Niña, asómate a la Reja

You already know in Gazal Tours we really like to make you participate not only in the material heritage, but also in the intangible one: folklore, traditions... and for that reason, today we want to talk to you about one of the most typical songs and dances of the city: the "Baile of the Reja" (Dance of the Fence).

It is a song written by Miguel del Castillo, wanting to make a tribute to Granada. For this reason, you will see that the lyrics mention characteristic elements such as the Torre de la Vela in the Alhambra, the Virgen de las Angustias (Virgin of Sorrows, who is the patron saint of the city) or the famous legend that Aixa told her son Boabdil, after the conquest of the Catholic Monarchs, that he was crying as a woman what he could not defend as a man.

Niña asómate a la reja

que te tengo que decir

que te tengo que decir,

un «recaito» a la oreja,

el «recaito» consiste que no te quiero ni ver,

y el beso que tú me diste te lo vengo a devolver.

Dale que dale que dale,

toma que toma que toma,

que tengo una novia que vale

más que la fuente de Roma.

Quiero vivir en Granada

solamente para oír,

las campanas de la Meca

cuando me voy a dormir.

Ese sonido que tiene, que me hace recordar

cuando Boabdil la dejaba y de pena se echó a llorar.

La Virgen de las Angustias,

cuando sale en procesión,

los granadinos le piden

con mucha fe y devoción,

en su plegaria le dicen que no les falte la paz

y en su regazo no olvide a su querida «Graná».

The dance of the song was inspired by the zambras of Sacromonte, and although we might think that it comes from afar, it is actually a relatively modern dance. It was choreographed for the first time to appear in the film “Forge of Souls” from 1943. However, it became quite popular and is an essential part of the city's cultural imagination.

Here there are two links so you can see and listen to it!