Poco le das, la mi consuegra,
poco le das a la vuestra hija,
vuestra hija, la querida
Le daré siete vistidos,
una que si troque en cada’l día. –
Yiné es poco, mi consuegra,
poco le das a la vuestra hija,
vuestra hija, la querida
Le daré siete culotas
una que si troque en cada’l día. –
Yiné es poco….-
Le daré un yerdán de oro,
que se lo goce con su novio. –
Yiné es poco….-
Le daré un esclavico
que se lo camine al bujurico. –
You give little, my mother-in-law,
you give little to your daughter,
your dear daughter
I’ll give her seven blouses,
one that she can exchange each day.
You give too little, my mother-in-law,
you give little to your dear daughter,
I’ll give her seven undergarments
one that she can exchange each day.
you give too little…
I’ll give her a golden necklace,
let her enjoy it with her groom.
you give too little…
I’ll give her a servant
that will take walks with their first born boy
Jerusalem National Sound Archives placement: Y 2091/6
Referenced and notated in: El ciclo de la vida, pg. 193, Editorial Alpuerto, 2013 Susana Weich-Shahak.
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 under garments, a gold necklace and a servant to walk the first born boy).
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025