Jewish literature had, in the days of massive Jewish immigration into the United States, many poems and songs about Christopher Columbus. The sentiments generally expressed fell into one of two categories. One ended with a “klog oyf Kolumbusn.” Others rang out with a “Lebn zol Kolombus.” It all depended on how one fared in the goldene medine.

The poem-song that follows was written by Arnold Perlmutter and H. Wohl. The music as well as the original Jewish (Hebrew alphabet) version and an English transliteration appear in “Mir Trogn a Gezang,” a compilation by Eleanor Gordon Mlotek.

The English version is by Gus Tyler.

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)

Lebn Zol Kolombus

A shtetl is Amerike

A mekhaye, kh’lebn;

Es rut oyf ir di shkhinele,

Mir zoln azoy lebn —

Milkhomes, biksn, mentshn-blut

Darfn mir oyf tsores,

A gubernator darf men nit,

A keyser oyf kapores.

Ay, s’iz gut —

Zingt zhe ale mit:

Lebn zol Kolumbus,

Trinkt, briderlekh, lekhayim!

Lebn zol Kolumbus

Far dem land dem nayem

Zayt tsufridn —

Gleybt nit in di trombes

Shrayt zhe, yidn:

Lebn zol Kolombus!

Long Live Columbus

My shtetl is America

A land that brings me joy.

Oh, yes, I love embracing her

There’s so much to enjoy.

No wars, no guns, no human blood

For them we have no use.

For tyrants we do have no need,

They treat us with abuse.

There’s nothing really wrong

So with us sing along:

For, long live Columbus

Drink, brothers, unto life

So, long live Columbus

Hug him, brothers, like a wife.

For, happy we should be

For what this man has brought us

It’s time for every Jew

To shout, long live Columbus.

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