Friday, May 27, 2022

Abi Gezunt -- transliteration and translation from Milken Archive

A bisl zun a bisl regn, 
A ruik ort dem kop tsu leygn, 
Abi gezunt, ken men gliklekh zayn. 
A shukh, A zok, a kleyd on lates, 
In keshene dray fir Zlotes, 
Abi gezunt, ken men gliklekh zayn. 

Di luft iz fray, far yedn glaykh, 
Di zun zi sheynt far yedn 
eynem orem oder raykh. 
A bisl freyd, a bisl lakhn, 
amol mit fraynt a shnepzl makhn, 
Abi gezunt, ken men gliklekh zayn. 

Eyner sukht ashires, 
eyner sukht gvires, 
Eynem di gantse velt. 
Eyner meynt dos gantse 
Glik hengt nor op in gelt. 
Zoln ale zikhn, zoln ale krikhn, 
nor ikh trakht bay zikh.
Ikh darf dos oyf kaporez vayl 
Dos glik shteyt bay mayn tir.


A little bit of sun, a bit of rain

A quiet place to put your head down,

As long as you're well, you can be happy.

A shoe, a sock, a dress with no patches,

In your pocket three or four dollars,

As long as you're well, you can be happy.


The air is free for everyone equally,

The sun shines for everyone, 

poor or rich,

Some joy, some laughter, 

a drink with friends,

As long as you're well, you can be happy.


One person seeks riches, 

one seeks power, 

One - the whole world. 

Another thinks complete joy 

depends only on money.

Let them all seek, 

let them all grovel.

But I myself think - I don't need it because

Happiness stands at my door.



A source where you can hear it sung: 


https://www.milkenarchive.org/music/volumes/view/great-songs-of-the-american-yiddish-stage/work/abi-gezunt/



Lyrics by Molly Picon

A bit of sun, a bit of rain,
a peaceful place to lay your head …
so long as you’re healthy, you can be happy.

A shoe, a sock, an outfit without patches,
three or four measly coins in your pocket …
so long as you’re healthy, you can be happy.

The air is free, equal for all;
the sun shines for everyone,
whether rich or poor.

A little rejoicing, a little laughter,
some schnapps with a friend once in a while …
so long as you’re healthy, you can be happy.

Some look for riches,
some look for power,
to conquer the whole world.
Some think that all happiness
depends only on money.

Let them all search,
let them all scrounge.
But I think to myself that
I have no use for such things,
since happiness is waiting at my doorstep.

And from 


http://www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=abi%20gezunt#TL2



A Very loose translation:

  Called Singable Yiddish — Ya Got Your Health




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