Passeávase el rey moro
por la ciudad de Granada,
quando le vinieron nuevas
que Alhama era ganada.
¡ay, mi Alhama!

[Las cartas echó en el fuego
y al mensajero matara,
echó mano a sus cabellos
y las sus barbas mesaba.
¡Ay, mi Alhama! […]
-Para que sepáis, amigos
la gran pérdida de Alhama.
-Bien se te emplea, señor,
señor, bien se te empleaba
¡Ay, mi Alhama!
Por matar los bencerrajes,
que eran la flor de Granada,
acogiste a los judíos
de Córdoba la nombrada
¡Ay, mi Alhama! […]
-Ay, si os pluguiese, mis moros,
que fuésemos a cobralla.
-Mas si, rey, a Alhama has de ir,
deja buen a cobro Granada.
¡Ay, mi Alhama! […]
Combatenla prestamente,
ella está bien defensada,
de que el rey no pudo más
volvió muy triste a Granada.
¡Ay, mi Alhama!]

The morísh king was out walking
in the city of Granada
letters delivered to him
Telling how Alhama was taken.
¡Ah, my Alhama!....

He threw the letters into the fire
and killed the messenger,
he took hold of his hair
and stroked his beard.

So that you may know, my friends,
the great loss of Alhama
-You were well employed, sir,
sir, you were well employed!

For killing the Abencerrajes,
who were the flower of Granada,
you took in the Jews
of Cordoba, the so-called.

If it would please you, my Moors,
if we were to go and collect the money,
but if, King, you have to go to Alhama,
leave Granada to collect the money,

Fight it quickly,
it is well defended,
since the king could no longer
return very sadly to Granada.
Alas, my Alhama].