El novio le dize a la novia
Description
A wedding song that, according to the oral recording by Isaac Molho, “was sung during wedding celebrations in a rather distant past.” It is long, as the stanzas are repeated with new additions. “I will tell it to you in full because we sang it at Flora’s wedding,” notes Molho. In the song, the groom asks what certain parts of the bride’s body are called and receives allegorical or humorous answers. The groom declares that all these parts belong to him, while the bride responds that her beloved groom belongs to her. Each stanza ends with the phrase “biva la novia kon el novio!” [may the bride and groom live!]. So far, the song has not been found in any other database or source. However, it has been recorded by the Spanish group La Bazanca on the album Canciones sefardies, where it is sung with a clearly modern Spanish pronunciation.
Version 1
El novio le dize a la novia
Archive of Flora Molcho. Performed by her father, Isaac Molcho.
Lyrics
El novio le dize a la novia: komo se yama esta kavesa? /el ˈnovjo le ˈdize a la ˈnovja ˈkomo se ˈjama ˈesta kaˈvesa/
Esto no se yama kavesa, si no linda pertukal. /ˈesto no se ˈjama kaˈvesa si no ˈlinda peɾtukal/
A mi linda pertukal, /a mi ˈlinda peɾtukal/
a mi kampo espasiozo, /a mi ˈkampo espaˈsjozo/
a mi lindo namorozo. /a mi ˈlindo namoˈɾozo/
Biva la novia kon el novio! /ˈbiva la ˈnovja kon el ˈnovjo/
El novio le dize a la novia: komo se yaman estos kabeyos? /el ˈnovjo le ˈdize a la ˈnovja ˈkomo se ˈjaman ˈestos kaˈbejos/
Estos no se yaman kabeyos, si no sirma de lavrar! /ˈestos no se ˈjaman kaˈbejos si no ˈsiɾma de laˈvɾaɾ/
A mi sirma de lavrar, /a mi ˈsiɾma de laˈvɾaɾ/
a mi linda pertucal, /a mi ˈlinda peɾtuˈkal/
a mi kampo espasiozo, /a mi ˈkampo espaˈsjozo/
a mi lindo namoroso. /a mi ˈlindo namoˈɾozo/
Biva la novia kon el novio! /ˈbiva la ˈnovja kon el ˈnovjo/
El novio le dize a la novia: komo se yaman estas sejas? /el ˈnovjo le ˈdize a la ˈnovja ˈkomo se ˈjaman ˈestas ˈseʒas/
Estas no se yaman sejas, si no arko de tirar! /ˈestas no se ˈjaman ˈseʒas si no ˈaɾko de tiˈɾaɾ/
A mi arko de tirar, /a mi ˈaɾko de tiˈɾaɾ/
a mi sirma de labrar, /a mi ˈsiɾma de laˈβɾaɾ/
a mi linda pertukal, /a mi ˈlinda peɾtukal/
a mi kampo espasiozo, /a mi ˈkampo espaˈsjozo/
a mi lindo namoroso. /a mi ˈlindo namoˈɾozo/
Biva la novia kon el novio! /ˈbiva la ˈnovja kon el ˈnovjo/
El novio le dize a la novia: komo se yaman estos ojos? /el ˈnovjo le ˈdize a la ˈnovja ˈkomo se ˈjaman ˈestos ˈoʒos/
Estos no se yaman ojos, si no lindos veladores! /ˈestos no se ˈjaman ˈoʒos si no ˈlindos velaˈðoɾes/
A mis lindos veladores, /a mis ˈlindos velaˈðoɾes/
a mi arko de tirar, /a mi ˈaɾko de tiˈɾaɾ/
a mi sirma de labrar, /a mi ˈsiɾma de laˈβɾaɾ/
a mi linda pertukal, /a mi ˈlinda peɾtukal/
a mi kampo espasiozo, /a mi ˈkampo espaˈsjozo/
a mi lindo namoroso. /a mi ˈlindo namoˈɾozo/
Biva la novia kon el novio! /ˈbiva la ˈnovja kon el ˈnovjo/
El novio le dize a la novia: komo se yama esta nariz? /el ˈnovjo le ˈdize a la ˈnovja ˈkomo se ˈjama ˈesta naˈɾiz/
Esta no se yama nariz, si no pendola de eskrivir! /ˈesta no se ˈjama naˈɾiz si no penˈdola de eskɾiˈviɾ/
A mi pendola de eskrivir, /a mi penˈdola de eskɾiˈviɾ/
a mis lindos veladores, /a mis ˈlindos velaˈðoɾes/
a mi arko de tirar, /a mi ˈaɾko de tiˈɾaɾ/
a mi sirma de labrar, /a mi ˈsiɾma de laˈβɾaɾ/
a mi linda pertukal, /a mi ˈlinda peɾtukal/
a mi kampo espasiozo, /a mi ˈkampo espaˈsjozo/
a mi lindo namoroso. /a mi ˈlindo namoˈɾozo/
Biva la novia kon el novio! /ˈbiva la ˈnovja kon el ˈnovjo/
El novio le dize a la novia: komo se yaman estas karas? /el ˈnovjo le ˈdize a la ˈnovja ˈkomo se ˈjaman ˈestas ˈkaɾas/
