Ballad of Rika Kurie

Selim Hubes

Avner Perez

English Lyrics

Kamino feo de la muerte
por debasho nieve prieta
pedaso de karvon kemado.
el sol ariva en sielo
ni arvoles ni pasharicos
ni flores ni yervizikas.
Rika Kuriel novia de sangre
delgadika delgadika
su korason kondja korlada
Berbil siego en su garganta
kanta su korason y alma
sin boz ni palavras
asta la fin esta' kantando
Rika Kuriel flor de sangre
tu novio ya afogado
a la puerta de Ganeden
ayi te esta' esperando

Translation

A path towards death where the snow is black among the
burning
coal. The sun is high in the sky there are no trees no
birds no flowers no
green meadows. Rika Kuriel. wife of blood. so thin so slim
your heart has been
pierced
like a mute nightingale you sing your sorrow of your soul
and your
heart..you'll sing without voice..without words till the
end. Rika Kuriel
suffering flower your husvabd is drowning..he's waiting
you
at the door of Gan
Eden"

This is the text of the ballad of Rika Kuriel..a Sephardic Greek Song about the Shoa in Thessaloniki. The music has been writen by Selim Hubes...the text is by Avner Perez. You can find the musical notations in the book Canti della diaspora- raccolti tradotti e interpretati da Liliana Treves Alcalay..Firenze. La Giuntina. 1997. (La Giuntina is a little Jewish Publishing House in Firenze/Florence Italy..Via Ricasoli 26 Firenze

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Added August 24th, 2000