Con la cuba y la furcha
apregonando un ‘ncalador,
salió una madama.
Aj, bre, fijo, me queres encalarme,
por eso salí, madam,
por la contentar.
Quero que me encales bueno
el barandado y la udá,
Osmanagá.
Quero que me des dos manos,
antes que venga el balabay,
mos tope en este hal.
From Arboleras vol. 3, Sephardic songs from the 20th century, 2000
Among the trades, this song presents a character: the whitewasher, who is an ironic figure, since the lyrics say: "The whitewasher has dirty arms and dirty face, the one who comes out washed is the whitewasher's wife."
The reference is to a popular job in Salonika: the one who whitened walls with lime.
The whitewasher was generally an illiterate worker.
This song was sung during Purim festivities, when it was common to make fun of daily trades.
(The interpretation is based on what was recorded by Bienvenida Menu, at the Residence of Elderly Sephardim (Yerakoni Moadiano) in Salonika, in 1992.)
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