Mamele
Words & music: Mitchell Parish, Alex Alstone & Al Goodhart
Yiddish: Miriam Kresyn
[See Mothers and Fathers; Shabbat]
Ot ze dikh du tsindst di likht far shabes, When I see you, you are lighting the Shabbat candles, Di shekhine rut un laykht oyf dayn gezikht, God's presence is resting and lighting up your countenance, Heylik yedes vort, getlkh vert dos ort, Every word is holy, this place becomes godly, Bentshndik di likht. Blessed is the light. Mamele, mamele, Mother, dear mother, Mit libshaft vel ikh rufn dikh Mamele, With love do I call you Mother, Oygn mid, shvakh dayn hant, Tired eyes, your hand is frail, A golden harts hostu, un yeder kind farshteyst. You have a golden heart, and every child understands this. Ikh gedenk vi du flegst mir baruikn, I remember how you hushed me, A kind fun dray yor bloyz, ikh darf dir zeyer, A child just three years old, I needed you so much, Vi du flegst mir zetsn damolst oyf dayn shoys, How you used to put me on your lap, Mit a kush opgevisht yedn trer. With a kiss would wipe away every tear. Vays dayn kop, vi shney vos falt, White is your head, like falling snow, Got, vi es tut bang vos du verst gro un alt, God, how sorrowful it is that you are grey and old, Mamele, mamele, Mother, dear mother, Zay gebensht fun Got, Mamele.May God bless you, Mamele.