Seta moneta
Emanuela wrote from Italy: "'Seta moneta' is a rhyme that is used to relax children when they are little. It's said in a tone of voice that gets lower and lower, while the children close their eyes and they fall asleep with the last whisper. It's a sweet lullaby."
Seta moneta
Silk Money
Lullaby
Lullaby
(Italian)
(English)
Seta moneta
le donne di Gaeta
che filano la seta
la seta e la bambagia
bambini chi vi piace
ci piace Giovanni
che fa cantare i galli
la chioccia coi pulcini
i galli e le galline
che fanno coccodèè
canta gallina
fa l'ovo domattina
vicino al gallo rosso
vicino al gallo bianco
che fa chicchirichì
Seta moneta
le donne di Gaeta
che filano la seta
la filan troppo forte
e fan tremar le porte
le porte son d'argento
e fanno cinquecento
centocinquanta
tutto il mondo canta
Canta lo gallo
risponde la gallina
Madama Colombina
s'affaccia alla finestra
con tre colombe in testa
Passan tre fanti
su tre cavalli bianchi:
bianca la sella,
bianca la donzella,
bianco il parafieno
Seta moneta
le donne di Gaeta
che filano la seta
la seta e la bambagia....
....bambini vi è piaciuta?
Silk, money,
Women from Gaeta*
Spinning silk,
Silk and cotton.
Children, who do you like?
We like John
Who makes roosters sing,
The broody hen and the chicks,
Roosters and hens
That say cluck, cluck.
Sing, hen,
Lay an egg tomorrow morning
Near the red rooster
Close to the white one
That goes cockle-doodle-do.
Silk, money,
Women from Gaeta
Spinning silk,
They spin it too strong
And make doors shake.
Doors are of silver
And make five hundred
One hundred and fifty
The whole world sings.
The rooster sings
The hen answers.
Lady Columbine
Looked out of the window,
Three doves on her head.
Three foot soldiers pass by
On three white horses:
White saddle,
White damsel
White palfrey**.
Silk, money,
Women from Gaeta
Spinning silk
Silk and cotton ....
Children .... did you like it?
Notes
*A city in central Italy
**Note about Palfrey: "A palfrey is a type of horse highly valued as a riding horse in the Middle Ages. It is not a breed." -Wikipedia
FYI - "Moneta" can also be understood as "change"
Game Instructions
The way to play "Seta moneta" is with the child riding the adult's knees, the adult holds the child's hands and makes a push and pull saw movement.
Comments
This is a well-known version of Seta Moneta.
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Emanuela for contributing this song. Translated by Monique Palomares.
Thanks to Lila Pomerantz for the drawing!
Grazzie mille!
