Reyzele

Lyrics:

Reyzele
Music and Lyrics: Gebirtig, Mordkhe (1877-1942)
Translation: Anatoly Tsaliovich tsaliovich@mail.com

1.
On a small lane, unawares
Dreams old house lazily,
There, in tiny loft upstairs
Lives my precious Reyzele.
Every evening passing near,
I walk rounds and hum,
Whistle and call: “Reyzl, dear,
Come, come, come.”

2.
Startled by the window tinkle
Sleepy house wakes to see
How stars in heavens twinkle
When my Reyzl answers me.
Lo, I hear the angel’s sounds:
“Wait, soon I’ll be free,
Walk, my love, few more rounds,
One, two, three.”

3.
I keep marching glad and happy,
Crack the hazelnuts and sing:
Reyzl’s little feet are tapping-
Down the stairs with gentle ding.
There she jumps - I hug her now,
Heart beats like a drum,
And I kiss her on the brow:
“Come, come, come!”
4.
“I must tell you, David dear,
Never whistle in my lane.
Mama gets upset - says: “Hear,
He is whistling there again.”
Whistling, she says, isn’t Jewish,,
Others do - not we!”
Better signal me in Yiddish:
One, two, three

5.
I will whistle no more.
And for you, my love, I vow
To become a temple goer
And be virtuous, starting now.
Promise – I will never bother
You, I shall become
Pious just like your dear mother.
Come, come, come!

6.
I believe you, thanks a million,
And as gift for you I’ll knit:
A nice bag to carry tfil’n*,
With Magen David on it.
When in temple they will see it
Say “It’s made for me
By my Reyzl, kind and sweet.”
One, two, three.”

7.
Thank you for the gift, again
Reyzele I love you deeply,
Love your mama, love this lane,
Love this house with its people.
Love the steep stairs that so easy,
You can overcome.
Hear, your Mama's calls, she’s busy:
Come, come, come

8.
Walking home, glad and happy,
I crack hazelnuts and sing;
My dear Reyzl’s feet are tapping
Up the stairs with gentle ding.
Yet again, the house is dreamy,
Quiet it’s become,
Reyzl come in dreams to see me,
Come, come, come!”

_______________________
*Phylacteries

Translation Version 2

1..
standing there on the street
a house, tranquil and contemplative
inside in the attic apartment
lives my darling Rosie
every evening in front of the house
I hang around about
a whistle up and call out
"Rosie, come, come, come"

2.
A little window opens up
the old house awakens
and soon resounding in the quiet street
a sweet voice, it's Rosie saying,
wait a little my love,
soon I'll be free
walk around a little bit more
one, two, three

3.
so I walk around happy
singing, cracking open nuts
hearing springing down the stairway
her sweet little feet
barely off the last step
I take her sweetly in my arms
I kiss her softly on her sweet head
come, come, come

4.
Now let me tell you David dear
don't you whistle up no more
"listen to him whistle" says my Mama
she's religious, it bothers her so.
Whistling, says she, isnt Jewish,
that's just something for them.
give me a signal just in Yiddish
one, two, three

5.
i won't be whistling up no more
To that I make a little oath
for your sake I will even
be pious my devout dear
I'll be pious, my little Rosie,
devout just like your Mom,
going to shul every sabbath
come, come, come

6.
I believe you, my darling,
and for this reason, David,
I'll knit you a pair of tsvillen
with a star of david.
If they like it in shul,
then you should tell them:
"My dear Rosie knitted it for me,
one, two, three!"

7.
thank you for the little gift
I love you so much Rosie dear
I love your street I love your Mama
I love your little old house
I love the stairway of the house
that you go up and down
listen, your Mama's calling now
come, come, come

8.
so I walk around happy
singing, cracking open nuts
hearing springing down the stairway
her sweet little feet
again the street is contemplative
the house is still once more
come into my dream, dear Rosie,
come, come, come!

translated by Ben Schapiro benscha@inter.net.il

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