Di Goldene Medine The Golden Land traditional to the tune of Az Der Rebbe Tantz
When I sang this song with a group of seniors, one woman told me that her mother wouldn’t let her sing this risque lyric she picked up from older kids. Khalutsim were kids from Eastern Europe who went as Zionists to what was then the British Mandate of Palestine, to build Jewish farms. A mekhaye? Something that is such a delight, such a pleasure, it gives you life.
Vu bistu gevezn? Oy, vu bistu gevezn? Where have you been?
Zog-zhe mir tokhter getraye Tell me dear daughter
Geven in Palestine I was in Palestina
Di goldene medine The golden land
Oy Mame, s’iz gevezn a mekhaye! Oy Mama, it was a mekhaye!
Vos hostu geton? Vos hostu geton? What did you do?
Zog-zhe mir tokhter getraye Tell me dear daughter
Tse-brokhn hob ikh shteyner I broke stones
Es tresh-tshen nokh di beyner My bones are still creaking!
Oy Mame, s’iz gevezn a mekhaye! Oy Mama, it was a mekhaye!
Vos hostu gegesn? Vos hostu gegesn? What did you eat?
Zog-zhe mir tokhter getraye Tell me dear daughter
Gegesn hob ikh kashe I ate kasha
Farbrent hot dos Mashe Burnt by Masha
Oy Mame, s’iz gevezn a mekhaye! Oy Mama, it was a mekhaye!
Vu bistu geshlofn? Vu bistu geshlofn? Where did you sleep?
Zog-zhe mir tokhter getraye Tell me dear daughter
Oyf a vogn hey On a wagon of hay
Mit khalutsim tsvey With two pioneers
Oy Mame, s’iz gevezn a mekhaye! Oy Mama, it was a mekhaye!
Vos hot ir geton? Vos hot ir geton? What did you do?
Zog-zhe mir tokhter getraye Tell me dear daughter
Ikh hob geredt I spoke
Un er hot mikh geglet And he…stroked
Oy Mame, s’iz gevezn a mekhaye! Oy Mama, it was a mekhaye!
Vos vet zayn der sof? Vos vet zayn der sof? What will be the end of this?
Zog-zhe mir tokhter getraye Tell me dear daughter
S’vet kumen a nayer dor There will come a new generation
Fun khalutsim nor! Of pioneers
Oy Mame, s’vet dokh zayn a mekhaye! Oy Mama, that will certainly be a mechaye!