TUMBALALAIKA
(learned in about 1959 at Hillel Foundation at UC)
Tumbala, tumbala, tumbalalaika,
Steht un bocher ein der tracht,(Once a young man stood in a street)
Meidl, Meidl, ch'vil bay dir fragn,(Miss, he said, let me ask you plain::)
Narisher bocher, vos darf zu fragn?(Foolish young man. how empty your brain!)
(repeat first verse)
(from miriam berg's folksong collection)
Tumbala, tumbala, tumbalalaika,
Tumbalalaika, spiel balalaika,
Tumbalalaika, frohlich zu sein.
Tracht un tracht a ganze nacht,(And worried and worried how he could meet,
Vemen zu nemen un farshemen,(Meet with a girl and ask for a date?)
Vemen zu nemen un farshemen.(He worried all night until very late.)
Vos kon vaksn, voksn on regn?(What can grow, and grow without rain?)
Vos kon brennen un nit oyfern?(What can burn always, through countless years?.)
Vos kon benken veynen on trern?(What can weep, without any tears?.)
A steyn kon vaksn, voksn on regn(A stone can grow, and grow without rain;.).
Libe kon brennen un nit oyfern,(Love can keep burning through endless years,.)
A harts kan benken, veynen on trern.(A heart can weep, though there be no tears..)