About this Blog

 If you are reading this blog please know that it is for my own use - mostly to be able to find songs that I like, and not for any commercial purpose.  I have also included some parody lyrics I have written over the years.  If you enjoy these songs, you will find some in print and some are online.  Sorry for any repetition, and/or non-working posts.

This is a work in progress!  

One of these days I'll try to clean it up   

Again, please note that any original works here are not to be used for any commercial purpose.  ###

An Explanation

I had intended this blog as a place to keep some Yiddish songs and poetry. But I was quickly consumed by Avrahan Sutzkever's poem Unter Dayne Vayse Shtern. (Under your white stars), which had been set to music by Avrom Brudno. There were a few English translations and interpretations I wanted to keep. And I also wanted to have this both in Yiddish letters and in Latin letters. Hence the repetitive nature of this blog. I may sort this out and consolidate things later. Or I may not. In any event, if you come upon this, please derive benefit from what is here. With thanks! ###

ABI GEZUNT

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

Lyrics by Molly Picon

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 ganse 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. (Repeat verse one) 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

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. (& repeat verse 1)

Credits

Composer: Abraham Ellstein

Lyrics by Molly Picon.  Length 02::44\

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