Estas no se yaman karas, si no manzanas de eskopia! /ˈestas no se ˈjaman ˈkaɾas si no manˈzanas de esˈkopja/
A mis manzanas de eskopia, /a mis manˈzanas de esˈkopja/
a mi pendola de eskrivir, /a mi penˈdola de eskɾiˈviɾ/
a mis lindos veladores, /a mis ˈlindos velaˈðoɾes/
a mi arko de tirar, /a mi ˈaɾko de tiˈɾaɾ/
a mi sirma de labrar, /a mi ˈsiɾma de laˈβɾaɾ/
a mi linda pertukal, /a mi ˈlinda peɾtukal/
a mi kampo espasiozo, /a mi ˈkampo espaˈsjozo/
a mi lindo namoroso. /a mi ˈlindo namoˈɾozo/
Biva la novia kon el novio! /ˈbiva la ˈnovja kon el ˈnovjo/
El novio le dize a la novia: komo se yaman estos labios? /el ˈnovjo le ˈdize a la ˈnovja ˈkomo se ˈjaman ˈestos ˈlabjos/
Estos no se yaman labios, si no lindas serezas! /ˈestos no se ˈjaman ˈlabjos si no ˈlindas seˈɾezas/
A mis lindas serezas, /a mis ˈlindas seˈɾezas/
a mis manzanas de eskopia, /a mis manˈzanas de esˈkopja/
a mi pendola de eskrivir, /a mi penˈdola de eskɾiˈviɾ/
a mis lindos veladores, /a mis ˈlindos velaˈðoɾes/
a mi arko de tirar, /a mi ˈaɾko de tiˈɾaɾ/
a mi sirma de labrar, /a mi ˈsiɾma de laˈβɾaɾ/
a mi linda pertukal, /a mi ˈlinda peɾtukal/
a mi kampo espasiozo, /a mi ˈkampo espaˈsjozo/
a mi lindo namoroso. /a mi ˈlindo namoˈɾozo/
Biva la novia kon el novio! /ˈbiva la ˈnovja kon el ˈnovjo/
El novio le dize a la novia: komo se yaman estos dientes? /el ˈnovjo le ˈdize a la ˈnovja ˈkomo se ˈjaman ˈestos ˈdjentes/
Estos no se yaman dientes, si no perlas de enfilar! /ˈestos no se ˈjaman ˈdjentes si no ˈpeɾlas de enfiˈlaɾ/
A mis perlas de enfilar, /a mis ˈpeɾlas de enfiˈlaɾ/
a mis lindas serezas, /a mis ˈlindas seˈɾezas/
a mis manzanas de eskopia, /a mis manˈzanas de esˈkopja/
a mi pendola de eskrivir, /a mi penˈdola de eskɾiˈviɾ/
a mis lindos veladores, /a mis ˈlindos velaˈðoɾes/
a mi arko de tirar, /a mi ˈaɾko de tiˈɾaɾ/
a mi sirma de labrar, /a mi ˈsiɾma de laˈβɾaɾ/
a mi linda pertukal, /a mi ˈlinda peɾtukal/
a mi kampo espasiozo, /a mi ˈkampo espaˈsjozo/
a mi lindo namoroso. /a mi ˈlindo namoˈɾozo/
Biva la novia kon el novio! /ˈbiva la ˈnovja kon el ˈnovjo/
El novio le dize a la novia: komo se yama esta boka? /el ˈnovjo le ˈdize a la ˈnovja ˈkomo se ˈjama ˈesta ˈboka/
Esta no se yama boka, si no pinyon de komer! /ˈesta no se ˈjama ˈboka si no piˈɲon de koˈmeɾ/
A mi pinyon de komer, /a mi piˈɲon de koˈmeɾ/
a mis perlas de enfilar, /a mis ˈpeɾlas de enfiˈlaɾ/
a mis lindas serezas, /a mis ˈlindas seˈɾezas/
a mis manzanas de eskopia, /a mis manˈzanas de esˈkopja/
a mi pendola de eskrivir, /a mi penˈdola de eskɾiˈviɾ/
a mis lindos veladores, /a mis ˈlindos velaˈðoɾes/
a mi arko de tirar, /a mi ˈaɾko de tiˈɾaɾ/
a mi sirma de labrar, /a mi ˈsiɾma de laˈβɾaɾ/
a mi linda pertukal, /a mi ˈlinda peɾtukal/
a mi kampo espasiozo, /a mi ˈkampo espaˈsjozo/
a mi lindo namoroso. /a mi ˈlindo namoˈɾozo/
Biva la novia kon el novio! /ˈbiva la ˈnovja kon el ˈnovjo/
El novio le dize a la novia: komo se yama esta eluenga? /el ˈnovjo le ˈdize a la ˈnovja ˈkomo se ˈjama ˈesta eˈlweŋɡa/
Esta no se yama eluenga, si no pala de enformar! /ˈesta no se ˈjama eˈlweŋɡa si no ˈpala de enfoɾˈmaɾ/
A mi pala de enformar, /a mi ˈpala de enfoɾˈmaɾ/
a mi pinyon de komer, /a mi piˈɲon de koˈmeɾ/
a mis perlas de enfilar, /a mis ˈpeɾlas de enfiˈlaɾ/
a mis lindas serezas, /a mis ˈlindas seˈɾezas/
a mis manzanas de eskopia, /a mis manˈzanas de esˈkopja/
a mi pendola de eskrivir, /a mi penˈdola de eskɾiˈviɾ/
a mis lindos veladores, /a mis ˈlindos velaˈðoɾes/
a mi arko de tirar, /a mi ˈaɾko de tiˈɾaɾ/
a mi sirma de labrar, /a mi ˈsiɾma de laˈβɾaɾ/
a mi linda pertukal, /a mi ˈlinda peɾtukal/
a mi kampo espasiozo, /a mi ˈkampo espaˈsjozo/
a mi lindo namoroso. /a mi ˈlindo namoˈɾozo/
Biva la novia kon el novio! /ˈbiva la ˈnovja kon el ˈnovjo/
