Yiddish Lyrics

1.
Zol ikh zayn a rov.
Ken ikh nit keyn Toyre,
Zol ikh zayn a soykher,
Hob ikh nit keyn skhoyre.
Un keyn hey hob ikh nit,
Un keyn hober hob ikh nit,
Un di vayb shilt zikh,

Refrain:
A trink bronfn vilt zikh.
Zitz ikh mir a shteyn
Zitz ikh mir un veyn.

2.
Vil ikh zayn a shoykhet,
Hob ikh nit key half.
Vil ikh zayn a melamed,
Ken ikh nit keyn alef.
Un di ferd geyen nit,
Un di reder dreyen nit,
Un di vayb shilt zikh,

Refrain

3.
Zol ikh zan a koval,
Hob ikh nit keyn kovalde.
Zol ikh zayn a sheynker,
Hob ikh nit key mashke.
Un di ferd geyen nit
Un di reder dreyen nit,
Un di vayb shilt zikh.

Refrain

Translation

1.
I wish I were a rabbi, but I don't know the Torah.
I wish I were a trader - but I have no wares.
I have no hay, I have no oats.
My wife abuses me, and I want a drink of vodka.

Refrain:
I sit down on a rock, I sit and weep.

2.
I wish I were a chopper, but I don't have a knife.
I wish I were a teacher, but I do not know the alphabet.
Oh, my horses cannot pull the cart and the wheels do not turn.
And my wife abuses me...etc.

3.
I wish I were a smith, but I have no anvil.
I wish I were an innkeeper, but I have no wine to sell.
My horses cannot pull the cart...etc.