Arboleras 3

From Kanta Gayiko, Judeo-Spanish songs from Bulgaria, 2025
Orit Perlman : voice 
Yarden Erez : ud, guitar, gumbush; violin, keyboard and arrangements
Zeev Yaniv : darbuqa, sonaja, bendir, cajón

This Romansa, titled La vuelta del marido ("The Husband’s Return"), tells a story familiar throughout European balladry: the long-awaited return of a husband. Set among gentle trees with branches of gold and ivory, the ballad unfolds as a dialogue between a woman searching for her lost husband and a man who offers to bring him back - but only in exchange for her favors. She offers the three windmills her beloved left behind, and even her three daughters. But when the man demands her own body, she refuses. It is then that he reveals his true identity: he is her husband. To prove it, he describes the birthmark beneath her left breast.

Lyrics
Arvoleras, arvoleras,   arvoleras tan djentil,
las ramikas son de oro,   los dalizikos de marfil.
- ¿Ké bushkásh, la mi donzeya,   esta ora por akí?
- Bushko yo al me amanti,   al mi amanti Agmadí.
- ¿Ké dávash, la mi donzeya,   por ke vo lo traigan akí?
- Dava yo mis tres molinos,    ke me kedaron de Agmadí.
- ¿Más ké das, la mi donzeya,    por ke vo lo traigan akí?
- Dava yo mis tres ijikas,    ke me kedaron de Agmadí:
- ¿Dávash vuestro lindo kuerpo,    por ke vo lo traigan akí?
- Maldicho i ke kruelo,   ke está éste de akí.
- No maldigásh, la mi donzeya,   yo so vuestro Agmadí,
debasho del pecho siedro    tenías un benék maví.

Translation
Trees, trees so dignified
your branches are gold, your blossoms are ivory
- What are you seeking young lady, here at this hour
- I am looking for my love, my love Amadi
- What will you give me young lady, for me to bring him here 
- I will give you three windmills that my beloved Amadi left me
- What else will you give me for me to bring him here?
- I will give my three daughters that Amadi left me
- Will you give your beautiful body so that I will bring him here?
- Evil and cruel is the one who this asks of me
- Do not curse my lass, I am your Amadi
- Beneath your left breast is a dark beauty mark