Tumbalalaika | Julie Benko

"Tumbalalaika" is a Yiddish folk song which means "Play the balalaika."
Translation by Julie Benko
Musical credits below
www.JulieBenko.com

Shteyt a bucher, shteyt un er tracht
Tracht in tracht a gantze nacht
Vemen tzi nemen un nit farshemen
Vemen tzi nemen un nit farshemen

Once, long ago, there was a young man
Who stayed up all night devising his plan
He thought up a riddle second to none
She who could answer would be the one

(Chorus)
Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika
Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika
Tumbalalaika, shpiel balalaika
Tumbalalaika, freylich zol zayn

Maidl, maidl, ‘ch vil bay dir fregn
Vos ken vaksn, vaksn on reign
Vos ken brenen un nit oyfern
Vos ken benken, veynen on trern

Tell me, my beauty, tell me if you know,
What needs no rain and yet it can grow.
Tell me what can burn all through the year
Tell me what can yearn and cry without tears

Chorus

Narishe bucher, vos darfstu fregn
A shtein ken vaksn, vaksn on regn
Libe ken brenen un nit oyfern
A harts ken benken, veynen on trern

Oh, foolish boy, surely you know
A rock needs no rain, and yet it can grow
It’s love that can burn all through the years
And a heart that is yearning cries without tears

Chorus x2

CREDITS
Vocals: Julie Benko
Balalaika: Justin Poindexter
Piano/Arrangement: Jason Yeager
Bass: Danny Weller
Drums: Evan Hyde
Trumpet: Andy Warren
Clarinet: Kenny Pexton
Trombone: Ron Wilkins

Recorded at Big Orange Sheep, Brooklyn
Video by David Spadora, Eight Flow Studio