Oy, ninias, ninias

From Arboleras vol. 3, Sephardic songs from the 20th century, 2000

The lyrics of this Sephardic song appeared in a collection first published in the newspaper La Trompeta, and later gathered in a notebook titled The Songs of the Trumpet (1924). There, the song is introduced with the title and comment: “Ah, the girls are dancing the foxtrot! What a shame!” The opening lines are similar to those in our version, inspired by the same ironic outlook on modern fashions and dances.
This version was learned from  Bela Shaboté, born in Skopje (Macedonia), who later lived at the Residence of Elderly Sephardim of Salonika (Esterka Sadiéira-Moestra).

Text:
Oy, niñas, niñas, no queres entender:
vestir vestidos, esto ya lo sabes,
cuando vos veio me sesereio,
las bailaderas del foxtrot.

O, Bayandera, tidik s'emorfiá           
me tisali su mu pires tin gordiá        
neloyamaika mu pires tin gordiá                 
O, Bayandera, muliká.                

Kato'po to peplo to jíris          
lambi to korm su lambik,         
sia badaidera, pet stin aera,       
ti diki suemerfi.     
               
Translation of Ladino:
Oh, girls, girls, why won’t you understand?
Wearing dresses that you already know,
when I see you, I get flustered,
you dancers of the foxtrot.

Translation of Greek:
Oh, dancer, what beauty is yours,
with your glance you stole my heart,
my little Jamaican one, you stole my heart,
Oh, dancer, little one.

Beneath the veil you turn around,
your body shines, it gleams,
you, dancer, leap in the air,
showing your beauty.