English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

MAYN GOLDELE (My Goldele) Composer: Words: Louis Gilrod

Goldele: goldele: When you were away, ven du bist geven avek I suffered terribly. hob ikh gelitn gor a shrek …

Misha: misha: Me too, me too. ikh oykh, ikh oykh!

Goldele: goldele: I was suffering terribly, kh’bin gevezn shtark gekrenkt. always longing for you. imer tsu nokh dir gebenkt.

Misha: misha: Me too, me too, ikh oykh, ikh oykh! Always thinking only of you, imer nor fun dir getrakht, both day and night. say bay tog un say bay nakht.

Goldele: goldele: Me too, me too. ikh oykh, ikh oykh!

Both: beyde: Many times my heart was longing for you, fil mol hot mayn harts mikh tsu dir getsoygn for just one glimpse of your sweet eyes. nor eyn blik in dayne zise oygn.

Misha: misha: My heart, my soul. harts mayn, neshome mayn,

Goldele: goldele: I love, I love only you. ikh lib, ikh lib nor dikh aleyn.

Misha: misha: My Goldele, my dear bride, mayn goldele, mayn kalekhl, my beautiful, sweet little angel, mayn sheyner, ziser malekhl, my only desire is to be with you, mit dir zayn, dos iz mayn bager, with you forever and ever, I swear. mit dir af imer, af imer, ikh shver.

Goldele: goldele: Oh, at this instant I feel akh in dizen oygnblik fil ikh, that my happiness has returned to me. az ikh hob mayn glik tsurik.

Misha: misha: Me too, me too. ikh oykh, ikh oykh!

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

MAYN GOLDELE (My Goldele) (continued)

Goldele: goldele: Oh my, I feel it burning! oy gvald! ikh fil es brit! Oh my, I’m so drawn to you! oy gvald! tsu dir mikh tsit!

Misha: misha: Me too, me too. ikh oykh, ikh oykh! I feel in this moment oy ikh fil in dem moment that am burning to ashes from love. fun libe ver ikh ash farbrent.

Goldele: goldele: Me too, me too. ikh oykh, ikh oykh!

Both: beyde: Oh, you have captured my heart akh, mayn harts hostu, oy, du host gefangen with those beautiful songs that ring so sweetly. mit di sheyne lider fun zise klangen.

Misha: misha: My heart, my soul. harts mayn, neshome mayn,

Goldele: goldele: I love, I love only you. ikh lib, ikh lib nor dikh aleyn.

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

FIFTY-FIFTY Composer: Joseph Rumshinsky Words: Louis Gilrod

I hope we will live to see the day, the time should only ikh hof, mir veln nokh derlebn, kumen zol di tsayt, come, when there will no longer be any bosses and workers; ven es veln mer nit zayn keyn bosses un arbetslayt; the socialists will make an end to poor and rich. di sotsialistn veln makhn a sof tsu orem un raykh, The bosses and workers will share things equally! di bosses mit di arbeter veln zikh teyln glaykh!

Fifty-fifty, oy, fifty-fifty! fifty-fifty, oy, fifty-fifty! Vanderbilt will sit and Vanderbilt vet vi an oks sweat like an ox, sewing cloaks. zitsn, shvitsn, neyen cloaks; Let’s try it everywhere and not waste any time, fifty-fifty, lomir tryen umetum, quickly enacting the “fifty-fifty”! keyn tsayt farlirn, shnel aynfirn fifty-fifty!

Fifty-fifty, oy, fifty-fifty … fifty-fifty, oy, fifty-fifty …

My brother went around jobless for a long time, mayn bruder iz arumgegangen on arbet a lange tsayt. but nothing worked for him, no matter what he tried. keyn zakh iz im ober nisht gelungen, vos er hot getryd. One day he comes home with money and says to me: eyn mol kumt er aheym mit gelt un zogt tsu mir; you “You see, see, I am a conductor on a trolley car and split it with the ikh bin conductor af a trolleycar un teyl zikh mit der company—“ company—

Fifty-fifty, oy, fifty-fifty! fifty-fifty, oy, fifty-fifty! I ring the bell incessantly. ikh kling dem glok gor on a shier. It’s a nickel for them, a nickel for me. a nickel far zey, a nickel far mir; Fifty-fifty, it goes so smoothly, fifty-fifty! es geyt bay mir geshmirt. a tug on the bell rope, and a nickel flies into my a tsi dos shtrikl, fliet a nickel in keshene tzu mir. pocket.”

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

IN A KLEYN SHTIBELE (In a Little Cottage) Composer: Joseph Rumshinsky Words: Isidore Lillian

Benish: benish: Day and night I think of you; ikh denk fun dir tog un nakht; you have brought me sunshine, Diana. du host mir zunenshayn gebrakht, diana. I can no longer concentrate on my studies lernen ken ikh mer nit, neyn, ever since I noticed you, Diana. zayt dan ven ikh hob dikh derzen, diana.

