Tayere Malke - Der Bekher
[Dear Queen / The goblet]
By Mark Warshavsky
[See lecture: Ashkenazi Food]
Tayere Malke — Gezunt zolstu zayn! Gis on dem bekher, Dem bekher mit vayn. Bim-bam-bam, bim-bam! Fun dem dozikn bekher, Er glantst azoy sheyn, Hot getrunken mayn zeyde, mayn zeyde alen. Geven shlekhte tsaytn, Vi es makht zikh a mol, Nor dem bekher hob ikh gehaltn — Ayzn un shtol; Er hot mesameyekh geven ale kinder Bekant iz dos dir, Funem tatn iz der bekher Gekumen tsu mir! Tayere Malke, Gezunt zolstu zayn! Far vemen zol ikh trinken Dem dozikn vayn? Lekhayim vil ikh trinken Far dem pintele yid, vos mutshet zikh tomid Un vert keyn mol nit mid! Lekhayim vil ikh trinken, Un take on an ek, Far di vos zaynen geforn Oyf eybik avek! Kh’trink far mayne sonim — Nor zog zey nit oys! Kuk, trern zey shpritsn Fun bekher aroys! Zingt hekher un hekher: Got, du bist groys! Bahalt, Malke, dem bekher, Dos lidl iz oys. | Dear Malke, May you be well, Fill up the goblet, The goblet with wine. Bim-bam-bam, bim-bam! From this same goblet, Which gleams so beautifully, My grandfather drank, My grandfather himself. There have been bad times, As it happens at times, But I held on to the goblet — Iron and steel! It made all the children happy, As is known to you, From my father the goblet Was handed down to me! Dear Malke, May you be well, For whom should I drink This wine? I drink to life For the little Jewish spark That ever toils And will never tire! I drink to life Without end, To those who have already gone for ever! I drink for my enemies, But don't tell them! Look, tears spurt out From the goblet. Sing louder and louder, God, you are great! Malke, put away the goblet This song has ended. |
