ώρα μιας ορμά

[Theseus]

In the song of 1975 πάμε για δουλειά (post daeman #2 Tuesday) this ‘strange’ phrase appears whose meaning is obscure, even to ‘Man! I have listened to this very catchy song and there seems no doubt that this is what is sung. But at last I have found two good English translations of this song which render the words either as ‘time for the rush’ or ‘time for a rush’. These translations are difficult to get from the actual Greek, though they make perfect sense in context. Does the phrase really make any sense at all in Greek?

 

[cougr]

It doesn't make sense as a coherent sentence in Greek, Theseus. It's not an idiomatic expression nor does it work semantically or grammatically. "Ώρα μιας" translates as "hour of a", and is typically followed by a noun (or adjective and noun) in the genitive, and not by a verb.

Edit: When I first listened to the song I thought she sang "ώρα για σούρωμα" ie. "time to get drunk". Though on subsequent hearings it definitely sounded the way you stated it.

 

[cougr]

But at last I have found two good English translations of this song which render the words either as ‘time for the rush’ or ‘time for a rush’.

Sticking with the verb "ορμώ" but using it's noun form, the above phrases would be "ώρα για την ορμή/ώρα της ορμής" and "ώρα για ορμή" respectively. However, "ορμή" with the meaning of "rush" isn't used in the sense of being in a hurry (βιασύνη) or in the sense of "rush hour" (ώρα αιχμής) but rather in the sense of when you rush at someone or something.

 

[Theseus]

Thanks, cougr. Could it be ‘the hour of 1 (a. m.) rushes by’: a totally tortuous explanation (!) & ‘translation’.

 

[Theseus]

The trouble is with some pop songs that they twist the language to make it rhyme. Figuratively, ορμάω can mean dash/ run, like τρέχω, so does the author means τρέχει μια η ώρα, which becomes ώρα μιας ορμά? After all, verse is all about the swift passage of leisure time and then it’s back to work again:-

‘The evening comes, ‘time for a rush’ [?it’s one before you know it?]
Men with ties and women with long dresses ( μακριά ‘long things’ stretching understanding, but fairly obvious from context. Rather formal for a taverna!);
They go to the taverns, money is spent [or maybe it’s λεπτά!? The minutes fly by!?]
And then they remember that soon it will be seven (am)’

But this is probably my typical balderdash and a waste of time on trifles οπότε συγνώμη από πριν. I await the incisive demolition…

 

[AoratiMelani]

As I said in the other thread about the song, the verse is "ο Ρωμιός ορμά" = the Greek rushes (=all Greeks rush out to have fun)

 

[Theseus]

Apologies, I thought that that thread had gone dead. See my reply there. Thanks so much!