Poem by ltsik Manger (see Eynzam, on page 162); music by Saul Berezovsky.
Under the ruins of Poland
a head of blond hair –
The head and also the ruins,
both are true.
Oh fate, my fate.
Over the ruins of Poland
snow falls and falls,
my girl’s blond head
hurts me desperately.
Pain sits at the desk
and writes a long letter,
the tear is his eye
is genuine and deep.
Over the ruins of Poland
a bird flaps around,
a great bird of mourning*,
it’s devout wings trembling.
The great bird of mourning
(my desolate spirit)
bears upon his wings
this song of grief.
*literally, bird of Shiva (the 7-day mourning ritual).
Unter di khurves fun poyln
A kop mit blonde hor —
Der kop un say der khurbn
Beyde zenen vor.
CHORUS:
Dolye, mayne dolye.
lber di khurves fun poyln
Falt un falt der shney,
Der blonder kop fun mayn meydl
Tut mir mesukn vey.
Der veytik zitst baym shraybtish
Un shraybt a langn briv,
Di trer in zayne oygn,
lz emesdik un tif.
lber di khurves fun poyln
Flatert a foygl um
A groyser shive-foygl,
Er tsitert mit di fligl frum.
Der groyser shive-foygl
(Mayn dershlogn gemit),
Er trogt oyf zayne fligl
Dos dozike troyer-lid.
אונטער די חורבֿות פֿון פּױלן
אַ קאָפּ מיט בלאַנדע האָר —
דער קאָפּ און סײַ דער חורבן
בײדע זענען װאָר.
רעפֿרײן:
דאַליע מײַנע, דאָליע.
איבער די חורבֿות פֿון פּױלן
פֿאַלט און פֿאַלט דער שנײ,
דער בלאָנדער קאָפּ פֿון מײַן מײדל
טוט מיר מסוכּן װײ.
דער װײטיק זיצט בײַם שרײַבטיש
און שרײַבט אַ לאַנגן בריװ,
די טרער אין זײַנע אױגן
איז אמתדיק און טיף.
איבער די חורבֿות פֿון פּױלן
פֿלאַטערט אַ פֿױגל אום,
אַ גרױסער שיבֿעה-פֿױגל,
ער ציטערט מיט די פֿליגל פֿרום.
דער גרױסער שיבֿעה-פֿױגל
(מײַן דערשלאָגן געמיט),
ער טראָגט אױף זײַנע פֿליגל
דאָס דאָזיקע טרױער-ליד.
Song Title: Unter Di Khurves Fun Poyln
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.