Yiddish Lyrics

1.
Shteyt a bokher, un er trakht
Trakht un trakht a gantze nakht
Vemen tzu nemen un nisht farshemen
Vemen tzu nemen un nisht farshemen

2.
Meydl, meydl, kh'vil bay dir fregn,
Vos ken vaksn, vaksn on regn
Vos ken brenen un nit oyfhern
Vos ken benken, veynen on trern

3.
Narisher bokher, vos darfstu fregn
A shteyn ken vaksn, vaksn on regn
A libe ken brenen un nisht oyfhern
A hartz ken benken, veynen on trern

4. (Hebrew)
Ma oseh oseh ha khalutz
She huba huba lakibutz
Ba lakibutz - rotze leechol
Roeh bakhura, shokheakh hakol!

Chorus:
Tum-bala, tum-bala, tum-balalaika
Tum-bala, tum-bala, tum-balalaika
Tum-balalaika, shpil balalaika
Tum-balalaika,freylekh zol zayn.

Translation

1.
Up the boy, straining deight,
Straining, straining a whole of the night.
Naming for one, shaming for none,
Naming for one, shaming for none.

2.
Maiden, maiden tell me true
What can grow, grow without dew?
What can burn for years and years?
What can cry without shedding tears?

3.
Silly boy, I'll tell you true!
A stone can grow without the dew.
Love can burn for years and years,
A heart can cry without shedding tears.