DER YIDDISH-VINKL January 14, 2005
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
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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