Ya saves ke so niña kurnasa, no kero ke pases por mi kasa, pasas para hacerme inates, yo no komo estos malumates. Trava, no kero sintir boda. Trava, teneke a la koda. El vistido ke yevas tú es mío, por pagarlo empeñí l’ anillo, benadam te hici yo en primero, te pagué hasta el kunduriero. Trava vre manga ke alani, Trava, ke aptopa salimani. Yo no so de estas niñas bovas ke se dejan tomar por eskovas ke por no kayer en la vergüensa vos subaš enriva la kabeza. Vate! ke mangas topo muchos no puedo ver los averuchos no me merkates por esklava mostrame la espalda, trava! Tomas novia sin tener de vente, vos das aire ke vean la ĝente, ama la niña ke sea ezvelta no se deje tomar por hapeta. Trava! por no tener mas pleito tomates del serme a kuento. Vate! Hilal ke te se haga Trava! del Dio tengas la paga. Greek text: Μη περάσεις απ' τη γειτονιά μου μάγκα μη σε ξαναδώ μπροστά μου έμαθα μες το Πασαλιμάνι αγαπάς μια μόρτισσα βρε αλάνι Τράβα βρε μάγκα και αλάνι τράβα για το Πασαλιμάνι Απ’ τη μόρτισσα γλυκά φιλάκια κάθε βράδυ γλέντι και χαδάκια και έτσι την περνάς μαζί της φίνα και ξεχνάς να ανέβεις στην Αθήνα Τράβα βρε μάγκα και αλάνι τράβα για το Πασαλιμάνι * Komerikos buenos kon vianda, a mi kaza tomates por lokanda, y a todos tomates endipla, y a tu esfuegra por dičipla. Trava, no kero sintir boda. Trava, teneke a la koda. Trava vre manga ke alani, Trava, ke aptopa salimani.
You know I’m a clever girl,
I don’t want you passing by my house
You walk by just to spite me
I’m not buying these stories Go away, I’ll hear no talk of marriage.
Go away, you are all noise and bluff The clothes you wear are mine,
I pawned my ring to pay its price.
From the start I made you into a man,
I even paid the shoemaker for you. Go away, you useless rascal
Leave the neighborhood of Pasa Limani I’m not one of those foolish girls
who let themselves be treated like a broom,
who, fearing shame
allow you to sit on their heads Go! there are many bullies like you,
I cannot bear arrogant men
You didn't buy me as your slave
I want to see your back, walk away. You take a bride without having money
putting on airs to impress people
But if a girl is clever
she won't allow herself to be disrespected. Go away! In order not to quarrel,
you've taken credit against my dowry
Go away! May you have good health (ironically)
Go away! and may God repay you. Greek text: Don't pass through my neighborhood
Manga, may I never see you again
I heard that in Pasa Limani
you are in love with a dubious girl Get out, you Manga rascal Go, go to Pasa Limani The dubious kisses of your sweetheart every evening caresses and fun that's how you spend your time while forgetting to return to Athens Get out, you Manga rascal Go, go to Pasa Limani *
Good meals with meat
you treated my home like a restaurant.
You look down on everyone,
and think your mother-in-law is your servant.
Go away, I’ll hear no talk of marriage.
Go away, you are all noise and bluff Go away, you useless rascal
Leave the neighborhood of Pasa Limani
From Ventanas Altas de Saloniki, 2013. From Sadik and Gazoz's booklet XI, sung to the melody of the Greek song "Trava, vre manga ke alani" by an unknown composer, under the description of how girls should respond to their capricious suitors. Thanks to Dr. Rivka Havassy for help in this translation of the Ladino as well as the Greek.
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025