Der zumer ovnt demert

[The summer sun is setting]

Text by Itsik Manger - Music by Chava Alberstein
(translated by Michael Wex)

See lecture: "The Seasons"

 

Der zumer ovnt demert  The summer sun is setting
Feygl zingen - tri-li-li,  Birds are singing tri-li-li,
Altsding volt gut gevezn  Everything would be just fine
Ven du volst gevezn hi.  If you were here with me.
  
Ikh ze di benkshaft efnt'  I see that longing opens
Di fenster fun yedn hoyz,  The windows of every house,
Un kukt mit getraye oygn  And looks with eyes of devotion
Tsu ale vegn aroys.  On all the roads without.
  
Tsigeynertes varfn kortn,  The gypsy women cast fortunes
Un lezn arop fun der hant,  And read the palm of your hand.
"Zi iz a hoykhe, a sheyne,  "I see a tall, gorgeous woman
Un voynt in a fremdn land.  Who lives in a foreign land.
  
Malke tref - zi heyst malke,  "Queen of clubs - she's called Malka.
Melekh pik - der sultan,  King of spades - the Sultan, it's plain.
Di malke vet kumen tsu forn  Queen Malka's going to be coming
Mit der shif un der ban."  By ship and also by train."
  
Ikh shtey baym ofenem fenster,  I stand at the open window
Un fiver kholem un vart,  And wait in a dreaming fever;
Di tsigeynerstes un di shtern  The gypsy women, like the stars,
Hobn nisht eynmol mikh opgenart.  Have often been my deceiver.
  
Fundestn iz gut vos zey kumen  But it's still a good thing that they come
In zumer farnakhtn tsu geyn,  On summer nights when you're at home,

Ven s'lomen der benkshaft di fligl

  When the wings of longing are crippled
Un du bist eyner aleyn.  And you're all on your own.
  
Di tsigeynerstes un di shtern  Thee gypsy women, like the stars,
Hobn nisht eynmol mikh opgenart,  Have often been my deceiver,
Fundestn shtey ikh baym fenster  But I stand and wait by my window
Mit gloybike oygn un vart.  With the eyes of a believer.
  
Der zumer ovnt demert,  The summer sun is setting,
Fligl tsvitshern tri-li-li,  Birds are singing tri-li-li,
Altsding volt gut gevezn  Everything would be just fine
Ven du volst gevezn hi.  If you were here with me.

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Source: Disk "Lemele", by Chava Alberstein