Di Grine Kuzine
Chane Mlotek version J. Leiserowitz / Hyman Prizant music A Schwartz
Es iz tsu mir gekumen a kuzine A cousin came to me
Sheyn vi gold iz zi geven, di grine Lovely as gold she was, the greenhorn
Di bekelekh vi royte pomerantsn Cheeks like rosy oranges
Fiselekh vos betn zikh tsum tantsn Feet begging to dance
Nit gegangn iz zi – nor geshprungen She didn’t walk, she leaped
Nit geredt hot zi – nor gezungen She didn’t speak, she sang
Freylekh, lustik iz geven ir mine Happy, merry was her manner
Ot aza geven iz mayn kuzine That’s how my cousin was.
Ikh bin arayn tsu mayn “nekst – dorke” I went to my next-door-neighbour
Vos zi hot a “milineri – storke” Who had a millinery store
A “dzhab” gekrogn dort far mayn kuzine I got a job there for my cousin
Az lebn zol di goldene medine! Long live the gold land!
Avek zaynen fun demolt on shoyn yorn From that time, several years went by
Fun mayn kuzine iz a tel gevorn My cousin became a ruin
“Pey-deyz” yorn lang hot zi geklibn Pay-days took their toll
Biz fun ir aleyn iz nisht geblibn Until there wasn’t much left of her
Unter ire bloye sheyne oygn Under her blue, pretty eyes
Shvartse pasn hobn zikh fartsoygn Black bags gathered
Di bekelekh, di royte pomerantsn Those cheeks, those rosy oranges
Hobn zikh shoyn oysgegrint in gantsn Turned green completely
Haynt, az ikh bagegn mayn kuzine Now when I meet my cousin
Un ikh freg zi : Vos-zhe makhstu, grine? And I ask her : How’s it going, greenhorn?
Entfert zi mir mit a krumer mine: She answers me with a scowl
Az brenen zol Kolumbuses medine! To hell with Columbus’s land!