The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #15952   Message #3519005
Posted By: Joe Offer
24-May-13 - 09:15 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req/Add: Yiddish songs
Subject: ADD: Oy, Mayn Baykhele (Kepele)
OY MAYN BAYKHELE
Oy,mayn baykhele, (2)
Oy, mayn baykhele tut mir vey!
In mayn baykhele kayklt zikh a yaykhele.
Oy, mayn baykhele tut mir vey!

Oy, mayn kepele, (2),
Oy, mayn kepele tut mir vey!
In mayn kepele katshet zikh an epele,
Oy, mayn kepele tut mir vey!

Oy, mayn fisele, (2),
Oy, mayn fisele tut mir vey!
In mayn fisele dreyt zikh dort a nisele,
Oy, mayn fisele tut mir vey!

Oy, mayn hentele, (2)
Oy, mayn hentele tut mir vey!
In mayn hentele kvaket dort an entele,
Oy, mayn hentele tnt mir vey!

Oy, mayn nezele, (2),
Oy, mayn nezele tut mir vey!
In mayn nezele shpringt arum a hezele,
Oy, mayn nezele tut mir vey!

Oy, mayn eygele, (2),
Oy, mayn eygele tut mir vey!
In mayn eygele flatert dort a feygele,
Oy, mayn eygele tut mir vey!

Oy, mayn bekele, (2)
Oy, mayn bekele tut mir vey!
In mayn bekele tantst arum a tekele,
Oy, mayn bekele tut mir vey!

Oy,mayn tseyndele, (2),
Oy, mayn tseyndele tut mir vey!
Oy, mayn tseyndele iz dokh mole-kheyndele,
Un mayn tseyndele tut nit vey!
Oh, my little belly! (2)
Oh, my little belly hurts!
In my belly soup is churning about,
Oh, my little belly hurts!

Oh, my little head! (2)
Oh, my little head hurts!
In my head a little apple is rolling around,
Oh, my little head hurts!

Oh, my little foot! (2)
Oh, my little foot hurts!
In my foot a little nut is twirling,
Oh, my little foot hurts!

Oh, my little hand! (2)
Oh, my little hand hurts!
In my hand a little duck is quacking,
Oh, my little hand hurts!

Oh, my little nose! (2)
Oh, my little nose hurts!
In my little nose a little hare is hopping,
Oh, my little nose hurts!

Oh, my little eye! (2)
Oh, my little eye hurts!
In my eye a little bird is fluttering,
Oh, my little eye hurts!

Oh, my little cheek! (2)
Oh, my little cheek hurts!
In my cheek a little doll is dancing,
Oh, my little cheek hurts!

Oh, my little tooth! (2)
Oh, my little tooth hurts!
Oh, my little tooth is full of charm!
And my little tooth does not hurt!



source: Yiddish Folksongs from the Ruth Rubin Archive, edited by Chana Mlotek and Mark Slobin (Wayne State University Press, Detroit, 2007), #56, page 111 [click].
O ye who speak German, notice how close the Yiddish words are to common German words we know.