Tumbalalayka

Tumbala tumbala tumbalalayka

Tumbala tumbala tumbalalayka

Tumbalalayka

Shpil balalayka                                                     Play balalaika

Tumbalalayka

Freylekh zol zayn                                                 Let’s be merry

Shteyt a bokher, un er trakht                              A young man, and he thought

Trakht un trakht a gantse nakht                         Thought and thought a whole night

Vemen tsu nemen, un nisht farshemen               Who to choose, without shame

Vemen tsu nemen, un nisht farshemen

Tumbala tumbala tumbalalayka…

Meydl, meydl, kh’vil bay dir fregn                    Young woman, I’d like to ask you

Vos ken vaksn, vaksn on regn?                         What can grow without rain?

Vos ken brenen, un nisht oyfhern?                   What can burn without stopping?

Vos ken benken, veynen on trern?                    What can yearn, crying without tears?

Tumbala tumbala tumbalalayka…

Narisher bokher, vos darfstu fregen?                Foolish boy, why do you need to ask?

A shteyn ken vaksn, vaksn on regn                   A stone can thrive without rain

Libe ken brenen, un nisht oyfhern                    Love can burn and never go out

A harts ken benken, veynen on trern                A heart can yearn, crying without tears

Tumbala tumbala tumbalalayka…