DER YIDDISH-VINKL May 2, 2003
“Dos Naye Lid,” or “The New Song,” is the title of a poem by Abraham Reisen (1875-1953). When written, it did indeed represent a new mood — one of hope in circumstances that seemed hopeless.
“The New Song” was also, in the light of human history, an old song. In ancient Greece, there was the myth about Pandora, who opened the box she was told not to open only to let loose the endless tsores that plague and have plagued mankind.
But, happily, according to the ancient story, there was still one thing left in the box. It was hope — the hope that someday all our pains would be replaced with pleasures. In the Jewish tradition, the horrors of existence are repeatedly depicted as the prelude to the coming of the messiah. As the old saw says, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast.”
So, when Reisen wrote “The New Song” he really was writing a “new” variation on an ancient theme. Der Vinkl recalls the poet’s upbeat view at this time as a positive note in a negative moment in human history.
The music and the transliterated version appear in “Songs of Generations” compiled by Eleanor and Joseph Mlotek. The English version is by Gus Tyler.
Dos Naye Lid
Un zol vi vayt nokh zayn di tsayt
Fun libe un fun sholem
Dokh kumen vet, tsi fri, tsi shpet
Di tsayt — es iz keyn kholem!
Ikh her dos lid fun libe, frid,
Di mekhtike gezangen;
Un yeder ton fun lig zogt on:
Di zun iz oyfgegangen!
Es ekt di nakht. Di velt dervakht
Ful hofnung, lust un shtrebn,
Du herst — in luft a shtime ruft:
Tsu glik un freyd and lebn!
The New Song
Although the time be far away
The day of peace is nearing.
What day we really can not say
But, some day it’s appearing.
I hear the song of love and peace
A tune of ringing singing
The message that it brings won’t cease
The sun a new day’s bringing.
The night is o’er, the day does dawn,
With hope and joy and giving
A voice does shout, “We are reborn
A time of love’s beginning.”
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we still need 300 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Only 300 more gifts needed by April 30