Drey dreydl
[Turn, dreidel]
Lyrics by Moyshe Oysher *
[See lectures: "Hanukkah" / "Ashkenazi Food"]
| Oy, breng mir broyt un breng mir vayn, | Oh, bring me bread and bring me wine, |
| Veln mir ale freylekh zayn, | Let's all be happy, |
| Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay, | Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay, |
| Kh'hob shoyn latkes, fleysh un fish, | I already have latkes, meat and fish, |
| Un a vays badektn tish, | And a white tablecloth on the table, |
| Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay. | Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay. |
| Kh'hob di brokhes shoyn gemakht, | I've already recited the bessings, |
| Di menoyre shaynt a prakht, | The menora is shining proudly, |
| Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay, | Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay, |
| Toyznt zinen yeder flam, | Every flame has a thousand souls, |
| Shtolts bin ikh mir mit mayn shtam, | I am proud of my origin, |
| Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay. | Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay. |
| Drey dreydl fun nun tsu gerotn, | Turn, dreidel, from nothing to all, |
| Drey dreydl tsum gerotn, | Turn, dreidel, and turn out well, |
| Kumt di vokh fun khanike, | When the Hanukka week comes |
| Iz alts bay mir gerotn. | I feel very lucky. |
| Yeder likhtl hot a zin, | Every little candle has a soul, |
| Es dermont mikh ver ikh bin, | It reminds me who I am, |
| Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay, | Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay, |
| Di menoyre iz oysbashaynt, | The menora looks brilliant, |
| Ale zenen mayne fraynt, | Everybody is my friend, |
| Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay. | Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay. |
| Apikorsim ruf arayn, | Call the non-believers in, |
| Zoln zey nisht gerekhnt zayn, | They will not be counted, |
| Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay, | Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay, |
| Zoln zey take zen aleyn, | They will be alone, |
| S'iz a groyser nes geshen, | A great miracle has occurred, |
| Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay. | Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay. |
| Drey dreydl ... | Turn, dreidel, ... |
| Ver hot zikh oyf dem gerekht, | Who feels vindicated |
| Aza shtikl brekl lekht, | By this tiny sliver of light, |
| Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay, | Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay, |
| Brenen vet dokh doyres lang, | It has burnt for generations |
| Un balaykhtn unzere gang, | And lit up our way, |
| Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay. | Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay. |
| Breng afile soynem mit, | Bring even enemies with you, |
| Shrek zey got nor shtroft zey nit, | They will fear God and not dispute, |
| Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay, | Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay. |
| Breng mir broyt un breng mir vayn, | Bring me bread and bring me wine, |
| Veln mir ale freylekh zayn, | Let's all be happy, |
| Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay. | Tray-lay-lay-lay-lay-lay. |
* The melody is the same as that of Itsik Manger's "Yosl Ber", composed by D. Beygelman [see "Pearls of Yiddish Song", by Chana & Joseph Mlotek, p.173]. According to the Mloteks, the melody has also been used for the Holocaust song, "Ikh leb in geto in kavkaz" [I live in the ghetto in the Caucasus], by Khane Kheytin, and for the song "Vi der zeyger tut a klung" [When the clock strikes], by Sam Liptzin.
