Harbstlid
[Autumn Song]
Poem, translation and melody by Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman
See Lecture: "The Seasons"
For information about Schaechter-Gottesman, see the webpage by Jane Peppler entitled "Beyle Schaechter-Gottesman: poet, composer, living legend"
| Ze, s'iz harbst -- | See, it's fall -- |
| Un vos gegrint fargelt, farvyanet. | And all that greened has yellowed, withered. |
| Ze, s'iz harbst -- | See, it's fall -- |
| Un vos geblit fargeyt ... | And all that bloomed is gone ... |
| Un ikh, vos kh'hob gemeyn s'iz shtendik friling | And I who thought that spring would last forever, |
| Un kh'halt in hant | And in my hand I hold |
| Di gantse eybikeyt. | Eternity. |
| Oho, falndike bleter! | Oho, falling leaves! |
| Oho, fliyendike teg! | Oho, flying days! |
| Oho, vi vel ikh itster blondzhen, | Oho, how will I wander now, |
| Ven s'ligt gedikhter nepl af mayn veg.. | When thick fog settles on my way ... |
| Kraken feygl, | Sadly cawing birds |
| Zogn troyerik: "Zay gezunt dir!" | Say: "Good-bye!" |
| Krekhtst in fentster | At the window |
| Un se klogt der vint: | The moaning, wailing wind: |
| "O, vi volt ikh itst avek fun danen | "I wish that I could get away from here |
| Tsun a breg | To a shore |
| Vu nokh der friling grint ..." | Where there is still green spring ..." |
| Oho, falndike ... | Oho, falling ... |
| Flit der regn -- | Driving rain |
| A galop af vildn ferdl. | Gallops on a wild horse, |
| Roymt mir ayn a sod: er hot mikh holt. | Whispers secret love into my ear: |
| "Tsu vos zhe darfstu vartn afn friling, | "Why do you need to wait for springtime |
Az s'hot der osyen fule koyshns gold." | When autumn offers baskets full of gold? |
| Oho, falndike ... | Oho, falling ... |
Source: Schaechter-Gottesman, Beyle, Zumerteg: Tsvantsik zinglider. Yiddish League, 1990
