DER YIDDISH-VINKL October 1, 2004
An old Yiddish ditty advises us about the drinking habits of a yid and a goy:
Shiker iz a goy
Shiker iz er, trinken miz er,
Vayl er iz a goy.
Nikhter iz a yid
Nikhter iz er, davnen miz er
Vayl er iz a yid.
But this easy characterization of the drinking habits of Jews and Gentiles is refuted in other popular Yiddish songs, such as one titled “Eyn Kol, Eyn Kol, Eyn Kol Vayn,” that appears in a song collection by Ruth Rubin dating back to her recording in 1953. What follows is her transliterated Yiddish version and then her own translation into English.
Eyn Kol, Eyn Kol, Eyn Kol Vayn
Eyn kol, eyn kol, eyn kol vayn
Eyn kol, eyn kol, eyn kol vayn
Ikh kon on dir nit zayn.
Eyn kol vayn, ikh kon on dir nit zayn.
Eyn kol, eyn kol, eyn kol bir. (Repeat 3 times.).
Ikh ken on dir nit zayn
En kol, eyn kol, eyn kol yash (3x)
Kh’vil a fule flash.
Eyn kol, eyn kol, eyn kol konyak (3x)
Ay iz dos geshmak.
Eyn kol, eyn kol, eyn kol kvas, (3x)
Ikh vil a fule fas.
English Version
Sparkling, bubbling, lovely wine (3x)
You make me feel so fine
Fine, fine, fine, you make me feel so fine.
Gurgling, foaming, frothy beer (3x)
You fill me full of cheer
Cheer, cheer, cheer, you fill me full of cheer.
Good old whiskey strong and free (3x)
A bottle is just right for me
Right for me, a bottle is just right for me.
Cognac isn’t bad at all (3x)
It makes me feel so tall
Tall, tall, tall. It makes me feel so tall.
If only cider is around (3x)
I’ll drink that barrel down
Down, down, down.
Our own conclusion on the sobriety of the clans:
A shiker blaybt a shiker
No matter Jew or goy
If he’s in love with liquor
We say for him: “Oy, oy.”
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