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Cantigas / Traditional songs
As cantigas de mulleres de tradición oral son un tesouro da cultura galega, transmitidas de xeración en xeración. Nadas en ámbitos rurais, recollen emocións, traballos, amores e desventuras cunha voz poética. Soaban en fiadas, romarías ou labores, sendo espazo de expresión feminina e resistencia. No 2025 as Cantareiras foron homenaxeadas no Día das Letras Galegas polo seu papel na preservación desta tradición.
Women’s oral songs are a treasure of Galician culture, passed down through generations. Born in rural settings, they capture emotions, work, love, and misfortune with a poetic voice. Sung at gatherings, pilgrimages, or communal labor, they became spaces of female expression and resistance. In 2025, the Cantareiras were honored on Día das Letras Galegas for their role in preserving this tradition.
Arrigai, arrigadeiras,
daille liño aos ripadores,
que xa veu a primaveira
e hei de tomar dos amores.
Ouh, señores ripadores,
chegados á Ramallosa,
polas trazas que vou vendo
non vai hoxe o liño á poza.
O liño queda na poza,
e a bagaña no palleiro;
agora, miña miniña,
tocarémo-lo pandeiro.
Arrigar
Arrighai arrighadoras
daille liño ós ripadores
qu'ahora vai vindo o tempo
de tomar outros amores
Eu xa arrighei o meu liño
i eu xa io dei a fiar
e tu por seres truana
aínd' ó tés sin arrighar
Ai muller miña non bebas viño
1.
Ai muller miña non bebas viño
que ch 'hein comprar unhos zocos
ai non non meu maridiño non
que pés tortos
non queren zocos
e veña viño prós nosos corpos
2.
Ai muller miña non bebas viño
que ch 'hein comprar unhas medias
ai non non meu maridiño non
pernas negras
non queren medias
e pés tortos
non queren zocos
e veña viño prós nosos corpos
3.
Ai muller miña non bebas vifio
que ch 'hein comprar unhas bragas
ai non non meu maridii\o non
cousas de bragas,
todas son trampas
pernas negras
non queren medias
e pés tortos
non queren zocos
e veña viño prós nosos corpos
4.
Ai muller miñ.a non bebas vifio
que ch 'hein comprar unha camisa
ai non non meu maridiño non
barriga lisa
non quere camisa
cousas de bragas
todas son trampas
pernas negras
non queren medias
e pés tortos
non queren zocos
e vefia vifio prós nosos corpos
5.
Ai muller miña non bebas viño
que ch 'hein comprar un xustillo
ai non non meu maridiñ.o non
tetos pequenos
non queren xustillo
barriga lisa
non quere camisa
cousas de bragas
todas son trampas
pernas negras
non queren medias
e pés tortos
non queren zocos
e veña viño prós nosos corpos.
A pulga i a palla
1.
/a pulgha i a palla
queríanse casar
tan ricos estaban
que non tiñan pan
ai la la la ...
2.
Saiu a formigha
do seu formigheiro
que sighan ar bodas
qu'eu son panadeiro
ai la ...
3.
I ahora mi vida
panciño tenemos
fáltanos el vino
dónde lo hallaremos
ai la ...
4.
Saliu o mosquito
do seu mosquiteiro
que sigan ar bodas
qu'eu son tabemeiro
ai la ...
5.
Ahora mi vida
viniño tenemos
fáltanor la carne
iónde la bailaremos
ai la ...
6.
Saliu o lobo
detrás do valado
si fai falta carne
mandarme recado
ai la ...
7.
I ahora mi vida
camiña tenemos
falta la madriña
iónde la bailaremos
ai la ...
8.
Saliu a raniña
da súa poziña
que sighan as bodas
qu'eu vou de madriña
ai la …
9.
Abora mi vida
madriña tenemos
falta el padrino
iónde lo bailaremos
ai la ...
10.
Saiu o ratifio
do seu buratiño
que sigan as bodas
qu'eu son o padrifio
ai la ...
11.
Abora mi vida
padriño tenemos
falta el gaiteiro
iónde lo bailaremos
ai la ...
12.
Saíu o grilo
detrar do terrón
hinchand'o fociño
baixand'o o cerrón
ai la ...
13.
I ahora mi vida
gaiteiro tenemos
fáltanos el fuego
iónde lo bailaremos
ai la ...
14.
Saíu o gato
detrás do cruceiro
que sigan ar bodas
qu'eu son fogbeteiro
FALADO: fu fu fu ...
Déixame ir, mi madre
1.
Déixeme ir, mi madre,
beilar ó turreiro,
que quero casarme
con un zapateiro:
2.
Zapateiro, non,
porque malla a sola;
toma un arrieiro
farás millor boda.
3.
Arrieiro, non,
porque vai é ven;
quero un barbeiriño
que m’afeite ben,
4.
Barbeiriño, non,
porque fai a barba;
toma un alfaiate
que che corte a saia
5.
