Yiddish Lyrics

Refrain:
Lomir ale zingen a zemerl
Lechem is broyt
Bosor vedogim vechol matamim.

1.
Zog zhe mir, rebenyu, lekhem is vos?
Bay di negidim is lekhem a gut heys bulkele,
Ober bay undz kabtsonim, oy, kbtsonim, oy, ovyonim, iz lekhem a
dare shkorinke, nebekh.

2.
Zog zhe mir, rebenyu, bosor is vos?
Bay di groyse negidim is bosor a gebrotene katshkele,
Ober bay undz kbtsonim, oy dalfonim,
Iz bosor a lung und a leberl, nebekh.

3.
Zog zhe mir, rebenyu, dugim is vos?
Bay di groyse negidim iz dogim a hechtele!
Ober bay undz kbatsonim, oy dalfonim,
Iz dogim an oysgeveykt heringl, nebekh.

4.
Zog zhe mir rebenyu, matamim is vos?
Bay di groyse negidim iz matamim a zise zimmesel,
Ober bay undz kabtsonim, oy dalfonim,
Iz matamim gehakte tsores, nebekh.

Translation

1.
Tell me rabbi, what is bread?
"For the rich, 'lechem' is a good, hot bulke roll.
But for us poor people, oy poor people, 'lechem' is a
dry crust."

2.
Tell me rabbi, what is bosor?
"For the rich and might, bosor is a roasted duckling.
But for the poor, oy vey poor people,
Bosor is a lung and a liver, God forbid!

3.
What is dogim?
"For the rich and the mighty, oh, dogim's a juicy pike,
But for the poor, dogim is a tasteless piece of herring,
God
forbid!

4.
What is matamim?
"For the rich and the might, oh matamim's a sweet tzimmes
dish,
But for the poor,
Matamim's is chopped up troubles (tsures) - God forbid!