Bin ikh mir a khosidl
[I am a little Hassid]
[See lectures: Ashkenazi Food; Kings and Queens]
| Bin ikh mir a khosidl, a freylekhe brie, | I'm a little Hassid, a happy being, |
| Bin ikh mir a khosidl, gor on pnie, | I'm a little Hassid, without pretension |
| Bin ikh mir a khosidl, a khosidak, | I'm a little Hassid, a Hassid, |
| Tants ikh mir a freylekhn hop-tshik-tshak! | I dance a happy little dance! |
| Hering mit broyt iz bay mir a maykhl. | Herring and bread is my food. |
| Abi ikh shtop zikh on dos baykhl, | As long as I fill my belly, |
| Un kartoflyes far a pitak! | And potatoes are cheap, |
| Tants ikh mir a freylekhn hop-tshik-tshak! | I dance a happy little dance! |
| Taybenyu, mayn vayb, zogt tsu mir: | Taybenyu, my wife, says to me: |
| - S'iz nito oyf shabes, vey tsu dir; | - There's nothing for the sabbath, oy, |
| Leydik iz mayn keshene, nito keyn pitak! | My pocket is empty, not a kopek! |
| Tants ikh mir a freylekhn hop-tshik-tshak! | I dance a happy little dance! |
| Peysakh kumt, bin ikh mir freylekh, | Passover arrives, and I'm happy, |
| Mayn vayb a malke un ikh a meylekh; | My wife's a queen and I'm a king; |
| Matses hobn mir a fuln zak! | We have a full sack of matzot! |
| Tants ikh mir a freylekhn hop-tshik-tshak! | I dance a happy little dance! |
| Source: Vinkovetsky, A. et al. Anthologly of Yiddish Folksongs. Vol.3, p.92 | |