Thread: Meaning of Rompi

I am incredibly embarassed, because I know I should know this: What does Rompi translate to? I am not looking for the lyrics of the song, I know that Shira has the ultimate translation - and I am well familiar with that, I can tell the story and I sing along. But, what is the meaning of the word Rompi itself? My old brain floats two theories: that it is a non-sense word, and that it is a woman's name. Can somebody put me out of my misery, please?

I speak fluent Turkish and the word Rompi has no meaning; however, the song is from Thrace so it could have originally been in Greek and the Turkish just a lot of other 9/8 tunes. So maybe it is the only word remaining from the original Greek. In fact, according to Turkish linguistic rules, Rompi could not be a Turkish word and the vowels don't match together (Turkish has a system of vowel harmony we lack in English).
Also, I'm curious as to what Shira's translation is. I must have heard at least 10 version is, all with totally different lyrics... from "the rains sounds like ssht on my tent top" to "the tomatoes are red,red" to the school-yard version "puff-daddy is jumping on my tent!"

I have Sarah Skinner's Turkish Belly Dance DVD and this is one of the routines she teaches. She said it was a nonsense word.

cadırımın üstüne puff daddy damladı,
jay-z hummer'ı almadı, almadı.
eminem rapçilerin yıldızı, yıldızı;
alem usher'a kalmadı, kalmadı...

This is the one I was thinking of! Talk about globalization. Thanks for reminding me.

Puff daddy is falling on my tent
Jay-Z couldn't buy a hummer.
Eminem is the star of rap
Usher's brand didn't last.

And the school-girls would sing this one, good for belly dance classes!
domatesin çekirdeği kırmızı kırmızı, domatesin çekirdeği kırmızı kırmızı
kızlar bu dünyanın yıldızı yıldızı, kızlar bu dünyanın yıldızı yıldızı
domatesin çekirdeği sapsarı sapsarı, domatesin çekirdeği sapsarı sapsarı
erkekler bu dünyanın şapşalı şapşalı, erkekler bu dünyanın şapşalı şapşalı
The tomato seeds are red,
Girls are the stars of the world.
Tomato seeds are yellow,
Boys are the stupidest things in the world.

Originally Posted by Shivaun

I speak fluent Turkish and the word Rompi has no meaning; however, the song is from Thrace so it could have originally been in Greek and the Turkish just a lot of other 9/8 tunes. So maybe it is the only word remaining from the original Greek. In fact, according to Turkish linguistic rules, Rompi could not be a Turkish word and the vowels don't match together (Turkish has a system of vowel harmony we lack in English).
Also, I'm curious as to what Shira's translation is. I must have heard at least 10 version is, all with totally different lyrics... from "the rains sounds like ssht on my tent top" to "the tomatoes are red,red" to the school-yard version "puff-daddy is jumping on my tent!"

Oh, thanks muchos for the information! I love song geekery ;-) And, I *so* will sing along the modernized lyrics at the next event!

Shira's website has a translation here: Turkish Music: English Translation of Lyrics for Çadirimin Üstüne Şip Dedi, Also Known as Rompi Rompi

Originally Posted by Shivaun

Also, I'm curious as to what Shira's translation is. I must have heard at least 10 version is, all with totally different lyrics... from "the rains sounds like ssht on my tent top" to "the tomatoes are red,red" to the school-yard version "puff-daddy is jumping on my tent!"

My translation is here:

Turkish Music: English Translation of Lyrics for Çadirimin Üstüne Şip Dedi, Also Known as Rompi Rompi

May I add the verses you posted on this thread to it? The Puff-Daddy one really made me laugh! Of course, I'd identify you as the contributor!

Just checked out your translation. Fantastic! Nice to have a more poetic and less literal translation. I don't know how I would have translated "veresiye vere vere"! I liked the one about the bazaar cuz EVERY TIME I WENT TO THE TUESDAY BAZAAR IN KADIKOY I CAME HOME WITH ANOTHER PAIR OF SHOES. They are just so cheap and fun! I see other people have the same problem as me.

I alway think of it as a bit like 'Hey nonny, nonny' in Shakespeare.

- essentially its nonsense filler lyrics in a 'yeah, yeah, let's all sing along' kind of a way

Shivaun, thank you so much for giving me permission to add your two schoolyard verses and their translations to my translation page for this song! I've just now posted it. I've also added your linguistic comments about the word "rompi". Thank you so much - send me a PM if there's anything you want me to change about your attribution!