The famous old-Dimos (Sept.-Oct. 1859) by Pavlos Carrer (1829-1896) with poetry by Aristotelis Valaoritis, is the most emblematic melody of all Greek music. Its popularity is probably unique in the global musical history.

The two most important chronological and certainly among the oldest references to the song are owed to the composer himself, in the surviving part of his invaluable "Memoirs" which abruptly stop in the year 1887.

First mention: On April 20, 1859, we departed to make an artistic excursion to Smyrna. And first to Patras where we stayed a few days for the Easter celebrations. At the great festival of the Old People's Home, where thousands of people gather from all the surrounding villages, I received the first hint for the composition of my second klephtic song "I have grown old, foolish children," poetry by Valaoritis.