Description
One of the completely unknown songs of the Sephardic tradition, possibly dating from the period of Ottoman rule. The song is found in the archive of Flora Molho in two different versions: in one recording it is performed by her father, Isaac Molho, while in the second it is sung by a woman with a sweet voice whose identity remains unknown. However, neither of the two recordings clearly conveys the full text, especially toward the end of the song. It has not been possible to verify the lyrics through other recordings in available databases or in the literature. In addition, the official title of the song remains unknown, and the title used in the present study derives from the name of the central character, Moshon (Moses) Varsano. The song includes many Turkish words and expressions, as well as vulgar language, which makes its exact meaning particularly difficult, since such expressions belong to the slang used by older Sephardic speakers. It is noteworthy that many of the Turkish words appearing in the text have also entered Modern Greek, thus facilitating their understanding for the average Greek speaker, especially those with Asia Minor or Constantinopolitan background.
Version 1
Lyrics
Moshon Varsano esta fraguando [1] /moˈʃon vaɾˈsano esˈta fɾaˈɣwando/ Moshe Varsano is building
yapidjis, [2] non mete en mano /japidˈʒis non ˈmete en ˈmano/ a builder, yet he doesn’t lift a hand (does nothing)
mashime has van yorando /maˈʃime as van ʒoˈɾando/ they are crying
sos batahchi [3] Moshon Varsano, yaleleli /sos baˈtaxtʃi moˈʃon vaɾˈsano jaleˈleli/ you are a swindler, Moshe Varsano
En tyempo de muestros padres /en ˈtjempo de ˈmwestɾos ˈpadɾes/ In the time of our fathers,
navegimos [4] kon Paro /naveˈɣimos kon ˈpaɾo/ we managed with Pharaoh
Agora, agora, Moshon Varsano /aˈɣoɾa aˈɣoɾa moˈʃon vaɾˈsano/ Now, now, Moshe Varsano
salyo negro de korason [6] /saˈʎo ˈneɣɾo de koɾaˈson/ has become black in his heart
La mujer de Moshon Varsano /la muˈʒeɾ de moˈʃon vaɾˈsano/ The wife of Moshe Varsano
deshipla de maminas /deˈʃipla de maˈminas/ she nurses from the breasts** [7]**
agora, agora — mos esta fraguando una kria yalelei di /aˈɣoɾa aˈɣoɾa mos esˈta fɾaˈɣwando ˈuna ˈkɾia jaleˈlei di/
agora, agora --- [8] now, now — she is bearing us a child, yaleléli
[1] fraguar means to forge, to shape, to mold, to gradually form. [2] From the Turkish word yapı, which is also used in Modern Greek as yapí (construction site/building structure). [3] From the Turkish word batakçı, meaning someone who systematically fails to pay their debts. The term is widely used in Modern Greek with exactly the same meaning. [4] navegar means to sail, to travel by sea, or to navigate. Figuratively -as it is used here- it means to handle difficult situations, to manage, or to get by. [5] Paro refers to the Pharaoh. [6]“He became black in his soul,” meaning someone who has become mean-spirited or hard-hearted, as we might say today. **[7]**Unclear that this is indeed the meaning. [8] The text is not entirely clear, but the research will continue.
Version 2
Lyrics
Moshon Varsano esta fraguando [1] /moˈʃon vaɾˈsano esˈta fɾaˈɣwando/ Moshe Varsano is building
yapidjis, [2] non mete en mano /japidˈʒis non ˈmete en ˈmano/ a builder, yet he doesn’t lift a hand (does nothing)
mashime has van yorando /maˈʃime as van ʒoˈɾando/ they are crying
sos batahchi [3] Moshon Varsano, yaleleli /sos baˈtaxtʃi moˈʃon vaɾˈsano jaleˈleli/ you are a swindler, Moshe Varsano
En tyempo de muestros padres /en ˈtjempo de ˈmwestɾos ˈpadɾes/ In the time of our fathers,
navegimos [4] kon Paro /naveˈɣimos kon ˈpaɾo/ we managed with Pharaoh
Agora, agora, Moshon Varsano /aˈɣoɾa aˈɣoɾa moˈʃon vaɾˈsano/ Now, now, Moshe Varsano
salyo negro de korason [6] /saˈʎo ˈneɣɾo de koɾaˈson/ has become black in his heart
La mujer de Moshon Varsano /la muˈʒeɾ de moˈʃon vaɾˈsano/ The wife of Moshe Varsano
deshipla de maminas /deˈʃipla de maˈminas/ she nurses from the breasts** [7]**
agora, agora — mos esta fraguando una kria yalelei di /aˈɣoɾa aˈɣoɾa mos esˈta fɾaˈɣwando ˈuna ˈkɾia jaleˈlei di/
agora, agora --- [8] now, now — she is bearing us a child, yaleléli
[1] fraguar means to forge, to shape, to mold, to gradually form. [2] From the Turkish word yapı, which is also used in Modern Greek as yapí (construction site/building structure). [3] From the Turkish word batakçı, meaning someone who systematically fails to pay their debts. The term is widely used in Modern Greek with exactly the same meaning. [4] navegar means to sail, to travel by sea, or to navigate. Figuratively -as it is used here- it means to handle difficult situations, to manage, or to get by. [5] Paro refers to the Pharaoh. [6]“He became black in his soul,” meaning someone who has become mean-spirited or hard-hearted, as we might say today. **[7]**Unclear that this is indeed the meaning. [8] The text is not entirely clear, but the research will continue.
BibliographyNehama, 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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