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Lyrics of Vocal Works on the CD
- Gey Ikh Mir Shpatsieren (I Go Out Walking)
- Shlof Mayn Kind (Sleep, My Child)
- Der Filozof (The Philosopher)
- Di Goldene Pave (The Golden Peacock)
- Mayn Harts Veynt in Mir (My Heart, My Soul Cries Aloud)
- Eli, Eli (My God, My God)
- Tu Madre Cuando Te Pario (Your Mother When She Bore You)
- Respondemos (Answer us)
- Durme Hermozo Hijico (Sleep, Beautiful Son)
- El Dio Alto (The Lord on High)
- L'Cha Dodi (Come to Meet the Sabbath Bride}
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Er zugt er vet mikh nemen– tra-la-la-la,
la-la-la, la!
[Repeat line] Der zumer ist gekumen– tra-la-la-la,
la-la-la, la! [Repeat
line] |
He says he will marry me, tra-la-la-la,
la-la-la, la [Repeat line] But he did not marry me, a-ha! No! He did not marry me - aha! aha! |
Text by the great Yiddish writer, Shalom Aleichem, in 1892. Other tunes exist to this text, but this is an outstanding version.
| Shlof, mayn kind, mayn treyst,
mayn sheyner, Shlofzhe, zunenyu., Shlof mayn leben, mayn kaddish ayner, Lulinke lu-lu Shlof mayn leben, mayn kaddish ayner, Lulinke lu-lu Bay dayn veegl sitzt dayne mame, Zingt a leed un veynt Vest amol farsteyn mistame, Vos zee hot gemeynt Vest amol farsteyn mistame, Vos zee hot gemeynt In Amerika iz der tate – Dayner, zunenyu Du bist nokh a kind, les ate, Shlofzhe, shlof, lu-lu Du bist nokh a kind, les ate, Shlofzhe, shlof, lu-lu Biz er kumt der guter kvitl, Shlofzhe, zunenyu Shlofn iz a tayer mitl, Lulinke, lu-lu Shlofn iz a tayer mitl, Lulinke, lu-lu |
Sleep, my child, my comfort, my
beauty, Sleep, my darling one, Sleep, my life, my only kaddish, Lulinke lu-lu, [Repeat last 2 lines] By your cradle sits your mama, Sings a song and weeps, You’ll understand some day perhaps What is on her mind In America lives your papa, Yours – my darling one You’re still a child at present, So sleep, sleep, lu-lu. ‘Til we get the happy letter, Sleep, my darling one Sleeping is a precious help, Lulinke, lu-lu [Repeat last 2 lines] |
The humorous song (originally titled Dos Gute Kepl) by Velvl Zbarzher, (1826?-1883) is a satire upon the alleged miracles of the wonder working Rabbi, or, it can also be interpreted as a scathing criticism of the arrogance of the secular scientific mindset.
|
Kum aher, du filozof, A luft ballon hos tu oysgetrakht, Tsu veystu, vos der rebb tut, |
Come here, you philosopher An air
balloon you did invent Have you any idea what he does |
The golden peacock became a symbol of a free messenger, one who could carry greetings to loved ones. It was adapted by many poets and song writers.
| Es kumt tsu fleein dee goldene
pave Fun a fremdn land – fun a fremdn land, Hot zi farloren dem gildenem feder Mit a groysn shand. Vee es iz biter, mayn leebe muter, A feygele oyf dem yam - A feygele oyf dem yam, Azoy is biter, mayn leebe muter Bay a shlekhtn man. |
A golden peacock came flying From a foreign land – from a foreign land, And she lost her golden feather In burning shame Just as ‘tis bitter, my dear mother, For a little bird on the sea [Repeat line] So it is bitter, my dear mother, To put up with a cruel husband. |
| Mayn harts, mayn harts, veynt in
meer, Az ikh darf mikh sheydn yetzt mit deer Mayne gedanken aheen aher, mit deer tseysheydn iz mir shver [repeat 2 lines] Vu foors tu, mayn zis leben, Vu foors tu fun meer avek? Vu vel ikh dikh darfen zukhn, Zogzhe meer oyf velkhn veg?[repeat 2 lines] Vest kumen tsu a vasserl, Zolst du sikh nikht trenken, Vest kumen tsu an ander meydele, Zols tu mikh gedenken. [repeat 2 lines] |
My heart, my soul cries aloud, As I must bid a sad farewell to you My thoughts grow somber as far they wander, To part from you, I cannot bear[repeat 2 lines] Where are you now, my own sweet life, Why do you wander from your own true love? Where can I find you, in what far land, Tell me, on what far shore? [repeat 2 lines] If you should cross a flowing brook, Do not drown your dear self there, Should you find another pretty girl, Think of me, remember me. [repeat 2 lines] |
Jacob K. Sandler, arr. M. Schalit. A heartfelt and defiant lament from the play Brokhe (Prayer), 1896.