Tell me, beloved, did you miss me? zog, gelibte, hostu gebenkt. Oh, have I thought of you a great deal, Diana. oy, ikh hob fun dir fil gedenkt, diana. I cannot be without you even for a minute. on dir zayn ken ikh keyn minut, With you everything is so good, Diana. mit dir, mit dir, iz zeyer gut, diana.

Both: beyde: We will live in a little cottage, mir veln voynen in a kleyn shtibele, just you and me together in love. nor ikh un du mit undzer libele. Our love is heavenly; you delight me. himlish iz di libe; du host mir derkvikt. God sent you down from heaven. got hot dir fun himl mir arop geshikt. We will live in a little cottage, mir veln voynen in a kleyn shtibele, just you and me together in love. nor ikh un du mit undzer libele. When I become old and gray ven ikh vel vern alt un gro, and my final hour comes, un kumen vet mayn letste sho, my last words will be, “I love you.” vet mayn letste vort zayn, ikh hob dikh lib.

Diana: diana: You are the balm of my heart, du bist der balzam fun mayn harts, You can heal the greatest pain, my Benish. du farheylst dem grestn shmerts, mayn beynish. In sorrows and in joy, in laydn un in freydn, only death can separate us, nor der toyt ken undz tsusheydn, You, my Benish. du, mayn beynish.

I love you with all the fire in me. ikh lib dikh mit mayn gantsn fayer. You, only you, are so dear to me, Benish. du, nor du, bist bay mir tayer, benish. You are my life. du bist, du bist, mayn gants lebn, I will be devoted completely to you, Benish. nor far dir vel ikh shtrebn, benish.

Both: beyde: We’ll live in a little cottage.… mir veln voynen in a kleyn shtibele.…

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

OY, IZ DOS A MEYDL (Oh, What a Girl!) Composer: Joseph Rumshinsky Words:

Every girl hopes that yedes meydl hoft there’s somewhere az es iz faran in the world ergets af der velt a man just for her. ongegreyt far ir a man. And she weaves her dream: un zi vebt ir troym: He is good and fine, er iz gut un fayn, such a handsome man, aza sheyner man, everyone will be jealous of her. mekane vet zi yeder zayn. He will love her, er vet libn zi, forever love her. liben on a shir. With a tender voice mit a tsarter shtim he will sing only to her: zingen vet er nor tsu ir:

Oh, what a girl! oy iz dos a meydl! How lucky am I! aza yor af mir! Oh, what a girl! oy iz dos a meydl! I am in love with you! kh’bin farlibt in dir. In your beautiful eyes in dayne sheyne oygn one glimpses rays shtraln men derzet like a rainbow vi a regn-boygn when the sun sets. ven di zun fargeyt. Your heart is beautiful and gentle. dayn harts iz sheyn un eydl. Therefore I say to you: derfar zog ikh tsu dir: Oh, what a girl! oy iz dos a meydl! How lucky am I! aza yor af mir!

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

ES TSIT, ES BRIT (It Tugs, It Burns) Composer: Joseph Rumshinsky Words: Isidore Lillian

What is this? I must vos iz dos, ikh muz dos figure it out already. shoyn oysgefinen bald. What am I thinking? What am I longing for? vos denk ikh? vos benk ikh? Why am I getting hot and cold? vos vert mir heys un kalt? Why am I crying? vos veyn ikh? ot meyn ikh It feels like the world is about to end…. di velt vet untergeyn… I want to shoot myself. kh’vil mikh shisn. ver ken visn Who knows what’s happened to me? vos mit mir iz geshen.

It tugs, it scorches, it seethes, it burns es tsit, es brit, es kokht, es brent here, in my heart; in hertsele ot a do! It gnaws, it flicks, it rips, it nips, es nogt, es plogt, es rayst, es bayst, It leaves me without a moment’s peace. ikh hob nit keyn fraye sho! I cannot sleep; I cannot eat, ikh ken nit shlofn, ikh ken nit esn. O, it thumps and drains. oy, es tyokhket un es tsapt. I cannot forget that face. Ikh ken dos ponem nit fargesn Something knotted itself up in me. epes hot zikh do farknipt. It pricks, it breaks, in short, it’s bad. es shtekht, es brekht, a klal s’iz shlekht, I think I’m in love! dakht zikh ikh bin farlibt!

Poets have written many sonnets poetn, sonetn geshribn hobn fil about love, why it makes one crazy, mad. fun libe, di sibe, vos makht meshuge, dull. Vengeance and war it has already brought. nekomes, milkhomes hot dos shoyn gebrakht. Love’s arrows can travel miles— libes fayln treft far mayln— It is the greatest power. s’iz di greste makht.

