Text and melody by Mark Markovich Warshawsky (see note to Oyfn Pripetshik on page 2). Originally titled A Freylekhs (Khosns Tsad), the song pokes fun at the groom’s family: his sister spins like a top, one uncle is as haughty as a turkey, another is stout and forever patting his stomach.
Here come the in-laws, children.
Let’s be joyful — pay attention!
The bridegroom is something else,
play a song in honor of the groom’s family.
The groom’s sister, Freydl,
she’s spinning like a top — pay attention!
Bring her into the circle
and play a song in honor of the groom’s family.
There goes uncle Mindik,
what did we do wrong? — pay attention!
He’s puffed up like a turkey,
play a song in honor of the groom’s family.
There goes Elye, the groom’s uncle,
rubbing his belly — pay attention!
He is the unclest uncle of all,
play a song in honor of the groom’s family.
Di mekhutonim geyen, kinder,
Lomir zikh freyen — shat nor, shat!
Der khosn iz gor a vunder,
Shpilt a lidele dem khosns tsad.
Dem khosns shvester Freydl,
Zi dreyt zikh vi a dreydl — shat nor, shat!
Nemt zi arayn in redl
Un shpilt a lidele dem khosns tsad.
Ot geyt der feter Mindik,
Vos hobn mir gezindikt — shat nor, shat!
Er blozt zikh vi an indik,
Shpilt a lidele dem khosns tsad.
Dort geyt Elye dem khosns feter,
Dem baykhl glet er — shat nor, shat!
Er iz feter fun ale feters,
Shpilt a lidele dem khosns tsad.
די מחותּנים גײען, קינדער,
לאָמיר זיך פֿרײען — שאַט נאָר, שאַט!
דער חתן איז גאַר אַ װוּנדער,
שפּילט אַ לידעלע דעם חתנס צד.
דעם חתנס שװעסטער פֿרײדל,
זי דרײט זיך װי אַ דרײדל — שאַט נאָר שאַט.
נעמט זי אַרײַן אין רעדל
און שפּילט אַ לידעלע דעם חתנס צד.
אָט גײט דער פֿעטער מינדיק,
װאָס האָבן מיר געזינדיקט? — שאט נאָר שאַט!
ער בלאָזט זיך װי אַן אינדיק,
שפּילט אַ לידעלע דעם חתנם צד.
דאָרט גײט דעם חתנס פֿעטער,
דעם בײַכל גלעט ער — שאַט נאָר שאַט!
ער איז פֿעטער פֿון אלע פֿעטערס,
שפּילט אַ לידעלע דעם חתנס צד.
Song Title: Di Mekhutonim Geyen
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.
