Yanke'le - חוה אלברשטיין Übersetzung ins Englische

Yanke'le

Shlof-zhe mir shoyn, Yankele, mayn sheyner,
Di Eygelekh, di shvartsinke makh tsu,
A yingele vos hot shoyn ale tseyndelekh,
Muz nokh di mame zingen ay-lyu-lyu?
A yingele, vos hot shoyn ale tseyndelekh,
Un vert mit mazl bald in kheyder geyn,
Un lernen vet er khumesh un gemoro,
Zol veynen ven di mame vigt im ayn?
A yingele, vos lernen vet gemoro,
Ot shteyt der tate, kvelt un hert zikh tsu,
A yingele vos vakst a talmid khokhem
Lozt gantse nekht der mamen nisht tsuru?
A yingele, vos vakst a talmid khokhem,
Un a geniter sokher oykh tsuglaykh,
A yingele, a kluger khosen bokhur,
Zol Ugn azoy nas vi in a taykh?
Nu shlof-zhe mir, mayn kluger khosen bokhur,
Dervayl ligstu in vigele bai mir.
S'vet kostn nokh fil mi un mames trern
Bizvanen s'vet a mentsh aroys fun dir.

Yanke'le

Sleep now, my precious Yankele,
Close your dark eyes,
A little boy with tiny little teeth,
Should I still sing you a lullaby?
A little boy with tiny little teeth,
Who will soon go to cheder with joy,
And learn the Torah and the Talmud,
Do you see your mother watching over you?
A little boy who will study the Talmud,
Your father stands here, proud and listening,
A little boy growing into a wise scholar,
Will your mother sleep all night?
A little boy growing into a wise scholar,
And a happy grandfather as well,
A little boy, a clever, handsome lad,
Will you drown in the river one day?
Now sleep, my clever, handsome lad,
While you lie here in your cradle beside me.
It will cost your mother many tears
Until you become a man.