Alfaiate, non,
que é moi cubizoso;
quero un estudiante
que é máis amoroso.
6.
Estudiante, non,
que é moi cumiñán;
toma un sembrador
que che sembre o pan.
7.
Sembrador, non quero,
que tén moita vida;
quero un ferrador
ó uso da vila.
8.
Ferrador, non queiras
porque ferra a besta;
toma un cesteiriño
que che leve a cesta.
9.
Cesteiriño, non,
sempre está petando;
quero un frade lego
dos de San Bernardo.
Pull it up, all you pullers, then
Give the flax to the threshers,
For spring has now sprung
And I am looking for love.
Oh, you men who are the threshers
You’re not doing much threshing
Judging from what I see
Today the flax won’t get retted.
The flax is still in the stream,
The flax husks thrown on the hay;
And now, my lovely young lady,
We’re going to play the tambourine.
The Pulling
Pull, all you pullers
Pass the flax to the threshers
It’s just about time now
For finding other loves
I’ve already pulled up my flax
And delivered it for spinning
And you, such a lazybones
You haven’t pulled up a thing
Oh, dear woman, don’t drink wine
1.
Oh, dear woman don’t drink wine
I’ll buy you clogs instead
Oh, no, my dear husband, no
You know crooked feet
Don’t need clogs
We need wine for our bodies
2.
Oh, dear woman don’t drink wine
I’ll buy you stockings instead
Oh, no, my dear husband, no
Dark legs
Don’t need stockings
And crooked feet
Don’t need clogs
We need wine for our bodies
3.
Oh, dear woman don’t drink wine
I’ll buy you underpants instead
Oh, no, my dear husband, no
Underpants are nothing but tricks
Dark legs
Don’t need stockings
And crooked feet
Don’t want clogs
We need wine for our bodies
4.
Oh, dear woman don’t drink wine
I’ll buy you a blouse instead
Oh, no, my dear husband, no
A smooth belly
Doesn’t need a blouse
Underpants are
Nothing but tricks
Dark legs
Don’t need stockings
And crooked feet
Don’t want clogs
We need wine for our bodies
5.
Oh, dear woman don’t drink wine
I’ll buy you a corset instead
Oh, no, my dear husband, no
Little breasts don’t need…
A smooth belly
Doesn’t need doesn’t need a blouse
Underpants are
Nothing but tricks
Dark legs
Don’t need stockings
And crooked feet
Don’t want clogs
The flea and the straw
1.
The flea and the straw
Wanted to marry
They were so rich
That they had no bread
Ai la la la…
2.
The ant came out
Of its anthill
Let the wedding begin
I’m the breadmaker
Ai la…
3.
And now my love
We’ve got some bread
We still need wine
Where’ll we find some?
Ai la…
4.
The mosquito came out
Of its window screen
Let the wedding begin
For I’m owner of the tavern
Ai la…
5.
Now my love
We’ve got some wine
We’re missing the meat
Where’ll we find it
Ai la…
6.
The wolf came out
From behind the stone fence
If it’s meat you need
Just send me a message
Ai la…
7.
And now my love
We’ve got some meat
We’re missing the maid of honor
Where might she be?
Ai la…
8.
Out came the froggy
Out of her ditch
Let the wedding begin
I’ll be the maid of honor
Ai la…
9.
Now my love
We have a the maid of honor
We need the best man
Where will we find him
Ai la…
1o.
The little mouse came out
From inside his hole
Let the wedding begin
I’ll be the best man
11.
Now my love
We’ve got a best man
We need a bagpiper
Where will we find him
Ai la…
11.
The cricket came out
From behind the clump of dirt
Filling his mouth with air
Letting his bag go empty
Ai la…
12.
And now my love
We’ve got a bagpiper
We just need some fire
Where shall we find it
Ai la…
13.
The cat came out
From behind the stone cross
Let the wedding begin -
I’m the fireworks maker
Fu fu fu…
Let me go, mother
1.
Let me go, dear mother,
To dance in the village square,
For I want to marry
A shoemaker man.
2.
A shoemaker, no,
He hammers the sole;
Find a mule driver,
Your marriage will prosper.
3.
A mule driver, oh no,
For he comes and goes;
I need a nice barber
Who’ll shave me close.
4.
A nice little barber, no,
For he just shapes beards;
Find a tailor who stitches
Who can make you a skirt.
5.
Not a tailor, no,
For he’s very greedy;
I want a scholar
Who’s much more needy.
6.
No, not a scholar,
For he’s really likes eating;
Find yourself a planter
He’ll plant you some wheat.
7.
No, I don’t want a planter,
For he’ll live long;
I want a farrier
Like they have in town.
8.
A farrier, not one of those
For he treats the horses;
Find a basket maker
Who’ll carry your basket.
9.
No, not a basket maker,
He’s always pounding;
I’ll have a lay brother
Like those of Saint Bernard.
