This is a mourning song, which Rabbi Michael Molcho categorizes as part of the Tisha B'Av observance. Tisha B'Av, the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av (which falls either at the end of July or the beginning of August), is the saddest day in the Jewish calendar. On this day, fasting, abstinence, and prayer are observed. It marks several tragic events in Jewish history, including the destruction of both Temples of Solomon.

In Ladino (Judeo-Spanish), the songs of Tisha B'Av are called endechas, meaning "lamentations," and are classified as romances. Romances are long narrative poems, typically inspired by medieval Spain, telling stories of knights, princes, and kings.

This particular song is a multi-stanza, narrative piece with sorrowful content. It doesn't directly reflect the themes of Tisha B'Av, but instead tells a narrative ballad, in which the king’s son is gravely ill, with no hope for a cure. The reference to Granada, in southern Spain, suggests that this is an old song from the Sephardic tradition.

The poem has eleven stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The odd-numbered lines stand alone, while the even-numbered lines rhyme with each other.

The only known melody for this song was preserved by Rabbi Michael Molcho of Thessaloniki in his book Traditions and Customs of the Sephardic Jews of Salonica.

Ethnomusicologist Alberto Hemsi (June 27, 1898 – October 8, 1975) also recorded this song, but with the different title "La muerte del príncipe don Juan." The lyrics in his version differ slightly, but the overall story remains the same. It is common in Sephardic music for the same song to appear with different titles and with slight variations in lyrics over time and across regions.

Note on the score: The available musical guide has been adapted for performance by modern musicians.