Lyrics - Transliteration
(Hebrew folk song)
1. Shyeuy a bocher, shteyt un tracht,
Tracht un tracht a gan-tze nacht:
Vemen tsu nemen un nit farshemen?
Vemen tsu nemen un nit farshemen?
Refrain
Tumbala, tumbala, tumbalalaika,
Tumbala, tumbala, tumbalalaika,
Tumbalalaika, shpiel balalaika,
Tumbalalaika, freylach zol zeyn.
2. Meydl, meydl, ch’vel bay dir fregn,
Vos kan vaksn, vaksn on regn?
Vos kon brenen un nit oyfhern?
Vos kon benken, veynen on treren? Refrain
3. Narisher bocher, vos darfstu fregn?
A shteyn ken vaksn, vaksn on regn.
Libeh ken brenen un nit oyfhern.
A harts kon benkn, veynen on treren. Refrain
English Translation
A young lad is thinking, thinking all night
Would it be wrong, he asks, or maybe right,
Should he declare his love, dare he choose,
And would she accept, or will she refuse?
Refrain
Tumbala, tumbala, tumbalalaika,
Tumbala, tumbala, tumbalalaika
tumbalalaika, play balalaika,
tumbalalaika – let us be merry.
Maiden, maiden tell me again
What can grow, grow without rain,
What can burn for many years,
What can long and cry without tears?
Silly young lad, why ask again?
It’s a stone that can grow, grow without rain,
It’s love that can burn for many long years,
A the heart that can yearn and cry without tears.
Yiddish – טומבאלאלייקא
YouTube
- Song with chords (PDF)
- MIDI file
- Listen to the song
