LADY VANGELINE
(Greek Traditional, English lyrics attrib. to Eleanor Graham Vance)

O who art thou, Lady Vangeline,
Thou rulest here like a lovely queen. (2x)
   From the sky thou dost appear
   Bringing blessed water so pure and clear.
O who art thou Lady Vangeline,
Thou rulest here like a lovely queen.

The cypress tree and the lemon tree
Hold up their boughs for a drink from thee. (2x)
   Fail them not, O lovely one,
   Leave them not to burn in the summer sun.
The cypress tree and the lemon tree
Hold up their booughs for a drink from thee.

The water thou bringest from the sky
Must quench their thirst or the trees will die. (2x)
   Mercy, mercy Lady mine!
   Let thy raindrops fall on the tree and vine.
The water thou bringest from the sky
Must quench their thirst or the trees will die.

O who art thou Lady Vangeline,
Thou rulest here like a lovely queen.
=================================================================
Source: Songs of Many Lands (1943) by Eleanor Graham Vance.
The original Greek lyrics are quite different - simpler and earthier: see the post by George Papavgeris above (29 Sep 07). This song is still well-known and popular in Greece both to sing and to dance to (sources: my barber, Nick the Greek, and George Papavgeris) and is at least 100 years old, possibly much older.
T.P.

---

I've attached the following midi (type 1) files:

1. Lady_Vangeline_Tune.mid (click) -- the bare melody.
   
2. Lady_Vangeline_Harmony.mid (click) -- Three part harmony
   
3. Lady_Vangeline_Harmony2.mid (click) -- identical with 2 except different midi voicing - pick whichever you like best
   
4. Lady_Vangeline_Men's_Chorus.mid (click) -- a full choral arrangement of all 3 verses
   -- probably a bit too classical & complicated for the DT