The groom says to the bride: What is this head called? “It’s not called a head, but a pretty little orange!” “To my pretty little orange, to my spacious field, to my beloved love. Long live the bride and groom!” The groom says to the bride: What are these hairs called? “They are not called hairs, but a field for plowing!” “To the field for plowing, to my pretty little orange, to my spacious field, to my beloved love. Long live the bride and groom!” The groom says to the bride: What are these eyebrows called? “They are not called eyebrows, but a bow for aiming!” “To the bow for aiming, to the field for plowing, to my pretty little orange, to my spacious field, to my beloved love. Long live the bride and groom!” The groom says to the bride: What are these eyes called? “They are not called eyes, but pretty little lamps!” “To my pretty little lamps, to the bow for aiming, to the field for plowing, to my pretty little orange, to my spacious field, to my beloved love. Long live the bride and groom!” The groom says to the bride: What is this nose called? “It’s not called a nose, but a pen for writing!” “To the pen for writing, to my pretty little lamps, to the bow for aiming, to the field for plowing, to my pretty little orange, to my spacious field, to my beloved love. Long live the bride and groom!” The groom says to the bride: What are these cheeks called? “They are not called cheeks, but apples from Skopje!” “To the apples from Skopje, to the pen for writing, to my pretty little lamps, to the bow for aiming, to the field for plowing, to my pretty little orange, to my spacious field, to my beloved love. Long live the bride and groom!” The groom says to the bride: What are these lips called? “They are not called lips, but sweet cherries!” “To my sweet cherries, to the apples from Skopje, to the pen for writing, to my pretty little lamps, to the bow for aiming, to the field for plowing, to my pretty little orange, to my spacious field, to my beloved love. Long live the bride and groom!” The groom says to the bride: What are these teeth called? “They are not called teeth, but pearls to string in a row!” “To my pearls to string in a row, to my sweet cherries, to the apples from Skopje, to the pen for writing, to my pretty little lamps, to the bow for aiming, to the field for plowing, to my pretty little orange, to my spacious field, to my beloved love. Long live the bride and groom!” The groom says to the bride: What is this mouth called? “It’s not called a mouth, but a tasty pine nut!” “To my tasty pine nut, to my pearls to string in a row, to my sweet cherries, to the apples from Skopje, to the pen for writing, to my pretty little lamps, to the bow for aiming, to the field for plowing, to my pretty little orange, to my spacious field, to my beloved love. Long live the bride and groom!” The groom says to the bride: What is this foot called? “It’s not called a foot, but the baker’s shovel!” “To the baker’s shovel, to my tasty pine nut, to my pearls to string in a row, to my sweet cherries, to the apples from Skopje, to the pen for writing, to my pretty little lamps, to the bow for aiming, to the field for plowing, to my pretty little orange, to my spacious field, to my beloved love. Long live the bride and groom!”
BibliographyMolho, Flora. Στη σκιά της μνήμης. Thessaloniki: University Studio Press, 2016
Nehama, Joseph. Dictionnaire du Judéo-Espagnol. Madrid: Consejo superior de investigaciones cientificas, 1977.
Research, analysis, translations and IPA transcriptions: Mariangela Chatzistamatiou Aural transcriptions and lead sheets: Nikos Panagiotides
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