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

HAMAVDIL Joseph Rumshinsky

He who makes a distinction between the sacred and profane, hamavdil beyn kodesh, ben kodesh lkhol, Will pardon our transgressions. khatosenu, khatosenu, khatosenu hu yimkhol. A good week, have a good week gut vokh, gut vokh, gut vokh, a gute vokh, A good week, a pleasant week … gut vokh, gut vokh, gut vokh, a tayere vokh.

God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, got fun avrohom un yitskhok un yakov, watch over Your people Israel, bahit dayn folk yisroel, protect Your people Israel. bashits dayn folk yisroel. The Holy Sabbath is taking leave; der shabes koydesh geyt avek, may the new week arrive with good fortune and blessing, di naye vokh zol kumen tsu mazl un brokhe, with all things good and with success. mit alem gut un hatslokhe. To You alone we pray, mir betn nor bay dir aleyn, dear God! And let us say: Amen. gotenyu! venomar: omeyn.

He who made a distinction between the sacred and profane, der vos makht a tsvishnsheyd beyn kodesh l'hol, between the Sabbath and the rest of the week, tsvishn shabes un der vokhns, “Hamavdil ben kodesh l’ ol.” hamavdil beyn kodesh lkhol, He will multiply our seed and our means oy, zareynu vkhaspeynu yarbe kakhol, as the sand of the ocean. mir zoln zikh mern, dikh nor gehern, We should multiply, and belong only to you, hamavdil beyn kodesh lkhol. “Hamavdil ben kodesh l’ ol.” oy, guter boyre, oy, tayerer boyre, O, good Creator, O dear Creator, zingt dem hamavdil, zingt far Im. Sing the “Hamavdil,” sing unto Him. loybt undzer boyre, loybt nor Im. Praise our Creator. Praise only Him.

God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, got fun avrohom, yitskhok un yakov, our belief in You is strong. mir zaynen bay dir ale takif. Watch over us and protect us from any new disasters. hit undz un shits undz, oy, fun a nayer brokh. Give us and send us a new, good week. gib undz, un shik undz a naye, gute vokh.

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

A BRIVELE DER MAMEN (A Little Letter to Mama) Solomon Smulewitz

My child, my comfort, you are going away. mayn kind, mayn treyst, du forst avek, Remember to be a good son. ze zay a zun a gutter; With anxious tears and fear I beg you, dikh bet mit trern un mit shrek, your loyal, dear mother. dayn traye libe muter. You are traveling, my child, my only child, du forst mayn kind, mayn eyntsik kind, across distant seas. ariber vayte yamen, Just arrive in good health akh! kum ahin nor frish gezunt, and don’t forget your mother. un nisht farges dayn mamen… Oh, travel in health and arrive in good spirit. oy, for gezunt, un kum mit glik, Please send a letter every week, ze yede vokh a brivl shik. and thus lighten your mother’s heart, my child. dayn mames harts, mayn kind, derkvik.

A letter to your mother a brivele der mamen you shouldn’t delay. zolstu nit farzamen. Write right away, shrayb geshvind, dear child. libes kind, Grant her this consolation. shenk ir di nekhome. Your mother will read your little letter di mame vet dayn brivele lezn, and she will recover. un zi vet genezn. You’ll heal her pain, heylst ir shmerts, her bitter heart. ir biter harts, You’ll delight her soul. derkvikst ir di neshome.

These eight years I’ve been alone. dos akhte yor ikh bin aleyn, My child has sailed far away. mayn kind iz vayt farshvumen. His childish heart is hard as stone: zayn kindersh harts iz hart vi shteyn. Not a single letter has arrived. keyn eyntsik briv bakumen. How can my child go on? vi ken mayn kind gor hobn mut? How is his life going? vi geyt im ayn dos lebn? He must be doing very well there, es muz im geyn dort zeyer gut… since he’s forgotten me. vayl er keyn nakhrikht gebn. I’ve sent him a hundred letters, kh’hob im geshikt a hundert briv and he still has no sense un er hot nokh keyn shum bagrif, that my pain is so deep. az mayne shmertsn zenen tif…

A letter to your mother … a brivele der mamen …

In the city of New York there’s a wealthy home, in shtot New York, a raykhe hoyz, with hearts that have no feeling. mit hertser on gefiln. Her son lives there in lavish style. dort voynt ir kind, er lebt gor groys. He has a lovely family: a gliklekhe familye. a beautiful wife and two children a sheyne froy un kinder tsvey with radiant faces. mit likhtike geshtaltn.

