Yiddish Lyrics

1.
In dem beys hamikdash
In a vinkl kheyder
Zitzt di almone Bas Zion aleyn.
Ir ben yokhidl Yidele
Vigt zi keseyder
Un zingt im tzu shlofn a lidele sheyn: ay-lu-lu...

Unter Yidele's vigele
Shteyt a klor vayse tzigele
Dos tzigele is geforn handlen
Dos vet zayn dayn baruf,
Rozhinkes mit mandlen
Shlof zhe Yidele, shlof.

2.
In dem lidl, mayn kind,
Ligt fil neviyes.
Az du vest amol zayn tzezeyt oyf der velt.
A soykher vestu zayn
Fun ale tvues.
Un vest in dem oykh fardinen fil gelt: ay-lu-lu...

Az du vest vern raykh, Idele,
Zolst zikh dermonen in dem lidele,
"Rozhinkes mit mandlen",
Dos vest zayn dayn baruf.
Yidele vet ale handlen.
Shlof zhe, Yidele shlof.

Translation

1.
In the temple, in the corner of a chamber,
The widow The Daughter of Zion is sitting all alone.
As she rocks her only son Yidele to sleep,
She sings him a pretty song, a lullaby.

"Under Yidele's cradle, there stands a snow-white kid
that has been to market.
It will be your calling, too -
Trading in raisins and almonds,
And now sleep, Yidele, sleep.

2.
In this pretty lullaby, my child, there lie many
prophecies.
Some day you'll be wandering in the wide world -
You will choose to be a tradesman,
And you'll be trading and earning a lot of money.

When you grow rich, Yidele,
you will recall this pretty song about raisins and
almonds.
It will be your calling - Yidele will be trading in all
wares.
Sleep, then, Yidele, sleep!

II. Translation #2 (author unknown - my parents used to
sing it to me this way, along with the Yiddish).

"Neath your cradle a little lamb stands there.
Who goes trading in markets everywhere.
The lambkin sells raisins and almonds.
A trade, dear, you'll always keep.
T'will bring you gold, silver and diamonds.
Sleep, my baby, sleep.

And when you become rich by and by.
Remember this little lullaby.
The song about raisins and almonds.
Sleep, my baby, sleep."