Here's what I found from Ruth Rubin:

Di Mame Iz Gegangen

1 Di mame iz gegangen in mark arayn noch koyln,
Hot zi mir gebracht a yingele fun Poyln.
Ay iz dos a yingele, a sheyns un a fayns—
Mit di schvartse eygelech, ketsele du mayns!

2 Di mame iz gegangen in mark arayn noch kroyt,
Hot zi mir gebracht a yingele fun boyd.
Ay iz dos a yingele, a sheyns un a fayns—
Mit di vayse tseyndelech, ketsele du mayns!

3 Ich hob gegesn mandlen, ich hob getrunken vayn,
Ich hob gelibt a yingele, un kon on im nit zayn.
Ay iz dos a yingele, a sheyns un a fayns—
Mit di shvartse herelech, ketsele du mayns!


1 My mother went to market for to buy some coal,
She brought me back a handsome lad from Poland.
Oh what a lad he is, how manly and how fine—
Ah those black eyes of his, ah, that kitten of mine!

2 My mother went to market for to buy some cabbage,
She brought me back a handsome lad, just off the coach.
Oh what a lad he is, how manly and how fine—
Ah those white teeth of his, ah, that kitten of mine!

3 I've been eating almonds, I've been drinking wine,
I'm in love with a handsome lad, and for him I pine.
Oh what a lad he is, how manly and how fine—
Ah those black curls of his, ah, that kitten of mine!


Source: A Treasury of Jewish Folksong, Ruth Rubin (1950), pp. 54-55.

Unfortunately, Rubin does not give any background information. Tune available on request, but I didn't find chords and can't figure them out myself. The song (and probably chords) is also in Volume 1 of the Anthology of Yiddish Folksongs. I ordered a set from Israel several weeks ago, but it hasn't arrived yet.

-Joe-

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