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

A BRIVELE DER MAMEN (A Little Letter to Mama) (continued)

And as he sits and beams with pride at them, un vi er zitst un kvelt fun zey, he receives a letter: hot er a briv derhaltn: “Your mother is dead,” it has happened. “dayn muter toyt,”— es iz geshen;. In life you neglected her. in lebn hostu ir farzen, This was her last wish: dos iz ir letster vuntsh geven:

Say a little Kaddish for your mother, a kadishl der mamen don’t delay. zolstu nisht farzamen, Say it now, zog geshvind, dear son. libes kind, Grant her this consolation. shenk ir di nekhome… Your mother will hear the Kaddish di mame vet ir kadish hern from her grave. in ir keyver gern. You’ll heal her pain, her bitter heart. heylst ir shmerts, ir biter harts, You’ll delight her soul. derkvikst ir di neshome.

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

WATCH YOUR STEP Composer: Joseph Rumshinsky Words: Sam Lowenworth

America, a land of nothing but “hurry up!” amerike—a land nor fun hurry up! One is running to do business, one is running to the shop. eyner loyft in business, eyner loyft in shop. One has a date, she’s running late. eyner hot a date, gekumen iz tsu shpet. One is running to pinochle, then pays “double bête.” eyner loyft tsu pinochle, tsolt double bête. One is running to a poker game. eyner loyft tsu a poker game. One is running to pawn his watch and chain. eyner loyft farzetsn zayn watch un chain. One is running to a play, one is running to a cabaret. eyner loyft tsu a play, eyner loyft in cabaret. One is running to the drugstore because of his upset eyner loyft in drugstore, vayl der boykh tut im vey. stomach.

“Watch your step,” they shout out plain and simple, watch your step! shrayt men oys gants plain. “Watch your step,” you can see it everywhere. watch your step! iberal kent ir dos zen. In the subway—in the car, up and down the steps— in der subvey—in der kar, aroyf un arop di trep— One is shouting loudly with all his might, “Watch your shrayt eyner hoykh mit gantsn koyekh, watch your step!” step!

America, a land of nothing but “hurry up!” amerike— a land nor fun hurry up! One is running to do business, one is running to the shop. eyner loyft in business, eyner loyft in shop. One is running to the store, one is running to the train. eynder loyft in store, eyner loyft in train One is running to pawn his watch and chain. eyner loyft farzetsn zayn watch un chain. One eats khale every day of the week. eyner es a khale yedn tog in vokh One eats only the hole of the bagel. eyner es fun beygl nor dem lokh One is running to a play, one is running to a cabaret. eyner loyft tsu a play, eyner loyft in cabaret. One is running to the drugstore because of his upset eyner loyft in drugstore, vayl der boykh tut im vey. stomach.

Watch your step.… watch your step...

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

GOT UN ZAYN MISHPET IZ GEREKHT (God and His Judgment Are Just) Composer: David Meyerowitz Words: Louis Gilrod

Throughout his life the Jew has der yid hot in zayn lebn a word of consolation for his misfortunes, a treystvort af zayn brokh, and this was passed down to him through the generations. un dos hot im gegebn zayn alter zeyde nokh. And whatever misfortune befalls him, un vos far a shlekhts es treft dem yidn whatever happens to him, vos zol im nit geshen, he bears it all and is content, trogt er durkh un iz tsufridn, as though it were nothing at all. glaykh vi gornit geven. But his face becomes pale, nor zayn ponem vert blas, his eyes become wet, di oygn vern nas, his heart gets drained of blood. zayn harts vert fargosn mit blut. To uplift his heart tsu shtarkn zayn harts and to ease his suffering, un tsu shtiln zayn shmerts, he consoles himself with this: nemt er zikh treystn dermit:

God and His judgment are just! got un zayn mishpet iz gerekht! One may never say that God is wrong; men tor keyn mol nit zogn got iz shlekht. God knows what He is doing: got veys vos er tut: He punishes no one without just cause. umzist shtroft er keynem nit. God and His Judgment are just… got un zayn mishpet iz gerekht …

The Jew never finds happiness; der yid iz keyn mol gliklekh; He has always suffered. er laydt fun eybik on. Broken into little pieces gebrokhn in shtik–shtiklekh is the Jewish nation. iz di yidishe natsyon. He has no home, no land, no friend; er hot keyn heym, keyn land, keyn fraynd nit. no warm, consoling words. keyn treysten, varem vort. The beautiful sun doesn’t shine on him, di sheyne zun far im, zi shaynt nit. He is hated everywhere. me hast im do un dort. An accursed stranger, a farsholtener ger, he is a foreigner; a fremder iz er. everywhere he is tormented. iberal vert er geplogt. He has countless sorrows. er hot tsores fil. Yet he bears his sufferings in silence; un dokh laydt er shtil; he cries his eyes out and he says: er veynt zikh gut oys un er zogt:

God and His Judgment are just…. got un zayn mishpet iz gerekht …

In nearly every generation kimat in ale doyres a Haman arises shteyt a homon uf and attempts with all kinds of terror un zukht mit kol hamoyres to destroy the weak, defenseless Jew. dem shvakhn yidls sof. Now too, in the twentieth century, oykh yetst in tsvontsikstn yorhundert recall how he is without friends. on fraynd, erinert aykh.

