DER YIDDISH-VINKL November 12, 2004
Yiddish songs and poetry cover the gamut of human emotions, from moaning and groaning to dancing and prancing, and all that falls between a sad tomorrow and days without sorrow. What follows is a poem by Soviet Jewish poet Yousef Kotlier (1908-1962) as it appears in transliterated form in “Songs of Generations” compiled by Eleanor and Joseph Mlotek. The poem is a pleasant plea for happiness, induced by his song, as a prelude to a world of lasting peace. The English version is by Gus Tyler.
Shpil Zhe Mir a Lidele Yidish
Shpil zhe mir a lidele af Yidish
Dervekn zol es freyd un nisht keyn khidesh.
Az ale, groys un kleyn,
Zoln kenen dos farshteyn
Fun moyl tsu moyl dos lidlele zol geyn!
Refrain
Shpil, shpil, klezmerl, shpil
Veyst dokh vos ikh meyn un vos ikh vil —
Shpil, shpil, shpil a lidele far mir
Shpil a lidele mit harts un mit gefil!
A lidele fun ziftsn un fun trern
Shpil azoy as ale zoln hern
Az ale zoln zen
Ikh leb un zingen ken
Shener nokh un beser vi geven.
Shpil zhe mir a lidele fun sholem!
Zol shoyn zayn a sholem, nit keyn kholem!
Az felker, groys un kleyn
Zoln kenen dos farshteyn
On krig un on milkhomes zikh begeyn.
Play Me a Little Song in Yiddish
Play a Yiddish song for me
Make me feel I’m on a spree
So everyone both small and tall
Will understand and know it all
And will its every word recall.
Refrain
Quiet, while the klezmer play
Know what I say and what I mean
Play, oh play, and make my day
Play, oh play, with feelings keen.
A song without both sighs and tears
And play it loud, so each one hears
So everyone will know
That I know how to blow
My horn from long ago.
Oh, sing to me a song of peace
A peace that’s real, and never cease
So people, big and small
Will understand it all
And never let peace fall!
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