English Lyrics

Hekher besser,
Di rod, di rod makht gresser,
Groys hot mikh Got gemakht
Glik hot er mir gebrakht
Hulyet kinder a gantse nakht -
Di mezinke oysgegebn.

Shtarker, freylakh,
Du di malke, ikh der melekh
Ay ay ay, ikh aleyn
Hob mit mayne oygn gezeyn
Vi Got iz mir matsliah geven -
Di mezinke oysgegebn.

Itsik shpitsik
Vos shvaygstu mit'n shmitshik
Oyf di klezmer gib a geshrey
Tsu shpiln zey tsu shlofn zey
Raysst di strines ale oyf tsvey
Di mezinke oysgegebn.

Ayzik mazik,
Di bobe geyt a kazik
Ken eyn hore zeyt nor zeyt
Vi zi tupet vi zi treyt
Oy a simkhe, oy a freyd
Di mezinke oysgegebn.

Mottl Reb Shimen
Di oreme layt zenen ongekimen
Shtelt far zey dem shensten tish
Tayre vaynen, tayre fish
Kum mayn tochter gibzhe mir a kish
Di mezinke oysgegebn.

Translation

Dance higher, better,
Make larger the dance ring,
God has made me great,
Has brought me good fortune:
So rejoice children all night long.

I gave away my youngest daughter tonight...

With more might, joyful!
Tonight you are the queen and I the king,
Indeed I myself
Have seen with my own eyes,
How God has favored me.

I gave away my youngest daughter tonight...

Itsik, you lazy one,
Why are you so silent with your bow?
Yell at your musicians,
Are they playing or sleeping?!--
I want you to rip the strings apart!

I gave away my youngest daughter tonight...

Ayzik, you good-for-nothing,
Grandmother is getting up to dance,
Long may she live; Just look
How she hops and sets her feet,
O what joy, O what gladness--

I gave away my youngest daughter tonight...

Mottl Reb Shimen
The poor people have arrived
Set for them the most beautiful table
Expensive wines, expensive fish
Daughter, Give me a kiss!

I gave away my youngest daughter