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

GOT UN ZAYN MISHPET IZ GEREKHT (God and His Judgment Are Just) (continued)

They rob the Jew and plunder him, men hot dem yid geroybt, geplundert in the Czar’s empire. dort in tsarn–raykh. An evil Ivan, a shlekhter ivan, a dog, Krushevan, a hund, krushevan, has spilled the blood of the Jew. hot fargosn dos blut fun dem yid. A sea of blood a blutikn yam was caused by the pogrom. hot gemakht dem pogrom. Yet the Jew keeps on singing his song: dos yidl zingt vayter zayn lid:

God and His judgment are just.… got un zayn mishpet iz gerekht …

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

HU-TSA-TSA Fischel Kanapoff

I’m going to sing a song for you now, hu-tsa-tsa … ikh zing far aykh itst a lid, hu-tsa-tsa. I believe this song is very good, hu-tsa-tsa … ikh gloyb dos lidl iz zeyer gut, hu-tsa-tsa. If the song pleases you, hu-tsa-tsa … oyb dos lidl vet gefeln, hu-tsa-tsa. I’ll be making you happy, hu-tsa-tsa … vel ikh aykh tsufridn shteln, hu-tsa-tsa.

It’s a cold night, frosty, raining, and hailing.. s’iz a kalte nakht, a frost, es regnt, es hoglt. A wind is blowing in all directions. It’s slippery. a vint blozt in ale rikhtungen. s’iz gliktshik, I wouldn’t even wish such a night upon my enemies. a nakht af mayne sonim gezogt gevorn. At a bakery, there’s a knock on the door, in a bekeray hert men a klap in tir. And the baker runs to answer the door. un der beker loyft tsu un enfent di tir. Before him stands a Jew, soggy and frozen, and then un s’shteyt far im a yid, durkhgeveykt un he says: farfrorin un zogt der yid: “Mister baker, would you be so kind as to give me one mister baker, zayt azoy gut un gib mir eyn bulke roll with caraway seeds.” mit kiml. The baker looks at the man and asks, “Mister, what are kukt af im der beker un er fregt: reb yid, vos you, crazy? bistu, a meshugener? You went out in such weather, such cold, bist aroys in aza veter, aza kelt, such rain and snow just for one roll with caraway aza regn un shney far eyn bulke mit kiml? seeds? Tell me, are you married?” zog mir, ir zent a farhayrate? The man replies, “What do you think? enfert der yid: vos den? My mother would have sent me out on a night like mayn mame volt mikh aroys geshikt in aza this?” nakht!

I went into a restaurant, hu-tsa-tsa … in a resteran bin ikh arayn, hu-tsa-tsa. And ate very well, hu-tsa-tsa … un hob gegesn zeyer fayn, hu-tsa-tsa. The food was very tasty, hu-tsa-tsa … dos esn hot mir gut geshmekt, hu-tsa-tsa. But at night it woke me up, hu-tsa-tsa … bay nakht hot dos mikh ufgevekt, hu-tsa-tsa.

At the cemetery I see a Jew lying prostrate on a grave. afn besoylem ze ikh a yid, un er ligt af a keyver, He’s beating his chest, pounding and sobbing; he’s un er klapt un er shlogt un er khlipet. er veynt crying hysterically: histerish: “Oy, oy, why did you die, why? Why did you die?” oy, oy, farvos bistu geshtorbn, farvos? farvos bistu geshtorbn? I go up to him and ask, “Mister, who died?” gey ikh tsu tsu im un ikh freg: reb yid, ver iz geshtorbn? He answers me: “My wife’s first husband. enfert er mir: mayn vaybs ershter man. Oy, why did you die, why?” oy farvos bistu geshtorbn, farvos?

My neighbor says she’s in love with me, hu-tsa-tsa … mayn shkheyne zogt zi hot mikh lib, hu-tsa-tsa. So I went over to her house, hu-tsa-tsa … ikh kum arayn tsu ir in shtub, hu-tsa-tsa. She gave me quite a welcome, hu-tsa-tsa … zi hot mikh fayn ufgenumen, hu-tsa-tsa. But her husband walked in right in the middle, hu-tsa-tsa … iz ir man in mitn ongekumen, hu-tsa-tsa.

