Morenica a mi me llaman Yo blanca nací: el sol del enverano m'hizo a mi ansí. Morenica, graciosica sos, morenica y graciosica y mavra matiamu. Ya se viste la morena de'amarillo, ansí es la pera con el bembrillo. Morenica... Decilde a la morena si quere vinir la nave ya sta 'n vela, que ya va a partir. 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 All in yellow— like the pear, With the quince Little dark one... Tell the dark girl If she wants to come, The ship is already sailing, It’s about to leave. Little dark one...
Jerusalem National Sound Archives placement: Y5433/3
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:
As a cantiga, the song does not follow a strict narrative sequence.
Although not present in this particular version, a common additional theme is:
It is interesting to note the occurrence of Greek - matyamu - black eyed
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025