Mayn Yidishe Mame A Yiddishe Momme Lew Pollack and Jack Yellen
Ikh vil bay aykh a kashe fregn
Zogt mir ver es ken
Mit vifl tayere farmegns
Bentsht got alemen
Men koyft dos nit far keyne gelt
Dos krigt men nor umzist
Un dokh az men farlirt dos, oy
Vi trern men fargist
A tsveytn geit men keynem nit
Es helft nisht keyn geveyn
Oy-oy, ver es hot farloyrn
Der veys shoyn vos ikh meyn
A yidishe mame
Nishto keyn beser in der velt
A yidishe mama
Oy vey, siz biter ven zi felt
Vi sheyn un likhtik s’iz in hoys
Ven di mame’z do
Vi troyerik, finster s’vert
Ven got nemt ir oyf oylom-habo
Durkh vaser un fayer
Volt zi gelofn far ir kind
Nisht haltn ir tayer
Dos iz gevis di greste zind
Oy, vi glikhlekh un raykh
Iz der mentsh vos hot
Aza tayere matone geshenkt fun got
Vi an altitshke yidishe mame
Mame, oy mame mayn
I would like to ask you a question
Tell me whoever can
With which dear possession
Does God bless everyone
You can’t buy this for any money
You receive this undeserved
And when you lose this, oy
How many tears you pour out
No one gets a second one
No outcry will help
Oy-oy the one who has lost this
That one knows what I mean
A Jewish mama
None better in the world
A Jewish mama
Oh, woe, it’s bitter when she’s lacking
How lovely and bright it is in the house
When Mama is there
How sad and dark it becomes
When God takes her to the world to come
Through water and fire
She will run for her child
Not to hold her dear,
That is for certain the greatest sin
Oh, how fortunate and rich
Is the person who has
Such a dear gift given by God
As an old-fashioned Jewish mama
Mama, oh Mama of mine