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

HU-TSA-TSA (continued)

Two old Jews are sitting in a steam bath. tsvey alte yidn zistn in a shvitsbod. One stirs from his place. “Oy, oy, oy, oy …” eyner rirt zikh fun ort: oy! oy, oy, oy… And he picks up his cane and says again, “Oy, oy, oy, un er nemt a shtekn un nokh a mol zogt: oy! oy …” oy, oy… He slowly draws himself to his feet: “Oy, oy, oy, oy …” er tsit zikh langsam tsu di fis: oy! oy, oy, oy… until finally he’s standing upright. biz er shtelt zikh oyf. The second one says to him, zogt der tsveyter: “Moshe, where you’re running?” moyshe, vu loyfstu? vu?

I was sitting on the upper bench of the steam bath, hu-tsa- in bod bin ikh gezesn hoykh, hu-tsa-tsa. tsa … Singing with all my might, hu-tsa-tsa … gezungen mitn gantsn koyekh, hu-tsa-tsa. With boiling water some Jew, hu-tsa-tsa … mit heyse vaser hot a yid, hu-tsa-tsa. Scalded me all over, hu-tsa-tsa … mir in gantsn opgebrit, hu-tsa-tsa.

My grandma bumps into her doctor while taking a mayn bobe treft ir doktor af a shpatsir. stroll. The doctor says, “Grandma dear, how’re you doing?” un der doktor zogt: bobishe, vos makht ir? She says: “Oy, doctor, oy, doctor, zogt zi: oy, doktor, oy, doktor, I don’t feel very well. I ache everywhere s’mir nit gut. s’tut mir vey umetum from my head to my feet; I can barely walk or stand.” fun kop biz di fis, koym vos ikh gey, kum vos ikh shtey He says to her, “So, come see me at my office.” zogt er tsu ir: nu kum arayn tsu mir in office. She replies, “Perhaps next week, when I feel a bit entfer zi: efsher nekste vokh ven ikh fil zikh a better.” bisl beser.

True story, true story: emese, emese mayse… On the way here I see an old Jew sitting on the curb. afn veg aher ze ikh an altn yid zitsndik af a trotuar. He’s weeping bitterly: “Oy gevalt! un er veynt bitere trern: oy gvald! Oh God, what should I do? My people, save me!” reboyne-sheloylem, vos zol ikh ton? yidn ratevet! I run up to him and ask, “Hey Gramps, what loyf ikh tsu un ikh freg, zeydenyu, vos iz happened? geshen? farvos veynt ir? iz dos lebn azoy Why are you crying? Is life that bad?” shlekht? He says, “No, on the contrary, things are good for me. zogt er, neyn farkert. s’mir gut. oy s’mir gut. Oy, are things good for me! Last week I got married to a twenty-eight-year-old girl. letste vokh hob ikh khasene gehat mit a meydl fun akht un tsvantsik yor. I’m already ninety-three. Oy, things are good for me! ikh bin shoyn alt dray un nayntsik. oy s’mir gut… She’s so pretty, so good, my bride. She does aza sheyne, aza gute, mayn kalenyu. zi tut alts everything for me. far mir,

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

HU-TSA-TSA (continued)

She cooks for me, she cleans for me, she makes zi kokht far mir, zi roymt far mir, zi makht mit hanky-panky with me. mir kotsenyu-motsenyu… It’s heaven on earth. s’mir a ganeydn af der velt. Oy vey, things are good for me. Things are so good for oy vey s’mir gut, s’mir gut… me.…” I ask him, “So what are you crying about?” freg ikh im: to vos-zshe veynt ir? He replies, “I can’t remember where I live!” zogt er: ikh gedenk nisht vu ikh voyn!

hu-tsa-tsa, hu-tsa-tsa… hu-tsa-tsa, hu-tsa-tsa…

I’ve now finished my song, hu-tsa-tsa … gendikt hob ikh shoyn mayn lid, hu-tsa-tsa, hu-tsa- tsa. And if it you want some more, hu-tsa-tsa … un oyb es makht aykh apetit, hu-tsa-tsa, hu-tsa- tsa. If the song is to your liking, hu-tsa-tsa … oyb ir vet dos lidl glaykhn, hu-tsa-tsa, hu-tsa-tsa. Then you can all do “hu-tsa-tsa” … kent ir ale aleyn makhn, hu-tsa-tsa, hu-tsa-tsa.

