In the shtetl, a father with many children, all daughters, felt he had been blessed with good luck, when — at long last — his youngest daughter (di mizinke) had found a mate. Mark M. Warshawsky (who wrote the words and music for the famous “Oyf’n Pripitchuk,” or “By the Fireside”), captures the mood of the marriage moment in the following song. The transliteration is found in Eleanor Mlotek’s compilation “Mir Trogn a Gezang.” The English version is by Gus Tyler.

Di Mizinke Oysgegebn

Hekher! Beser!

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Di rod, di rod makht greser!

Groys hot mikh got gemakht!

Glik hot er mir gebrakht,

Hulyet, kinder, a gantse nakht!

Di mizinke oysgegebn!

Shtarker! Freylekh!

Du di malke, ikh der meylekh!

Oy, oy, ikh aleyn

Hob mit mayne oygn gezen

Vi got hot mikh matsliekh geven —

Di mizinke oysgegebn

Itsik! Shmitsik!

Vos shvaygstu mit dem shmitsik?

Oyf di klezmer tu a geshrey:

Tsi shpiln zey, tsi shlofn zey?

Rayst di strunes ale oyf tsvey!

Di mizinke oysgegebn!

Ayzik! Mazik!

Di bobe geyt a kozik,

Keyn eyn hore, zet nor, zet,

Vi zi tupet, vi zi tret,

Oy, simkhe, oy a freyd —

Di mizinke oysgegebn!

Motl! Shimen!

Di oreme-layt zaynen gekimen (gekumen),

Shtelt far zey dem shentstn tish,

Tayere vaynen, tayere fish,

Oy, mayn tokhter, gib mir a kish (kush)

Di muzinke oysgegebn!

The Youngest Daughter’s Wedding

Louder! Better!

Make the circle larger!

The Lord has really made me feel so great!

For endless joy is now my normal state

So dance and prance, no matter if it’s late —

My youngest daughter’s found a mate!

Louder! Greater!

You’re the queen, and I’m the king!

Yes, yes, I’ve won the prize

I’ve seen it happen with my eyes,

How God has made my spirits rise —

My youngest daughter’s found a mate!

Oy yidl with your little fiddle

What kind of mood are you now in?

Let your band know how we feel:

Where’s your pep? You’re cold as steel.

Where oh where’s your sex appeal?

My youngest daughter’s found a mate!

Dizzy Izzy!

See your grandma kick her heels,

May no evil eye befall her.

See her jump, and see her step

She’s like a kid with all that pep.

My youngest daughter’s found a mate!

Hyman! Simon!

The poor folk have just now arrived

Now let them have the finest dish,

The sweetest wine, delicious fish,

A kiss, my daughter, that’s my wish.

Before you’re in your marriage niche.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

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

$90 $180

$360

Other amount