From the recording Orijinal (En Bivo)
First recorded on Gracia (2012)
Doña Grasia Nasi has fascinated me for years. Born into a converso family in Portugal in the 16th century, she later used her wealth and influence to help Jews escape the Iberian Peninsula during the Inquisition, preserving countless lives while risking her own. The more I learned about her, the more I felt others needed to know her story, too.
When I began writing this song, I kept coming back to a Ladino proverb: "Some have the deeds, some have the fame." I couldn't help changing the ending. For Doña Grasia, the only honest conclusion was, "You have both and the same."
Lyrics
Ladino:
Tu mos das grasia
Tu mos das vida
Tu mos das esperansa
Tu mos das bravura
Tu mos das fuersa
Tu mos das feuzia
Tu mos das dicha
Tu mos das boz
Tu mos das inspirasion
Tu mos das estima
Tu mos das valor
Tu mos das admirasion
Grasias a ti tenemos
Onor, pleto, efekto;
Grasias a ti tenemos
Poder, altura, respekto
Unas tienen las echas, otras la fama—
Las tienes tu endjuntas.
English:
You give us grace
You give us life
You give us promise
You give us bravery
You give us strength
You give us faith
You give us command
You give us voice
You give us inspiration
You give us esteem
You give us value
You give us admiration
Because of you we have the
Honor, fight, effect;
Because of you we endure with
Power, height, respect
Some have the deeds, some have the fame--
You have both and the same.