| Eyli, Eyli, Lomo asavtoni [Repeat 2 lines] Mit fayer un flam hot men uns gebrent, Eeberal hot men uns, gemakht tsu shand, tsu spot Obzutreyten fun uns hot dokh kayner nit gewagt. Fun unser heyliger toyre, Fun unser Gebot Eyli, Eyli Lomo asavtoni [Repeat 2 lines] Tog un nakht, Nor ikh trakht Un ikh beyt Ikh hit mit moyre unser Toyre, Un ikh beyt Reyte uns – reyte uns amol Far unsere Avos, Avos Avoseynu Her tsu mayn gebeyt, Un mayn geveyn Vayl helfen kenst du, Nor Got aleyn Vayl Shma Yisroel – Adoshem Elokeynu, Adoshem Ekhad! |
My God, my God, why have you
abandoned me? In fire and flames we have been burnt Everywhere they shamed and mocked us But no one could turn us away From you my God And from your Holy Torah From your commandments My god. Day and night, I only think Of you, my God. I keep with awe Your Torah and your commandments. Save me, oh save me from danger Like once you saved our fathers from an angry czar. Only you can help. Listen, Israel, God our Lord Is one. |
Folktune arr. By Richard J. Neumann
| Tu madre cuando te pario Y te quito al mundo, Corason ella no te dio, Para amar segundo. Adio, Adio querida, No quero la vida, Me l’amargates tu. Va, buxcate otro amor, Aharva otras puertas, Aspera otro ardor Que para mi sos muerta. |
Your mother when she bore you, And gave you to the world, She did not give you a heart, To love anyone else. Good-bye, Good-bye dearest, I don’t want a life, You have embittered it. Go look for another love, Go knock on other doors, Wait for another burning love, As for me, you are dead. |
Folktune arr. Richard J Neumann and adapted by Pnina Blake
| Respondemos, Dio de Abraham El que responde en la hora de volundad Respondemos Respondemos, pavor de Yitzhak Respondemos El que responde en hora de angustia Respondemos, fuerte de Yaakov Respondemos, Dio de la Merkava Respondemos, padre piadoso y gracioso |
Answer us, God of Abraham The one who answers in the hour of grace, Answer us Answer us, fright of Isaac Answer us The one who answers in the hour of anguish Answer us, strong one of Jacob Answer us, God of the Merkavah Answer us, piteous and merciful Father |
Arr. Richard J. Neumann
| Durme, durme, hermozo hijico Durme durme, con savor Cerra tus luzios ojicos Durme durme, con savor A la scola tu te iras Y la Ley t’ambezaras |
Sleep Sleep, beautiful son Sleep with pleasure Close your shining eyes And sleep with pleasure You will go to school And you will learn the law. |
Arr. Richard J. Neumann
| El Dio alto con su gracia Mos mande muncha ganansia, No veamos mal ni ansia A nos i a todo Israel Venid todos agiuntemos Su nombre bendeziremos I de El demanderemos La bendicion de Israel. |
The Lord on high in His Grace May he send us many rewards. May we not see evil nor trouble We and all children of Israel. Come let us gather And bless His name And from Him we will ask The blessings for all Israel. |
| L’cha dodi likrat kala, P’nei Shabbat n’kabela. Shamor v’zachor bedibur echad, Hismianu Eil ham’yuchad, Adonai echad ushemo echad, L’shem ul’tiferat v’l’t’hila. |
Beloved, come to meet the bride; Come to greet Shabbat. Keep and Remember; a single command The One God caused us to hear; The Eternal is One, His name is One; To Him are due all honour and glory and praise. |