Morenica a mi me llaman blanca yo nací: el sol del enverano m'hizo a mi ansí. Morenica, graciosica sos, morenica y graciosica y mavra matiamu. Ya se viste la morena y de yul yagi ansina es la pera con el siftili. Morenica... Ya se viste la morena de'amarillo, ansí es la pera con el bembrillo. Morenica... Morenica me llaman los marineros, si otra vez me llaman me vo con ellos. Morenica... Morenica me llaman los kasabicos, si otra vez me llaman les do un besico. Morenica...
They call me "little dark one", Though I was born fair; The summer sun, Made me this way. Little dark one, you are so graceful, Dark-skinned and graceful, And black-eyed Now the dark girl dresses herself In bright red Like the pear, With a peach Little dark one... Now the dark girl dresses herself All in yellow— like the pear, With the quince Little dark one... They call me "little dark one", The sailors do; If they call me again, I’ll go with them. Little dark one... They call me "little dark one", The townsmen do; If they call me again, I’ll give them a little kiss Little dark one...
Jerusalem National Sound Archives placement: Y2096/6. Referenced and notated in: El ciclo de la vida, pg. 235, Editorial Alpuerto, 2013 Susana Weich-Shahak. This wedding song weaves together several recurring themes:
A reference to Song of Songs, Chapter 1 — “Do not gaze at me because I am dark, for the sun has darkened me.”
The image of a sailors calling to the Morenica, little dark one, (and in this version, also the townsmen)
The bride’s attire and adornment.
As a cantiga, the song does not follow a strict narrative sequence, but its verses are grouped in thematic pairs. Although not present in this particular version, a common additional theme is:
4. A symbolic ladder made of precious materials, representing the spiritual elevation of the groom as he prepares to bestow upon his bride the kedoshim — sanctified blessings of marriage
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025