The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #2800   Message #2472542
Posted By: GUEST,Volgadon
22-Oct-08 - 05:07 AM
Thread Name: Hebrew/ Yiddish/ Ladino songs
Subject: ADD: Shecharchoret (Morenika)
Shecharchoret (Morenika). A traditional Ladino romance from Salonica which became very popular in Israel, in translation. Part of the lasting popularity is down to its inclusion in the musical Bustan Sfaradi, about the Ladino community in Jerusalem of the 1930s.
There was a folk tradition that a dark skin was a punishment for sin, hence her explaining why her skin is dark. The tradition is drawn from the Song of Solomon.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SuavwikBrQ
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cua0dYqMdNE
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpZchj5dVxs


SHECHARCHORET (MORENIKA)

Shecharchoret yikre'uni tzach haya ori,
Umilahat shemesh ka'itz ve'ani shchori.

Shecharchoret yafiafit kol kach,
be'einaich esh bo'eret libi kulo shelach.

Shecharchoret yikreuni kol yordei hayam,
Im od pa'am yikreuni shuv elech itam.

Shecharchoret yikreuni ben le'av molech,
Im od pa'am yikreuni acharav elech.

The Dark Girl (unsingable translation)

The dark girl they call me, my skin was pure,
From the sun beating down it did turn black.

Dark Girl you are pretty beyond measure,
In your eyes burns a fire, my heart it is yours.

The dark girl, that is what the seafarers call me,
If they call me again, with them I'll go.

Dark girl, that is what the son of a royal father calls me,
If he calls again, with him I'll go.