Hija mia te quero dar a una alto no quero, madre, no quero El es alto, yo no alcanso No quero, madre, no quero Hija mia te quero dar A un bashico no quero, madre, no quero El es basho, s'arasta en basho no quero, madre, no quero Hija mia te quero dar A un seloso no quero, madre, no quero Con el seloso, non ay reposo no quero, madre, no quero Hija mia te quero dar A un hermoso no quero, madre, no quero A el hermoso, yo no lo gozo no quero, madre, no quero Hija mia te quero dar A un boracho Ya quero, madre, ya quero Con el boracho, yo me abraso Ya quero, madre, ya quero
My daughter, I want to give you
to a tall man.
I don't want, mother, I don't want
He's tall, I cannot reach him.
I don't want, mother, I don't want My daughter, I want to give you
to a short man.
I don't want, mother, I don't want
He is short, he grovels below
I don't want, mother, I don't want My daughter, I want to give you
to a jealous man.
I don't want, mother, I don't want
With the jealous one, there is no rest.
I don't want, mother, I don't want My daughter, I want to give you
to a handsome man.
I don't want, mother, I don't want
With the handsome one, I find no joy.
I don't want, mother, I don't want My daughter, I want to give you
to a drunkard.
Now I want, mother, now I want.
With the drunkard, I will burn
Now I want, mother, now I want.
Jerusalem National Sound Archives placement: YCD2979/1 This well-known song is based on a translation of a Turkish original that tells the story of a demanding bride who rejects a series of suitors, each for a different reason. By comparing the Judeo-Spanish version with the Turkish song (both sung here), we can observe the transformations that occurred during the adaptation process, as well as the social significance of these changes. In the Turkish version, the dialogue takes place between father and daughter, with the girl refusing each suitor: Istemem, babacığım (“I don’t want him, my father”). In the Judeo-Spanish version, reflecting a different family dynamic, it is the mother who proposes the grooms, and the daughter who repeatedly answers: No quiero, madre, no quiero (“I don’t want him, mother, I don’t want him”). The similarity between the two songs is clear in their parallel structure and narrative development: in both, the daughter finally accepts only one suitor - the drunken groom (İsterim, babacığım… / Ya quiero, madre…).
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025