Hebritas, hebritas de oro
This is the version of this song from Texas and New Mexico. It's originally from Spain and spread all over the Spanish speaking world.
Hebritas, hebritas de oro
Little Threads, Little Threads of Gold
Juego en círculo
Circle Game
(Spanish)
(English)
Hebritas, hebritas de oro
Que se me vienen quebrando
Que dice el rey y la reina
Que cuántas hijas tendréis.
Que tenga las que tuviere
Que nada le importa al rey.
Vuelva, vuelva caballero,
No sea tan descortés,
De las hijas que yo tengo
Escoja la más mujer.
Esta me gusta por linda y hermosa,
Parece una rosa acabada de nacer.
No me la siente en el suelo,
Siéntemela en un cojín
Que es hija de un gapuchín.
Little threads, little threads of gold,
That are breaking on me.
The king and queen say:
How many daughters do you have?
I might have those that I have,
It's not a matter for the king.
Come back, come back, gentleman,
Do not be so discourteous.
From the daughters that I have,
Choose the most mature one.
I like this one for being pretty and lovely
She looks like a rose that has just sprouted.
Don't have her sitting on the floor,
Have her sitting on a cushion
For she's a nobleman's daughter.
Notes
You can listen to this song here.
Game Instructions
First Way: The children stand in a circle with one in the middle who acts as the messenger. At th end a girl is chosen to go in the middle to swap roles with the messenger.
Second Way: The children stand in a line with one kid facing them acting as the messenger. The messenger walks forward and backward while singing, the lines does the same when it's their turn to speak. A girl is chosen at the end and she joins the messenger and the game starts again with two messengers instead of one.