Abrímes, galanica, que ya va a amanecer. Abrir yo vos abro, me lindo amor, la noche yo no durmo pensando en vos. Mi padre sta meldando, si mos sienterá. Tomalde el livrico, si se echará, amatalde la candelica, si se durmirá. Mi madre sta cusiendo, si mos sienterá. Pedrelde la algujica, si se echará, amatalde la candelica, si se durmirá. Mi hermano sta scribiendo, si mos sienterá. Robalde la scrivanía, si se echará, amatalde la candelica, si se durmirá
Open up to me, my beauty, for it's almost dawn. Open to you I shall, my handsome love, I couldn't sleep at night, thinking of you. My father is reading, he might hear us. Take away his book, he’ll lie down, blow out his candle, he’ll fall asleep. My mother is sewing, she might hear us. Drop her needle, and she’ll lie down, blow out her little candle, she’ll fall asleep. My brother is writing, he might hear us. Steal away his pen, and he’ll lie down, blow out his candle, he’ll fall asleep.
From Morenika Izmirlia - Judeo-Spanish songs from Smyrna, 2020
This is nocturnal duet is a love song of tenderness and stealth, where the young lover pleads to be let in before dawn, while the girl worries about her family overhearing them.
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025