at KLEZCADIA’s Festival Finale Concert…
Dos Naye Lid (The New Song)
- Words by Abraham Reisen
- Composer unknown
- Translation via the Yosl and Chana Mlotek Yiddish Song Collection at the Workers Circle, updated by Laura Rosenberg
Un zol vi vayt nokh zayn di tsayt,
Fun libe un fun sholem,
[Dokh kumen vet, tsi fri, tsi shpet,
Di tsayt, es iz keyn kholem!] 2x
Ikh her dos lid fun libe, frid,
Di mekhtike gezangen,
[Un yeder ton fun lid zogt on:
Di zun iz oyfgegangen!] 2x
Es ekt di nakht, di velt dervakht,
Ful hofnung, luft un shtrebn.
[Du herst–in luft a shtime ruft,
Tsu glik un freyd un lebn!] 2x
(English translation for information only)
No matter how far away the time of love and peace,
Still it will come, whether soon or late, it is no dream!
I hear the song of love and peace, the mighty singing.
And every note of the song asserts: the sun has risen!
The night is ending, the world awakens with hope and joy and striving.
You hear–in the air, a voice calls to happiness, to joy, to life.
S’iz nito keyn nekhtn (Yesterday means…)
- Traditional
- Singable English translation by Laura Rosenberg
S’iz nito keyn nekhtn,
S’iz nokh nito der morgn;
S’iz nor do a pitsele haynt—
Shtert im nit mit zorgn.
Khapt arayn a shnepsl,
Kol zman ir zent baym lebn:
Mirtshem af yener velt,
Vet men aykh nit gebn.
Yay-day-day…
Yesterday means nothing,
And neither does tomorrow.
All we have is here and now,
What’s the use of sorrow?
Let’s all drink a toast while,
We’re among the living.
Once we leave this world behind,
Things are less forgiving.
Yay-day-day…
Ale Brider (All Brothers)
- Traditional; adapted from a poem by Morris Winchevsky; updated many times, including by Josh Waletzky and Laura Rosenberg for this occasion
Un mir zaynen ale brider – oy, oy, ale brider,
Un mir zingen sheyne lider – oy, oy, oy.
Un mir haltn zikh in eynem – oy, oy, zikh in eynem,
Ale minem, ale shkheynem – oy, oy, oy.
Oy, oy, oy, oy-oy-oy…
Un mir zaynen ale shvester – oy, oy, ale shvester,
Azoy vi rokhl, rus un ester – oy, oy, oy.
Un mir zaynen freylekh munter – oy, oy, freylekh munter,
Zingen lider, tantsn unter – oy, oy, oy.
Oy, oy, oy, oy-oy-oy…
Un mir zaynen ale eynik – oy, oy, ale eynik,
Tsi mir zaynen fil tsi veynik – oy, oy, oy.
Un mir shteyen do tsuzamen – oy, oy, do tsuzamen,
Khotsh mir filn andere tamen – oy, oy, oy.
Oy, oy, oy, oy-oy-oy…
Frum un fray fareynikt ale – oy, oy, fareynikt ale,
Vi a beygl mit a byale – oy, oy, oy.
Vi dos fendl mitn tepl – oy, oy, mitn tepl,
Vi der honik mitn epl – oy, oy, oy.
Oy, oy, oy, oy-oy-oy…
(English translation for information only)
And we all are brothers,
And we sing beautiful songs.
And we stick together,
All kinds, all genders, all neighbours.
And we all are sisters,
Just like Rachel, Ruth and Esther.
And we are happy and joyous,
Singing songs and dancing along.
And we all are united,
Whether we are many or few.
And we all stand together,
Though we have different tastes.
Religious and secular all united,
Like a bagel with a biale.
Like the pot with the pan,
Like apple with honey.
KLEZCADIA 