Ch’halt dos kepl angeboygen,
Un farglotst di beyde oygn
Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si;
Shpil ich didl, di, di.

Rechtn fus faroys a bisl
Klap dem takt tsu mitn fisl,
Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si;
Shpil ich didl, di, di.

Kvelt un vundert zich di mame,
Kenst doch azoy gut di game.
Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si;
Shpil ich didl, di, di.

Samuel Tsesler (?-?)

I hold my head bent to the side,
And both my eyes glaze over
Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si;
Play I: didl, di, di.

Right foot forward just a little
Pound the beat out with my foot,
Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si;
Play I: didl, di, di.

Mother marvels and wonders to herself
How very well I know the instrument.
Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si;
Play I: didl, di, di.

Dertselt eyner di nisimlech
Vos er hot gehat,
Chapt der anderer a roys
Dertselt es akurat.

Unter a kleyn beymele…

Er fleygt, zogt er, gantse teyg
Umgeyn nit gegesen,
Dort’n vu zi hot gevoynt
Sho’en opgezesn.

Unter a kleyn beymele…

Shturem, vint’n, regen, shney,
Keyn zach apgeshroken,
Un di mame in der heym
Gevart hot mit a floken.

Zvi Hirsh Margulies (1888-1944)

The first one tells of the miracles
That had befallen him.
The other boy interrupts
And finishes the tale.

Under a small tree…

He’ll spend, says he, entire days
walking beneath her house,
And where she lived the other he would stay,
Completely forgetting to eat.

Under a small tree…

Storms, winds, rain, snow
Nothing frightened them,
And mother waits at home
With a stick for a beating.

Abraham Goldfaden (1840-1908)