moavlot velebsa

Vegharts k’i itsnobt samshoblos

Verts akhalandelsa velebsa

Lomebs da vepkhvebs jobian

Algets lek’vebi mglisani

Ise ar amosts’qdebian

Javri ar sch’amon mt’risani

Translation:

Three-Hundred Aragvians¹

I am coming to Krtsanisi² 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 will never again kiss you 

On your wounded forehead

Your fighting surpassed tigers and lions

Wolf cubs of Algeti⁷

You brought the sun down to the ground

And shot an arrow to the moon

¹Three-hundred men from the highlands along the Aragvi River, who gathered together in 1795 and fought the Battle of Krtsanisi against the invading Qajar Army. For more information, read the "Song About."

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.  

⁴A legendary Khevsur shaman, famous for being one that had a love affair with the goddess Samdzimari.

⁵A highland 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

There is no English translation available for this song. If you are able to provide one, please include it in an email to TsutisopeliProject@gmail.com and we will udpate the page.

Samjer Shamove Kudos Dzirs

Text and Music: Archil Geladze

Samjer shamove kudos dzirs

Mukhli mamdevda mglisao

/Megona sats’qal ch’abuk’sa

Sit’qvas avigheb p’irsa

Sit’qvas avigheb p’irsa/

Chems ts’in gacherda kalai

Uars ambobda dzlivsa

/Kalais uaris tkmaze

Peri gadmivlis mk’vdrisa

Peri gadmivlis mk’vdrisa/

Daits’vi chemi dats’vistvis

Nurts eghirsebi bedsa

/Shenzedamts at’irdebian

Sheni sts’orebi dghesa

Sheni sts’orebi dghes/

/Chemi guli okheria

Uk’etess shaiqorebsa

Uk’etess shaiqorebsa/