Text and melody by Nokhem Sternheim (1879 – date unknown), a folk poet from Galicia killed during World War II whose songs, like Warshawsky’s and Gebirtig’s, are often regarded as anonymous folk songs.
We have a little melody.
with pride and with joy
we sing it, we sing it,
it sounds so lovely!
My grandmother and grandfather
already sang this
when they were still children.
Oy, oy, oy, just like this
is how the song sounds now
such a happy tune, such a happy tune,
Sing it, children,
Just like this, is how the song sounds now,
Let’s all go on in such a happy way.
We have a little melody,
we all sing together,
we sing it, we sing it,
it sounds so lovely!
My father and my mother
already sang this
when they were still children.
We have a little melody,
in good fortune and misfortune
we sing it, we sing it,
it sounds so lovely!
The whole family
already sang this
when they were still children.
Hobn mir a nigndl,
In nakhes un in freydn,
Zingen mir es, zingen mir es,
Klingt es azoy sheyn!
Dos hot nokh gezungen
Di bobe mitn zeydn,
Ven zey zaynen kinder nokh geven.
CHORUS:
Oy, oy, oy, ot azoy zhe
Vi der nign klingt atsinder,
Aza freylekhs, aza freylekhs
Zingt zhe, kinder,
Ot azoy zhe, vi der nign klingt atsinder
Aza freylekhs lomir ale geyn.
Hobn mir a nigndl,
Zingen mir tsuzamen,
Zingen mir es, zingen mir es,
Klingt es azoy sheyn!
Dos hot nokh gezungen
Der tate mit der mamen,
Ven zey zaynen kinder nokh geven.
Hobn mir a nigndl,
In mazl un in brokhe,
Zingen mir es, zingen mir es,
Klingt es azoy sheyn!
Dos hot nokh gezungen
Di gantse mishpokhe,
Ven zey zaynen kinder nokh geven.
האָבן מִיר אַ ניגונדל,
אין נחת און אין פֿרײדן,
זינגען מיר עם, זינגען מיר עס,
קלינגט עס אַזױ שײן.
דאָס האָט נאָך געזונגען
די באָבע מיטן זײדן
װעז זײ זײַנען קינדער נאַך געװען.
רעפֿרײן:
אױ-אױ-אױ, אָט אַזױ זשע
װי דער ניגון קלינגט אַצינדער,
אַזאַ פֿרײלעכס, אַזאַ פֿרײלעכס
זינגט זשע קינדער.
אָט אַזױ זשע װי דער ניגון קלינגט אַצינדער
אַזאַ פֿרײלעכס לאָמיר אלע גײן.
האָבן מיר אַ נינונדל
זינגען מיר צוזאמען,
זינגען מיר עס, זינגען מיר עס,
קלינגט עס אַזױ שײן.
דאָס האָט נאָך געזונגען
דער טאַטע מיט דער מאַמען,
װען זײ זײַנען קינדער נאַך געװען.
האָבן מיר אַ ניגונדל
אין מזל און אין ברכה
זינגען מיר עס, זינגען מיר עס,
קלינגט עס אַזױ שײן.
דאָס האָט נאָך געזונגען
די גאַנצע משפּחה,
װעז זײ זײַנען קינדער נאַך געװען.
Song Title: Undzer Nigndl
First published in 1972, Mir Trogn A Gezang: Favorite Yiddish Songs was reprinted six more times (in 1977, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000) due to popular demand. The songs in this anthology represent a sampling of beloved folk and well-known Yiddish songs, many of which are scattered in various song collections; some appear in very rare and inaccessible collections; and some were never before published. Folk songs comprise about a third of this volume and were selected mainly on the basis of popularity and sometimes for their historic significance. Needless to say, they are only representative of the vast, rich treasure of Yiddish folk material. The selection was made not only on the basis of personal preference, but in the knowledge they are favorites of many who sing these songs. Most of the songs represent the repertoire that was sung at Yiddish summer camps, May 1st demonstrations and at social gatherings. Many songs were introduced to American Jewry by Jewish immigrants who came to the United States after World War II, for whom these songs had been favorites in Poland and other East European communities destroyed by the Nazis.
