Ruth Rubin’s songbook “A Treasury of Jewish Folk Songs,” published a half-century ago, is still a treasure trove of songs transliterated from the Hebrew into the Roman alphabet, accompanied by Rubin’s very own translations into English. Multitalented Rubin was a singer, a recording artist, a musicologist and a folklorist.

What follows was a very popular song, often played at joyous occasions marked by much joviality and dancing. It’s about a couple who have had a lover’s quarrel and, in the aftermath, have found that they now want each other more than ever.

Lomir Zikh Iberbetn

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Lomir zikh iberbetn, iberbetn

Vos shteystu bay der tir?

Lomir zikh iberbetn

Kum arayn tsu mir.

Lomir zikh iberbetn iberbetn

Vos shteystu bay mayn fenster?

Lomir zikh iberbetn

Bist bay mir der shenster.

Lomir zikh iberbetn, iberbetn

Koyf a por marantsn

Lomir zikh iberbetn, iberbetn

Lomir geyn tantsen.

Lomir zikh iberbetn, iberbetn

Shtel dem samovar

Lomir zikh iberbetn

Zay zhe nisht kayn nar.

Lomir zikh iberbetn, iberbetn

Lomir nisht zayn vi geyrim

Lomir zikh iberbetn, iberbetn

Lomir zayn khaveyrim.

Come, Let’s Be Friends Again

Come let us be friends again

Don’t stand there at the door

Come let us be friends again

Friends forevermore.

Come let us be friends again, friends again,

Don’t hide behind the wall

Come let us be friends again

I love you best of all

Come let us be friends again, friends again

We’re birdies of a feather

Come let us be friends again

And dance about together.

Come, let us be friends again, friends again.

I’ll put up the tea

Come, let us be friends again

Come and sit by me.

Come let us be friends again

We will help each other

Come let us be friends again

I will be your brother.

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