Canopée - Tumbalalaïka

Tumbalalaika Lyrics (Yiddish & English)

Verse 1:

Yiddish: Shteyt a bocher, shteyt un tracht, / Tracht un tracht a gantze nacht, / Vemen tsu nemen un nit far shemen, / Vemen tsu nemen un nit far shemen.

English: A young man is standing, standing and thinking, / Thinking and thinking all night long, / Whom to take and not be ashamed, / Whom to take and not be ashamed.

Chorus:

Yiddish: Tumbalala, tumbalala, tumbalalaika, / Tumbalala, tumbalala, tumbalalaika, / Tumbalalaika, shpil balalaika, / Tumbalalaika, freylach zol zayn!

English: Tum-bala, tum-bala, tum-balalaika, / Tum-bala, tum-bala, tum-balalaika, / Tum-balalaika, play balalaika, / Tum-balalaika, let there be joy!

Verse 2:

Yiddish: Meydl, meydl, kh'vel bay dir fregn, / Vos ken vaksn, vaksn on regn? / Vos ken brenen, brenen on fayer? / Vos ken benken, veynen on oygn?

English: Maiden, maiden, I will ask you, / What can grow, grow without rain? / What can burn, burn without fire? / What can long, cry without eyes?

Verse 3:

Yiddish: Narisher bocher, vos darfstu fregn? / A shteyn ken vaksn, vaksn on regn, / Libe ken brenen, brenen on fayer, / A harts ken benken, veynen on oygn.

English: Silly young man, why ask again? / A stone can grow, grow without rain, / Love can burn, burn without fire, / A heart can yearn, cry without eyes.

      "Tumbalalaika" é uma canção folclórica tradicional judaica, originária do Leste Europeu e cantada em iídiche. A palavra é uma fusão onomatopeica: "tum" (o som de batidas ou da música) e "balalaika" (um instrumento musical russo de três cordas). A letra é um alegre jogo de adivinhas sobre o amor e a vida.