Galeas las mis galeias

From Morenika Izmirlia - Judeo-Spanish songs from Smyrna, 2020

In this romance about the painful life of the galley (La vida de las galeras) the musical stanza comprises only one line, followed by a sort of refrain which opens with aman, aman de mí ! (the well-known Turkish expression of suffering) This song reflects the events of the time, when travelers were captured and sold as slaves. Therefore, each Sephardic community had a Hevrá Podei Shvuim, several community members, who oversaw rescueing the Jewish captives. In the text, the captive lists his possessions that should be sold in order to raise the payment for his rescue.

Text:
Galeias, las mis galeias,   no las puedo resistir,
                   an, aman de mí,    no las puedo resistir.
Poco pan, mucho trabajo,    con palos y non dormir,
                  aman, aman de mí,    no las puedo resistir.
Palos del pashá  son fuertes,    más negros de la muerte,
                  aman, aman de mí,    no las puedo resistir.
Que me vendan camisa de seda    con las mangas oyalís,
                  aman, aman de mí,    que me quiten de aquí.     
Que me vendan tapete bueno   con la muestra del prejil
                 aman, aman de mí,    que me resgaten de aquí.
Que me vendan caballo blanco     que una vez me embenyí,
                  aman, aman de mí,    que me resgaten de aquí.
Que me besen al bohorico    que criando lo dejí,
                  aman, aman de mí,    más no puedo resistir.

Translation:
Galleys, my galleys, I cannot endure them,
 aman, aman de mí, I cannot endure them.
Little bread, much labor, with beatings and no sleep,
 aman, aman de mí, I cannot endure them.
The blows of the pasha are strong, blacker than death itself,
 aman, aman de mí, I cannot endure them.
Let them sell my silk shirt with sleeves embroidered in lace,
 aman, aman de mí, let them take me from here.
Let them sell my fine carpet with a pattern of parsley,
 aman, aman de mí, let them ransom me from here.
Let them sell my a white horse, for once I rode upon one,
 aman, aman de mí, let them ransom me from here.
Let them kiss my little boy, whom I left while still raising him,
 aman, aman de mí, I can endure no more.