Es un grande mal con las dotas: los niños saben abusar, las ke no tienen la pilota ellas no se pueden kasar. Londras y liras demandan los niños él con fedor al koredor, les meten a las niñas eskariños ke dañador, tambien el aguador demanda ajugar komplet, komod y tualette. Las niñas las poveretas su alma ven akurtar, se les hace las karas pretas fin a llorar y sospirar. Sufren bastante los padres por no poder responder; se pelean kon las madres y todo kale vender. No puede pagar la kiera de kasa, una udá al hovardá. Sabes en kualo el mesie se basa? no hay ganar, kale muncho penar kombina y algún tembel ke le pague bedel. Los niños piden mesa franka y esfuegro bien paralí, buscan la hanina o la blanka, mesmo si él es bragalí. Buška mujer menajera ke sepa bien lavorar kon alguja y tijera y su kasa bien mirar.
It is a great evil with the dowries: the boys know how to abuse those girls who do not have the money they cannot get married. Pounds and liras the boys demand, he, with a stench, to the corridor, they whisper flattery to the girls, what harm! also the water-carrier asks for a complete set, with a dresser and toilet. The poor little girls, their souls they see cut short, their faces turn dark from crying and sighing. Their parents suffer greatly, for they cannot answer (pay); they quarrel with the mothers, and everything must be sold. He cannot pay the rent of the house, one room because he is a spendthrift Do you know what the man relies on? there’s no earning, much suffering must be endured, he schemes, and pays some fool for taking his place in the army The boys ask for a rich table and a rich father-in-law, they look for the graceful and fair one, even if he himself is poor. He looks for a woman who keeps house, who knows well how to work with needle and scissors and watch well over her home.
From Ventanas Altas de Saloniki, 2013. This song criticizes the the custom of having to provide a bride with a large dowry, often exploited by grooms who are not worth it. The song was printed in 1924 and the tune is from the French song: 'Lison-Lisette' composed by Chales Borel-Clerc.
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025