“Songs of Generations: New Pearls of Yiddish Songs” is one of several compendia of Yiddish songs edited by Eleanor and Joseph Mlotek. What follows is a folk song titled “Ikh Bin Shoyn a Meydl in Di Yorn.” Among the obstacles to getting married are two roadblocks — a dowry and yikhes.

What follows are the text of the poem in Yiddish, and an English version by Gus Tyler.

Ikh Bin Shoyn a Meydl in Di Yorn

Ikh bin shoyn a meydl in di yorn

Vos hostu mir dem kop fardreyt?

Ikh volt shoyn lang a kale gevorn

Un efsher take a khasene gehat.

Un efsher geyt dir, ketsele, in nadn?

Di mame vet farkoyfn di shtib;

Mir veln beyde khasene hobn,

Vayl ikh hob dikh lib!

Un efsher viltstu visn mayn yikhes?

Der zeyde iz gevezn a rov;

Lomir beyde khasene hobn,

Un zol shoyn nemen a sof.

I’m Not Such a Young Girl Anymore

I am no longer just a girl

Why do you get me so confused?

Marriage I might’ve given a twirl

Instead I feel my hopes abused.

Is it, dear, no dowry’s here?

My mom will sell her lovely house

Let’s marry ’cause I love you, Dear

’Cause you’re a man and not a mouse.

You want to know my pedigree?

My grandpa was a rabbi great

So waste no time and let’s agree

Let’s hurry up and set a date!

This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.

We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.

This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.

With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.

The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.

Don't just read the Forward - invest in it. Make a matched gift today.

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$120 $180 $360 OTHER AMOUNT