Ajuar nuevo delante vo lo pondré, suegra y cuñada, no tengáiś qué dećir, la nuestra novia cenó y se echó a dormir. Anoche, mi madre, cenó y se echó a dormir, soñaba un sueño, tan dulce era de decir, que se bañaba y a las orillas del Bir, vinía la ola y a mí me quería llevar, con amor, madre, con amor me iré a dormir. Ay, Esterica - aiwa! Abre la puerta - aiwa! sube a la cama - aiwa! pon el candado - aiwa! que ya vienen -aiwa! loś malogrados - aiwa! Ay, Esterica - aiwa! ponte el pijama - aiwa sube a la cama - aiwa! pon el candado - aiwa! pon el cerrojo - aiwa! que ya vienen - aiwa! loś malogrados - aiwa!
New trousseau
In front of you I will lay it out,
Mother-in-law and sister-in-law,
you have nothing to say,
our bride
has supped and gone to sleep. Last night, my mother,
she (the bride) ate and went to sleep,
she dreamt a dream,
so sweet it was to tell,
that she was bathing
at the banks of the river Bir,
the wave was coming
and wanted to carry me away,
with love, mother,
with love I’ll go to sleep. Ay, Esterica - aiwa!
Open the door - aiwa!
Go up to the bed - aiwa!
Put on the lock - aiwa!
For already they’re coming - aiwa!
the unfortunate ones - aiwa! Ay, Esterica - aiwa!
Put on your pajamas - aiwa!
Go up to the bed - aiwa!
Put on the lock - aiwa!
Put on the bolt - aiwa!
For already they’re coming - aiwa!
the unfortunate ones - aiwa!
Jerusalem National Sound Archives placement: Y2185/7 Referenced and notated in: Judeo-Spanish Moroccan Songs for the Life Cycle pg. 84, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1989 Susana Weich-Shahak. This North Moroccan dowry song describes how the trousseau is laid out before the future mother in law and sister in law. The bride then recalls dreaming a dream of being swept away. The bride is advised to go to sleep and lock the door to keep away evil spirits. The exclamation "Aiwa!" - in Arabic is "Yes!". As traditionally accepted, this is accompanied by a single castanet, showing a later Spanish influence.
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025