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

OYB S’IZ GEVEN GUT FAR MAYN MAMEN (If It Was Good Enough for My Mother) Composer: Joseph Rumshinsky Words: Molly Picon

Everyone is always saying, a yeder eyner zogt, everyone is always whining: a yeder eyner klogt: “These are new times, these are new times!” s’iz naye tsaytn, s’iz naye tsaytn! In response to anything you ask af ales vos ir fregt they get annoyed and say to you: zogt men aykh ufgeregt: “These are new times, these are new times!” s’iz naye tsaytn, s’iz naye tsaytn! They laugh at the old fun altn tut men lakhn, and even mock them. un afile khoyzek makhn. “It’s old-fashioned,” they say. “It’s passé.” s’iz altmodish, zogt men, s’iz passé. And I say to you: That’s not so. un ikh zog aykh: s’iz nit rikhtik. Who cares what they think. zeyer meynung iz nit vikhtik. And that’s why I think to myself thus: un derfar trakht ikh tsu mir azoy:

If it was good enough for my mother, oyb s’iz geven gut far mayn mamen, it’s good enough for me. iz es gut far mir. Everything she did or said ire shayles, ire mayles was in such good taste; iz geven batamt on shir. People didn’t put on airs. keyn khokhmes iz nit geven faran. Everyone was happy back then. yeder iz geven tsufridn dan. To all those who say, ot di ale vos zogn: “For the Old World I don’t care,” “for the old world I don’t care,” I don’t begrudge them the new one, fargin ikh zey dos naye, but the old one is more appealing to me. mir gefelt di alte mer. If it was good enough for my mother, oyb s’iz geven gut far mayn mamen, it’s good enough for me. iz es gut far mir.

It’s comical these days to see s’iz komish haynt tsu zen women walking in the street— in gas di vayber geyen— “These are new times, these are new times!” s’iz naye tsaytn, s’iz naye tsaytn! A woman wouldn’t even think of settling down and fun takhles nit zi trakht. starting a family. She is “busy” day and night— zi iz busy tog un nakht— “These are new times.” s’iz naye tsaytn, s’iz naye tsaytn! She has a poodle, a canary, zi hot a poodle, a canary, and a bulldog named Mary, un a bulldog, vos heyst Mary, but she has no time for a child. nor a kind hobn hot zi keyn tsayt. And my mother, to no one’s amazement, un mayn mame, on shum vunder, gave birth to eleven children; hot geboyrn elf kinder, and she was all right. un zi iz geven alright.

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

DU BIST DOS LIKHT FUN MAYNE OYGN (You Are the Light of My Eyes) Composer: Joseph Rumshinsky Words: Isidore Lillian

“Oh my dear Yosele, oy, mayn tayer Yosele, you are fine and good.” du bist gut un fayn. So Reyzele would sing azoy flegt zingen Reyzele, into my ears. mir in oyer arayn. “When I feel you’re next to me, ven ikh fil dikh lebn mir, my heart pounds. git mayn harts a pik, You have given me heart. du host mayn harts gegebn mir, Do not take it back. nem es nit tsurik. I cannot live without you; lebn ken ikh nit on dir, I want you to know. zolstu visn zayn. Do you know what you mean to me? veystu vos du meynst tsu mir? Yosl, listen to this: yosl, her zikh ayn:

You are the light of my eyes. du bist dos likht fun mayne oygn. Only you illuminate my world for me. nor du bashaynst mayn velt far mir. You have seduced me, du host mikh tsu zikh tsugetsoygn, so that I cannot live without you. az lebn ken ikh nit on dir. You make my night shine so brightly. du makhst mayn nakht zol likhtik vern. You bring me the blue sky. dem bloyen himl brengstu mir. You are my bright morning star. du bist mayn heler morgnshtern. So shine for me, I beg of you. nu shayn far mir, ikh bet bay dir. When you are not near me, bistu nit lebn mir, everything feels so dark, so gloomy; iz mir khoyshekh-finster, tunkl, and then when I hear your voice, un derher ikh dayn shtim, it’s as if it were daylight everywhere. vert tog in a yedn vinkl. You are the light of my eyes. du bist dos likht fun mayne oygn. Only you illuminate my world for me.” nor du bashaynst mayn velt far mir.

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

SHMA YISRO’EL from Di Khaznte (The Cantoress) (1918) Composer: Joseph Rumshinsky Words:

Shma Yisro’el! Hear me out! shma yisroel! her mikh oys. Elohim, Your world is great! elohim! dayn velt iz groys.

I plead with You for one gift. eyn geshank bet ikh bay dir; Dear God, grant her to me. gotenyu, oy, shenk es mir. I pray to you today and at all times; ikh bet dikh haynt un ale mol. I cry and scream “Shma Yisroel.” kh’shray un ruf, shma yisroel.

“Shma Yisro’el”—an old song, shma yisroel—an alt gezang, sounding forever new. eybik nay iz der klang. “Shma Yisro’el,” the Jew cries out when in distress. shma yisroel, shrayt der yid in noyt. “Shma Yisro’el,” the Jew cries out before death. shma yisroel, shrayt der yid farn toyt.

I’m now calling out to You, kh’ruf tsu dir atsind, Grant me, God, the hand of this Jewish girl. shenk mir got dos yidishe kind.

