Ladino
La vida do por el raki,
No puedo yo desharlo;
De bever nunka me arti
De tanto amarlo.
La vida do por el raki . . .
Kuando esta en el baril
Lo bevo el la manyana,
I kuando me emburachi,
Me echan ala kama.
La vida do por el raki . . .
La vida moz aze pasar
Kon rizas i kon yoros;
Sin loz denaros en kasho
Me siento milionario.
La vida do por el raki . .
English
I’d give my life for raki
I can’t leave it alone;
I never have enough of it
Because I love it so.
I’d give my life for raki . . .
When it’s in the barrel
I drink it in the morning,
And when I get drunk,
They throw me in bed.
I’d give my life for raki . . .
It helps you pass your life away
With laughter and with tears;
Without money in the drawer
I feel like a millionaire!
I’d give my life for raki .
Description
A popular drinking song, not especially Sephardic in its subject matter, but it is included in Levy’s collection. If nothing else, it shows that the Sephardim valued a good dose of raki (also known as slivovitz, or plum brandy), preferably on a regular basis.
Source: Levy, Chants Judeo-Espagnols (see #3 above)