Der nisnboym

[The Nut Tree]

Joshua Waletzky - "Crossing the Shadows"/"Ariber di Shotns"

[See lectures: Tree of Life; Mothers and Fathers]

Ay-lyu-lyu un ay-lyu-lyu,	Ay-lyu-lyu and ay-lyu-lyu,
Der nisnboym bin ikh un dos nisele bistu.	I am the nut tree and you are the little nut.
A mol vestu vaksn un blien, oyfblien fun der erd;	One day you will grow and blossom up out of the earth;
Nor friert muztu faln vi a zilberne trer.	But first you must fall like a silver tear.
A mol vestu vaksn un blien, oyfblien fun der erd;	One day you will grow and blossom up out of the earth;
Nor friert muztu faln vi a zilberne trer.	But first you must fall like a silver tear.

Ay-lyu-lyu un ay-lyu-lyu,	Ay-lyu-lyu and ay-lyu-lyu,
Dayn nestele bin ikh un mayn feygele bistu.	I am your little nest and you are my little bird.
Der himl farkhmaret, geshlosn, di levone iz farshtelt;	The sky is clouded over, locked tight, the moon is masked;
Nor s’shaynt mir dayn peneml un lebt oyf mayn velt.	But your little face shines to me and revives my world.
Der himl farkhmaret, geshlosn, di levone iz farshtelt;	The sky is clouded over, locked tight, the moon is masked;
Nor s’shaynt mir dayn peneml un lebt oyf mayn velt.	But your little face shines to me and revives my world.

Shlof, mayn kind, un shlof, mayn kroyn;	Sleep, my child, and sleep, my crown;
Ikh zing dir un ikh zing, un dayn shlofn iz mayn loyn.	I sing to you and sing, and your sleep is my reward.
A mol vestu flien, vest flien, zolstu flien mit glik!	One day you will fly, may you fly with good fortune!
Un efsher nokh dayn nestele oykh benkn tsurik –	And maybe you'll also long for your little nest;
A mol vestu flien, vest flien, zolstu flien mit glik!	One day you will fly, may you fly with good fortune!
Un baym shlofn geyn nokh dayn nestele vest benkn tsurik.	And when you go to sleep, you will long for your little nest.