Hulyet, Hulyet, Kinderlech
(Mordechi Gebirtig)

Shpilt aych, libe kinderlekh -
Der friling shoyn bagint!
Der friling shoyn bagint!
Oy, vi bin ikh, kinderlech,
Mekane aych atsint.
Oy, vi bin ikh, kinderlech,
Mekane aych atsint.

Refrain
Hulyet, hulyet, kinderlech
Kolzman ir zent nokh yung
Vayl fun friling biz tsum vinter
Iz a katsen-shprung

Shpilt aych, libe kinderlech,
Farzoymt keyn oygen-blik,
Farzoymt keyn oygen-blik,
Nemt mich oych arayn in shpil,
Fargint mir oych dos glik?
Nemt mich oych arayn in shpil,
Fargint mir oych dos glik?
Hulyet, hulyet...

Kukt nisht oyf mayn groyen kop,
Tsi shtert dos aych in shpil?
Tsi shtert dos aych in shpil?
Mayn neshome iz noch yung,
Vi ts'rik mit yorn fil.
Mayn neshome iz noch yung,
Vi ts'rik mit yorn fil.
Hulyet, hulyet...

Mayn neshome iz noch yung,
Un geyt fun benkshaft oys,
Un geyt fun benkshaft oys,
Ach vi gern vilt zich ir
Fun alt'n guf aroys.
Ach vi gern vilt zich ir
Fun alt'n guf aroys.
Hulyet, hulyet...

Shpilt aych, libe kinderlech,
Farzoymt keyn oygen-blik,
Farzoymt keyn oygen-blik,
Vayl der friling ekt zich bald,
Mit im dos hechste glik.
Vayl der friling ekt zich bald,
Mit im dos hechste glik.
Hulyet, hulyet...

---

Frolic, play, my little ones,
Springtime has begun,
Springtime has begun,
How I envy you your youth,
Now my day is done. (2 times)

Frolic, play, my little ones,
While you're young and gay,
While you're young and gay,
Now it's spring, but wintertime
Is but a jump away.

Play, my dearest little ones,
Don't ever waste a thing,
Don't ever waste a thing,
Allow me, too, into the game,
May I join the ring? (2 times)
Frolic, play...

Take no heed of my grey head
Does it disturb your play?
Does it disturb your play?
My soul is still so very young,
Much as yesterday. (2 times)
Frolic, play. .

My soul is still so very young,
And longing to be free—
And longing to be free—
Yearning to escape the cage
Of my anatomy.(2 times)
Frolic, play...

Frolic, play, my little ones,
I, too, was once a boy,
I, too, was once a boy,
And I know that spring does end,
And with it all your joy. (2 times)
Frolic, play..


from Folksongs and Footnotes, Theodore Bikel, 1960
English translation by Theodore Bikel.


The Bikel book has this for the chorus, but I don't think it can be right:

Hulyet, hulyet, kinderlech
Kolzman ir zent nokh ying
Vayl fun friling biz tsum vinter
Iz a katsen-shpring

---

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