Y fuerame a bañar a orillas del río, del río allí encontré, madre, a mi lindo amigo Él me dio un abrazo Yo le di cinco Por Dios, la nuestra novia cuerpo garrido ¿Qué es lo que os ponéis - en secreto? Si os ponéis albiarde, u oro molido, u oro molido Tan bien que le parezáis a vuestro marido
And I went to bathe on the banks Of the river, of the river There I found, my mother, my dear friend He gave me a hug I gave him five, I gave him five By God, our bride's body is lofty What do you apply secretly? If you apply white enamel, or gold dust, or gold dust You look so well to your husband
Jerusalem National Sound Archives placement: Y2096/6. Referenced and notated in: Judeo-Spanish Moroccan Songs for the Life Cycle, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, pg. 52, 1989 Susana Weich-Shahak. In this song the bride recounts bathing in the river and meeting her beloved one there. She is asked the secret of her beauty, whether she has dusted her face with white enamel or gold dust. Often North Moroccan wedding songs are sung consecutively with a continual rhythm accompanied by a single castañet.
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025