Traditional Italian song translated into Ladino
In notes for her fourth CD, “Arvoliko,” Flory wrote the following about this song:
“In the fifthteenth century the Sephardim arrived in Split, a charming port city on the Adriatic Sea, from the Venetian Republic. As all over Europe, during the madness of World War II, the Jews were forced to leave the cities that had been their home for centuries. This song commemorates the deep romantic emotion that the Sephardim attached to Split.” Flory’s repertoire included several songs about distinct places where Sephardic exiles settled or remembered with great affection (such as “A tí, España”), including this one about another beloved city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic, Ragusa (Dubrovnik).
As Flory tells the story in the documentary “Flory’s Flame” (excerpted in our show, “La Nona Kanta: The Remarkable Life of Flory Jagoda”), soon after the German Army entered Zagreb, where Flory and her parents were living, in April 1941, Flory’s father was able to obtain false papers from a friend named Finzi in Split. These papers allowed Flory to travel to Split by train; her parents followed some time later. Flory’s father instructed her to play her “harmoniku” (accordion) on the train but not to speak (see notes on the song “Sivraj Harmoniku” for more information about her journey). After their reunification, the family lived for a short time in Split before being interned for two years on the island of Korçula.
The lilting waltz rhythm and lovely melody betray the Italian roots of this song, and it was always a favorite with audiences and performers alike whenever Flory included it on our setlists.
Listen to Flory and friends sing Spalato di Nochi
Susan, vocals, guitar; Howard, guitar; Tina, bass viol
LYRICS + TRANSLATIONS
| Kero kun ti ir mi amore | I want to go with you, my love, |
| Una vez maz a muestro Marian | Once again to our romantic spot; |
| Spalato di Noche | Split at night, |
| Vaporikos sul mar | Small boats on the sea. |
| Siempre penso de ti | I always think of you |
| Porke yo kero turnar | Because I want to return; |
| Kada noche estaz en mi suenyo | Each night you are in my dreams; |
| Mirando tu ermoza siudad | I’m looking at your beautiful city. |
