Tum Balalaika - Study a Yiddish Song
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- www.YiddishLives.org
Tum Balalaika - Study a Yiddish Song
DISCLAIMER: I cannot sing!
lozt mikh iberkhazeren: ikh bin avade un avade nit kayn zinger!
The goal is to create what I always wanted to be given in order to learn songs:
The words pronounced slowly and clearly
A translation giving an understanding of the words
A study guide, so I can learn the song, the words, the melody, all in one package
A format in which I could:
listen to or watch on my iPod at the gym, or
my iPhone while waiting in line at the supermarket,
or on the computer, so I wouldn't need to search for the text and the translation
We had Greg Presley on hand, a concert pianist, so we couldn't resist the opportunity to give this a shot - for better or worse on my part.
To repeat: Please forgive my voice and see if this can be of any practical study use in learning the songs.
For real Yiddish singing, visit us at:
www.YiddishLives.org
Words:
Shteyt a bokher un er trakht
trakht un trakht a gantze nacht
Vemen tsu nemen un nit farshemen
Vemen tsu nemen un nit farshemen
Chorus:
tum balalayka
shpil balalayka
freylekh zol zayn!
Meydl, meydl, ikh vil bay dir fregn
Vos ken vaksn, vaksn on regn?
Vos ken brenen un nit oyfhern?
Vos ken veynen, veynen on treren?
Chorus
Narisher bokher, vos darfstu fregn?
A shteyn ken vaksn, vaksn on regn.
Libe ken brenen un nit oyfhern.
A harts ken veynen , veynen on treren.
Chorus
Note:
In some versions, they sign "vos ken benkn, veynen on treren".
Alexander Zlatkovski's interpretation of the meaning of the words makes more sense than this video, which is otherwise very very helpful. Here's Alexander:
"This is a traditional Yiddish song about a boy, who wants to get married. He is a smart boy, and he wants to choose a smart girl -- so he stays up late at night, inventing riddles to test his bride. He asks: "What can grow without rain? What can burn without being consumed by the fire? And what can cry without tears"? Lucky him! The girl is smart enough: "A stone can grow without rain; love can burn without being consumed by the fire; and a heart can long and cry without tears"."
(Search Alexander Zlatkovski on youtube to get the full quote.)
In other words, although the man who made this video says the girl is "smart-ass," in fact it is the boy who is testing her intelligence and he wants her to be smart. If anyone is a smart-ass, it is the guy. Just saying. Misogyny rears its ugly head so often we often don't even notice it, not even the person who expresses it. in spite of this caveat, the video itself is recommended as being a great way to learn the song. And the dog is lovely.
This is so, so wonderful! I'm performing this piece with my boyfriend and can only get my father to sit down with me so many times to help me with the pronunciation. Also, your dog is adorable!
knowing German helps you to understand most of the lyrics. how fascinating!
Best version I found on the internet as the way I performed it on the 1990’s. Only one note. Use C minor or lower keys for his voice. I’m so happy to have found this. Really you made my day. L’ Chaim.
I felt in love with this song since I knew about it...Greetings from Costa Rica Wunderleh!!!!
If you speak german you understand all 🥰
Thank you very much for explanations and translation... I'm not a Jew but I really love this beautiful song and yiddish language... I hope that all Jews and a lot of no Jews lern it...Sholem Aleichem.
Thank you very much!!! My daughter is 4, she loves this song and she is very good at singing it (belive it or not). My parents speak yiddish (I can't unfortunately). I knew approximately what this song is about, but you did such a good job translating every word.
beautiful song! somebody can help me with the yiddish version of Dreidel song? I need help with the pronunciation.Thanks in advance.;)
Why no one sing the last two strophes
where do guys live? My mom used to sing it, I know almost all the words, so touching. A big Jewish thanks to both of you. You all adorable, dog too.!!!
Siz wunderleh! :))))
Oh, my God! Great, so touching performance! Мany thanks!!! :)
A takeh mekhayeh. Mazel Tov.
Thank you sir ❤
thank you!!! I remeber my father singing to me this beautiful song. :)
Thank you for your energetic, and charming, sharing of this "classic" Yiddish song. My father sang it just as you do, with energy and charm, and the "riddle" of the song is a playful education in love. Although my father sang it with a different pronunciation -- such are the joys of Yiddish. My father strummed the guitar, using the three chords he knew, as he sang. Mr. Presley, the pianist, adds a lovely quality as he accompanies you. I've never heard this song accompanied by a balalaika!
A sähr scheins lied. Hob a donk.
Regn = rain; wasser = water
Thanks a lot. I was searching for someone who could spell so perfectly Yiddish to sing this song decently 👏👏
Dankeschön
the dreidel song is in yiddish? I always thought it was... you know... in english. My dad is israeli , grandparents from eastern europe and mom is brooklonian and from a family opf russian origin.... im pretty much as HEB as it gets and i have no clue of a driedel song in yiddish!!!
if you fiond one thouh.... let me know please... (cause im sure i dont know EVEY song there is!!)
ig mis di wort benken, ins benken, veynen on treren. benken can be translate as hankering or yearn.
can that be called "kvetching"? ...: )
very nice translating! thanks ;-)
Toda my Omi spoke Yiddish I can pick up words here and there. Is YiddishLivesProject online?
pls I ask somebody to translate it into english. This song remember me my father (Z"L). It would be a great favour to my soul
I need the translation of Vi nemt a visele mazl. More idish songs
where can we got this partition please ?
Please i want to learn vi nemt men a bizele mazl
that's is amazing! dus is de beste Version vus ech hob gehert!
I want to learn Yiddish
You are just awesome!!!
lovely!
The narrator and singer is a "ham" and we advise him to improve his Yiddish --- out of respect for the language and for the listeners and viewers.