Vi azoy lebt der keyser?
[How does the tsar live?] [See lecture: Kings and Queens] | |
| Rabosay, rabosay, khakhomim on a breg, | Gentlemen, endlessly wise, |
| Kh'vel aykh fregn, kh'vel aykh fregn, | I want to ask you a question. |
| - Nu, freg zshe, freg zhe, freg, | - Nu, ask, ask, ask: |
| Entfert ale oyf mayn shayle: | Everybody answer my question: |
| Vi azoy trinkt der keyser tey? | How does tsar drink tea? |
| Me nemt a hitele tsuker, | You take a cylinder of sugar, |
| Un me makht in dem a lekhele, | And carve a hole on the top, |
| Un me gist arayn heyse vaser, | And into it you pour hot water |
| Un me misht, un me misht ... | And then stir and stir. |
| Oy, ot azoy, oy, ot azoy, | Oy, just like that, oy, just like that, |
| Ot azoy trinkt der keyser tey! | That's how the tsar drinks tea. |
| Rabosay, rabosay, khakhomim on a breg | Gentlemen, gentlemen, endlessly wise, |
| Kh'vel aykh fregn, kh'vel aykh fregn. | I want to ask you a question. |
| - Nu, freg zhe, freg zhe, freg. | - Nu, ask, ask, ask: |
| Entfert ale oyf mayn shayle: | Everybody answer my question: |
| Vi azoy est der keyser bulbes? | How does the tsar eat potatoes? |
| Me nemt a fesele puter | You take a barrel of butter |
| Un me shtelt avek dem keyser oyf der anderer zayt, | And you place it opposite the tsar |
| Un a rote soldatn, mit harmatn, | And a company of soldiers, with cannons, |
| Shisn di bulbes durkh der puter | Shoot the potatoes through the butter |
| Dem keyser glaykh in moyl arayn ... | Straight into the tsar's mouth. |
| Oy, ot azoy, oy, ot azoy, | Oy, just like that, oy, just like that, |
| Ot azoy est der keyser bulbes! | That's how the tsar eats potatoes. |
| Rabosay, rabosay, khakhomim on a breg, | Gentlemen, gentlemenn, endlessly wise, |
| Kh'vel aykh fregn, kh'vel aykh fregn. | I want to ask you a question. |
| - Nu, freg zhe, freg zhe, freg. | - Nu, ask, ask, ask: |
| Entfert ale oyf mayn shayle: | Everybody answer my question: |
| Vi azoy shloft der keyser bay nakht? | How does the tsar sleep at night? |
| Me shit on a fuln kheyder mit federn, | You fill a room with feathers |
| Un me khmalet ahin arayn dem keyser, | And you wham the tsar in, |
| Un dray polk soldatn | And three regiments of soldiers |
| Shteyen a gantse nakht un shrayen: | Stand all night and shout: |
| Sha! Sha! Sha! | Shah! Shah! Shah! |
| Oy, ot azoy, oy, ot azoy, | Oy, just like that, oy, just like that, |
| Ot azoy shloft der keyser bay nakht! | That's how the tsar sleeps at night. |
