44. ¿Por qué no cantáis la bella? (Çakum Effendi)

This song consists of two lines of ¿Por qué no cantáis la bella? (CMP J4), a rare romance among the Eastern Sephardic Jews, known mainly in Sarajevo and the Izmir area (Hemsi 1995, no. 28), inserted within a Turkish song. The music was probably adapted from this Turkish song (not yet identified). The opening stanza in Turkish is: “Night is coming, let me have my candles lit / Let us sit, without sorrow, my love / Oh my effendi, oh my sultan, hug me / As you miss (me), my love with black eyes.” (Transcription and translation from Turkish: Erol Tunali). Haim Effendi’s version (2008, CD III, no. 2) is very similar.

Ah, akşam olur yaktırayım mumlarımı, aman,

Oturalım kasavetsiz yar benim.

Ah efendicigim ah sultanım sar beni

Özledikça kara gözlü yar beni(m).

Ah, la reina ‘staba ‘sentada, labrando, amán,

ah, cabezal de sirma y perla, yar beni.

Ah efendicigim, ah sultanım sar beni

Özledikça kara gözlü yar beni(m).

Ah, de la sirma le mancaba, güllerimi, amán,

ah, de mis cabellos la gustaba.

Ah efendicigim ah sultanım sar beni

Özledikça kara gözlü yar beni(m).