Abi Gezunt -- As Long as You're Healthy

ABI GEZUNT  (So Long As You’re Healthy)

Composer: Abraham Ellstein Lyrics: Molly Picon from the film Mamele

http://www.hebrewsongs.com/yiddish/ABIGEZUNT.pdf

English Transliteration of Yiddish Lyrics from the Milken Archive/Naxos American Classics CD Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage, Volume 1 8.559405

a bisl zun, a bisl regn,

a ruik ort dem kop tsu legn,

abi gezunt, ken men gliklekh zayn.

a shukh, a zok, a kleyd on lates, 

in keshene a dray, fir zlotes,

abi gezunt, ken men gliklekh zayn.

di luft iz fray far yedn glaykh,

di zun zi shaynt far yedn eynem, 

orem oder raykh.

a bisl freyd, a bisl lakhn,

a mol mit fraynd 

a shnepsl makhn, 

abi gezunt ken men gliklekh zayn.

eyner zukht ashires, eyner zukht gevures, 

aynnemen di gantse velt. 

eyner meynt dos gantse glik 

hengt nor op in gelt.

zoln ale zukhn, zoln ale krikhn,

nor ikh trakht bay mir,

ikh darf dos af kapores,

vayl dos glik shteyt bay mayn tir.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 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.

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