At the 9 May 2022 singaround, I (Heather P) sang "A la Una Yo Naci," circa 1492. It's from I.J. Levy’s invaluable collection, Chants Judeo Espagnols. There are a number of surviving variants that were collected from different countries. The version called “A la Una Yo Nací” is from Sarajevo, once known as “Chiko Yerushalayim,” according Ladino singer Flory Jagoda, who was born there in 1923.

Using Spanish notation for pronunciations, the lyrics are (each line sung twice):

A la una yo nací, a las dos m'engrandecí.
A las tres tomí amante, a las cuatro me cazí.
Alma, vida y corazón, Alma, vida y corazón.

Dime niña dónde vienes, que te quiero conocer.
Si tú no tienes amante, yo te haré defender.
Alma, vida y corazón, Alma, vida y corazón.

Yendome para la guerra, dos bezos al aire di.
El uno es para mi madre, y el otro para ti.
Alma, vida y corazón, Alma, vida y corazón.

A la una yo nací, a las dos m'engrandecí.
A las tres tomí amante, a las cuatro me cazí.
Alma, vida y corazón, Alma, vida y corazón.

Translation

At one I was born
At two I grew up
At three I took a lover
At four I married
Soul, life and heart…

Tell me young lass
where do you come from
For I wish to know you
And if you have no lover
I will defend you
Soul, life and heart…

Going off to war
I blew two kisses into the air
One was for my mother
And the other for you
Soul, life and heart…

At one I was born
At two I grew up
At three I took a lover
At four I married
Soul, life and heart…


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