DER YIDDISH-VINKL April 16, 2004
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!
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.
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