Tumbalalaika


Tumbalalaika is a Russian Jewish folk and love song in the Yiddish language. Tum is the Yiddish word for noise and a balalaika is a stringed musical instrument of Russian origin.

Lyrics

Original lyrics in Yiddish
Transliteration
Shteyt a bokher, un er trakht

Trakht un trakht a gantse nakht

Vemen tzu nemen un nit farshemen

Vemen tzu nemen un nit farshemen
)

Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika

Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika

Tumbalalaika, shpil balalaika

Tumbalalaika, freylekh zol zayn
Meydl, meydl, kh'vil bay dir fregn,

Vos ken vaksn, vaksn on regn?

Vos ken brenen un nit oyfhern?

Vos ken benken, veynen on trern?
)
Narisher bokher, vos darfstu fregn?

A shteyn ken vaksn, vaksn on regn.

Libe ken brenen un nit oyfhern.

A harts ken benken, veynen on trern.
)
Vos iz hekher fun a hoyz?

Vos iz flinker fun a moyz?

Vos iz tifer fun a kval?

Vos iz biter, biterer vi gal?
)
A koymen iz hekher fun a hoyz.

A kats iz flinker fun a moyz.

Di toyre iz tifer fun a kval.

Der toyt iz biter, biterer vi gal.
)
Translation:
A young lad stands, and he thinks

Thinks and thinks the whole night through

Whom to take and not to shame

Whom to take and not to shame
)

Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika

Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika

Tumbalalaika, strum balalaika

Tumbalalaika, may we be happy
Girl, girl, I want to ask of you

What can grow, grow without rain?

What can burn and never end?

What can yearn, cry without tears?
)
Foolish lad, why do you have to ask?

A stone can grow, grow without rain

Love can burn and never end

A heart can yearn, cry without tears
)
What is higher than a house?

What is swifter than a mouse?

What is deeper than a well?

What is bitter, more bitter than gall?
)
A chimney is higher than a house

A cat is swifter than a mouse

The Torah is deeper than a well

Death is bitter, more bitter than gall
)

Other