English Lyrics

mayne lider (1948; ershte oyflage 1936)

bin ikh yung geblibn
s'hot di noyt mikh aroys getribn
ven ikh hob nokh keyn draytsn yor gehat
in der fremd, vayt fun mames oygn
hot in shmuts mikh di gas dertsoygn
gevorn iz fun mir a voyler yat.

ikh bin Avreyml der feikster marvikher
a groyser kinstler, kh'arbet laykht un zikher
dos ershte mol, kh'vel's gedenken bizn toyt
arayn in tfise far lak'khenen a broyt, oy, oy
kh'for nisht oyf markn, vi yene proste yatn
kh'tsup nor bay karge, shmutsike magnatn
kh'bin zikh mekhaye ven kh'tap aza magnat
ikh bin Avreyml, gor a voyler yat.

in der fremd, nisht gehat tsum lebn
gebetn broyt, an oremer flegt nokh gebn
nor yene layt vos zenen tomid zat
flegn oft traybn mikh mit tsorn
s'vakst a ganev, s'iz mekuyem gevorn
a ganev bin ikh, nor a voyler yat.

ikh bin Avreyml der feikster marvikher
a groyser kinstler, kh'arbet laykht un zikher
a yat a kleyner arayn in kutshement
aroys a mazik, a zeltener talent, oy, oy
kh'for nisht oyf markn, vi yene proste yatn
kh'tsup nor bay karge, shmutsike magnatn
kh'hob lib a mentshn, a mildn a nash-brat
ikh bin Avreyml gor a voyler yat.

shoyn nisht lang vet dos shpil gedoyern
krank fun klep, gift fun tfise moyern
nor eyn bakoshe, kh'volt azoy gevolt
nokh mayn toyt in a tog a tribn
zol oyf mayn matseyve shteyn geshribn
mit oysyes groyse un fun gold:

do ligt Avreyml der feikster marvikher
a mentsh a groyser geven volt fun im zikher
a mentsh a fayner mit harts, mit a gefil
a mentsh a reyner vi got aleyn nor vil, oy, oy
ven iber im volt gevakht a mames oygn
ven s'volt di fintstere gas im nisht dertsoygn
ven nokh als kind er a tatn volt gehat
do ligt Avreyml yener voyler yat

Translation

I became an orphan when very young,
poverty drove me outdoors before I turned thirteen.
Away from home, far from mother's care,
the dirty gutter raised me, and I became a thief.

I am Avreyml, the most accomplished pickpocket.
A great artist, I work light and sure.
The first time, I'll remember until I die,
Thrown in jail for lifting a loaf of bread, oy oy.
I don't visit the market, like those common guys.
I lift only from the stingy, dirty rich.
It's a pleasure to hit such magnates,
I'm Avrayml, a truly successful guy.

Out among strangers, no way of making a living,
Begging for bread -- which the poor would give.
But those fine people, who always have plenty,
would often drive me away, miserable,
yelling "he'll grow up a thief" -- well, they were right
A thief I am, but a successful one.

I am Avreyml, the most accomplished pickpocket
A great artist, I work light and sure,
Went into jail a little guy,
Came out a demon, with a rare talent, oy oy
I don't visit the market, like those common guys.
I lift only from the stingy, dirty rich.
I prefer the nice fat ones, our own people
I'm Avrayml, a truly successful guy.

But this game won't last much longer
Sick from beatings, poisoned by prison walls,
I have only one request, I would like
After my death some muddy day,
That on my gravestone should be written
In great big letters of gold:

Here lies Avreyml, the most successful pickpocket,
He would have been a great man, surely,
A fine man of true heart and feeling,
A pious, righteous man as God wanted, oy oy
if only he'd had a mother to watch over him
If the dark street hadn't raised him,
If he'd had a father as a child
Here lies Avreyml, that successful guy.