– Poco le das, la mi consuegra,
poco le das a la vuestra hija,
vuestra hija, la querida!-
– Le daré siete camisas,
una que si troque en cada’l día. –
– Yiené es poco, la mi consuegra….
poco le das a la vuestra hija,
vuestra hija, la querida!-
– Le daré siete shalvares
una que si troque en cada’l día. – Yiené…
– Le daré un yerdán de oro, Yiené…
que se lo goce con su novio. –
– Le daré un mazal muy bueno, Yiené…
que se lo goza con el novio.-
– You give her little, my mother-in-law,
you give little to your daughter,
your daughter, your dear one!-
– I’ll give her seven shirts,
one that she’ll exchange each day.-
– It’s little, my mother-in-law
you give little to your daughter,
your daughter, your dear one!-
– I’ll give her seven leggings (or pants)
one that she’ll exchange each day.-
– I’ll give her a golden necklace,
let her enjoy it with her groom.-
– I’ll give her a very good luck,
let her enjoy it with her groom
From Arboleras vol. 1 - Sephardic cancionero and coplas oral tradition,1996
This Bulgarian dowry song is an argument between the two future mother in laws. That of the groom claims that the bride’s mother is not giving her dear daughter enough for her dowry (the repeating chorus) , to which she replies in each verse with a description of her gifts (seven blouses, seven pants, a gold necklace and good luck).
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