Yiddish Lyrics

THE ORIGINAL LYRICS by JOSEF KERLER:
1.
Ay hob ikh haynt, khevrelayt, a nigndl gehert, -
Darf men poshet oyslekn di finger!
Bam shnaydn un bam strigeven,
bam klingen mit der sher, -
Ale mayne beyndelekh, zey zingen

REFRAIN
Ay-ay bim-biri diri-diri-bam
Ay-ay bim diri-bam
Ay ay ay!

2.
Ver bin ikh un vos hob ikh den
af gor der groyser velt?
Saydn nor mayn bidne sher-un-ayzn,
a lyade drobne kremerl,
ven kh'kum nor af zayn shvel
kon dokh mir di hintertir bavayzn.

REFRAIN
Nor ay-ay bim-biri diri-diri-bam
Ay-ay bim diri-bam
Ay ay ay!

3.
S'iz epes nit mit alemen der "fayner" balebos,
a gantsn tog er hert nit uf tsu shrayen,
a gantsn tog er mordevet un shmaret mit der noz,
nor ikh her im davke far a drayer.

REFRAIN
Vayl ay-ay bim-biri diri-diri-bam
Ay-ay bim diri-bam
Ay ay ay!

4.
Ay, iz mir haynt, khevrelayt, nishkoshedik un voyl
un zat bin ikh, zat - a fargenign!
Vos hob ikh den a gantzn tog gehat haynt in mayn moyl
khuts dem tamganeydndiken nign?

REFRAIN
Ay-ay bim-biri diri-diri-bam
Ay-ay bim diri-bam
Ay ay ay!

ONE OF MANY POPULAR VERSIONS OF THE SAME SONG:
1.
Oy hob ikh, ir briderlekh, a nigndl gehert
Darfn poshet oyslekn di finger!
Ban neyen un bam strigeven, bam shern mit der sher
Ale mayne beyndelekh, zey zingen

Refrain
Ay ay ay ay
Oy oy oy

2.
S'iz epes nit mit alemen der sheyner balebos,
Er hert nit uf tsu blozn zikh un shrayen
Er varft zikh un er beyzert zikh , er shmoret mit der noz
Nor ikh her im dafke far a drayer

3.
Oy, iz mir, ir briderlekh, nishkoshedik in moyl
Zat bin ikh zat, a fargenign.
Vos hob ikh den a gantzn tog gehat nit in mayn moyl
Oy, akhutz dem tamganeydndiken nign?

Translation

1. I heard a tune, brothers,
A wonderful tune it is
When i sew, when i stitch or cut out,
All my bones sing to that tune

2.
Our boss is in a bad temper today
He is in the sulks
And he showers abuses on us
He rushes about angrily, breathing noisily
But I refuse to take notice of him

3.
Oh brothers, I am in high spirits today
I am quite full
Do you know what food I am replete with?
I've had nothing today, except that heavenly tune

Refrain