Hecha está la cama como de novia honrada con cinco almadraques, corbertón de Holanda, pastor a mí, para mí, pastora, pastor a mí. Y a la medianoche, prima, la llamaba, más bella sos prima, que la rosa fina, pastor a mí. para mí, pastora, y pastor a mí. La llave de oro la chapa de plata, y ala mcdianoche, prima la llamaba, pastor a mí. Carpintero era maestro le llaman, maestro, maestro adobáisme esta arca pastor a mí, para mí, pastora, y pastor a mí.
The bed is made
as for an honorable bride,
with five mattresses,
a coverlet from Holland,
shepherd to me,
for me, shepherdess,
shepherd to me. And at midnight,
he called her, cousin,
you are fairer, cousin,
than the fine rose,
shepherd to me,
for me, shepherdess,
and shepherd to me. The key of gold,
the plate of silver,
and at midnight,
he called her, cousin,
shepherd to me. He was a carpenter,
master they call him,
master, master,
mend this chest for me,
shepherd to me,
for me, shepherdess,
and shepherd to me.
Jerusalem National Sound Archives placement: Y5418/16 Referenced and notated in: Judeo-Spanish Moroccan Songs for the Life Cycle, pg. 43, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1989 Susana Weich-Shahak. This song is about preparations for the wedding with a beautiful and comfortable bed. The groom has a useful profession, he is a carpenter. In this case, the bride and groom are cousins.
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025