Yiddish Lyrics

1.
O ir kleyne likhtelekh
Ir dertzelt geshikhtelekh
Mayselekh on tzol
Ir dertzeylt fun blutikayt
Beryeshaft un mutikayt
Vunder fun amol.

2.
Ven ikh zey aikh shminklendik
Kumt a kholem finklendik
Ret on alter troym
Yid, du host gekrikt a mol
Yid, du host gezikt a mol
Hot dos gloybt zikh koym

3.
S'iz bay dir a tolk geven
Bist a mol a folk geven
Host a mol regirt
Host a mol a land gehat
Host a mol a hant gehat
Akh, vi tif dos rirt.

4.
O, ir kleyne likhtelekh
Ayere geshikhtelekh
Vekn oyf mayn payn
Tif in hartz bavekt es zikh
Un mit trern frekt es zikh
Vos vet itster zayn?

Translation

by Theodore Bikel

O little lights of mystery
You recall our history
And all that went before
The battles and the bravery
And our release from slavery
Miracles galore.

As my eyes behold your flames
I recall our heroes names
And our ancient dream:
Jews were learning how to fight
To defeat an awesome might
They could reign supreme

They would rule their own domain
When the enemy was slain,
The Temple cleansed and whole.
Once there was a Jewish land
And a mighty Jewish hand.
Oh, how it moves my soul!

O little lights of mystery
You retell our history
Your tales are tales of pain.
My heart is filled with fears
My eyes are filled with tears
"What now?" says the haunting refrain.