“Shma Yisro’el”—a wanderlied. shma yisroel—a vanderlid. O “Shma Yisro’el”—the Jew wanders. oy, shma yisroel—s’vandert der yid. Don’t rebuke be, just give me Your blessing. zog mir nisht dayn tokhokhle, zog mir nor dayn brokhele. [Variant: Make Rukhele my bride. Give me your [a kale zay mir rokhele. gib mir dayn brokhele.] blessing.] shma yisroel—a vanderlid. oy, shma yisroel—s’vandert der yid. shma, shma, shma yisroel!

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

A BISL LIBE UN A BISELE GLIK (A Bit of Love and a Bit of Luck) Composer: Joseph Rumshinsky Words: Molly Picon

When I was a child, I remember it so clearly. ven ikh bin geven a kind, gedenk ikh punkt vi atsind, My life was good then; geven iz mir demolt gut. I had no cares. gevust hob ikh dan fun keyn zorg nit. When I grew up and went out into the world, ven ikh bin gevorn groys, ikh bin in der velt aroys. I saw how false people can be: gezen vi mentshn zey zaynen farshtelt; My world became a dark place. gevorn iz mir fintster mayn velt.

A bit of love, and a little bit of luck, a bisl libe un a bisele glik, the sun shall shine for just one blink of an eye. di zun zol shaynen nor af eyn oygnblik, If I could only bring sunshine into my heart ven ikh zol kenen in mayn harts arayn for just one minute. brengen zunenshayn af eyn minut. A bit of love and a little bit of luck, a bisl libe un a bisele glik, let the sun shine for only the blink of an eye. di zun zol shaynen nor af eyn oygnblik. Dear God gave to all der liber got hot yedn gegebn so much joy in life, but for me, nothing. azoy fil glik in lebn, nor mir keyn zakh nit.

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

DIR A NICKEL, MIR A NICKEL (A Nickel for You, a Nickel for Me) Composer: Joseph Rumshinsky Words: Isidore Lillian

Everybody knows me; yeder ken mikh; when they see me, they give a shout: ven men zet mikh git men a geshrey: “Fishl the Conductor! Fishl the Conductor!” fishl der conductor! fishl der conductor! They know me on Delancey Street, men ken mikh af delancey street, They know me on Broadway. men ken mikh af broadway “Fishl the Conductor! Fishl the Conductor!” fshl der conductor! fishl der conductor!

I don’t ring up each and every nickel, kh’kling nit op a yedn nikl , I must confess. muz ikh zogn aykh, I’ve noticed that the company kh’hob ayngezen di company already has lots and lots of nickels, hot nikls zayer a sakh. so I’ve decided that hob ikh bashlosn I’ll split things with them evenly. kh’vel zikh mit zey teyln glaykh af glaykh Fishl, Fishele … fishl, fishele…

A nickel for you, oy, oy, oy … dir a nikl , oy, oy, oy … A nickel for me, oy, oy, oy … mir a nikl , oy, oy, oy … That’s the plan—you get it of course. dos iz a plan—farshteyt ir dokh …

A nickel for you, oy, oy, oy … dir a nikl , oy, oy, oy … A nickel for me, oy, oy, oy … mir a nikl , oy, oy, oy … Half is mine, half is yours. khotse sheli, khotse shelokh …

The company should di company zi darf be getting up and dancing, zikh shteln tantsn thanking God I don’t take it all. danken got ikh nem nit tsu in gantsn.

A nickel for you, oy, oy, oy … dir a nikl , oy, oy, oy … A nickel for me, oy, oy, oy … mir a nikl , oy, oy, oy … Half is mine, half is yours. khotse sheli, khotse shelokh …

English Translation and Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 3 8.559455

Translations and Transliterations by Eliyahu Mishulovin

SHLOYMELE—MALKELE from Dos galitsianer rebele (The Galician Rabbi) (1937) Composer: Joseph Rumshinsky Words: Isidore Lillian

Malkele: malkele: I am a loyal sister to you, a shvester bin ikh dir a traye, Oh brother, just listen to me… oy bruderl her zikh nor ayn…

Shloymele: shloymele: You’re like a picture—a joy to look at. a piktshe bist du a mekhaye, Must I really be your brother? tzu darf ikh gor dayn brider zayn?

Malkele: malkele: Brother, I will always protect you a bruder kh’vel dir tomid akhtn and look out for you at every step. un hitn dikh af shrit un trit.

Shloymele: shloymele: Oh, kiss me and don’t think of me oy kush mikh un zol zikh dikh dakhtn as your brother. az ikh bin dayn bruder nit.

Both: beyde: Oh, Shloymele, Shloymele, brother, come closer to me! oy shloymele (malkele), bruder (shvester) kum nenter Oh, Malkele, O, Malkele, sister, come closer to me! tsu mir; Oh, Malkele (Shloymele), I’m crazy for you! oy shloymele (malkele),ikh bin meshuge far dir.