Wolf Krakowski posted something in another thread this evening, and that prompted me to listen to the one Wolf Krakowski album I have, Transmigrations. One song struck me: "Friling" (Springtime). I remember the tune from years and years ago, so I imagine it was something popular in the 1950s that my dad listened to on an easy-listening station. Anybody know English-language songs that use this haunting tune?
Click here for a YouTube video that features the Chava Alberstein recording of this song. I also like this recording very much.

FRILING
(lyric by Shmerke Katsherginski; melody by Avrom Brudn)

I roam through the ghetto from alley to alley, And I cannot find any haven; My beloved is not here, how can I bear it? Oh, people, at least say something. The blue sky illuminates my home But what benefit do I have from it now? I stand like a beggar at each gate, And beg for a little bit of sunshine.        Springtime, dispel my sorrow,      And bring back my beloved, my adored one to me.      Springtime, on your blue wings,      Oh, take my heart with you and return joy to it.   […] This year springtime came very early, And my longing blossomed for you once again, I see you before me all laden with flowers, Happily you come to me. The sun showered the garden with its rays, The earth has sprouted its green. My adored one, my darling, where have you gone? You are never out of my mind.        Springtime, dispel my sorrow…

Ikh blondzhe in geto fun gesl tsu gesl,           un ken nisht gefinen keyn ort;            nishto iz mayn liber, vi trogt men ariber?        mentshn, o zogt khotsh a vort.            Es laykht? oyf mayn heym itst, der himl der bloyer,  vos zhe hob ikh itst derfun?    ikh shtey vi a betler bay yetvidn toyer,           un betl, a bisele zun.   Friling, nem tsu mayn troyer,              Un breng mayn libstn, mayn trayen tsurik.     Friling, oyf dayne fligl bloye,                                O, nem mayn harts mit un gib es op mayn glik.            [...] S’iz hay-yor der friling gor fri ongekumen,          Tseblit hot zikh benkshaft nokh dir,   Ikh ze dikh vi itster balodn mit blumen, A freydiker geytse tsu mir.     Di zun hot fargosn dem gortn mit shtraln, Tseshprotst hot di erd zikh in grin.     Mayn trayer, mayn libster, vu bistu farfaln?   Du geyst nisht aroys fun mayn zin.           Friling, nem tsu mayn troyer...

source: http://holocaustmusic.ort.org/places/ghettos/vilna/friling/

Notes:

The moving Yiddish song 'Friling' (Spring) was written by Shmerke Katsherginski in April 1943, after the death of his wife Barbara in the Vilna ghetto. Set to a tango melody composed by fellow inmate Avrom Brudno, the song's lyrics tell of the author's sadness and sense of despair and loneliness.

English translations by Lloica Czackis and Bella Klein. All lyrics have been adapted and transliterated according to the standardized YIVO Yiddish, except for where is required by rhyme.

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Also at zemerl.com. Note the additional verse.

Composer:	Abraham Brudno
Lyrics:	Shmerke Kaczerginski (1908-1954)

(from liner notes to "We are Here - Songs of Remembrance, Hope, and Celbrat Written by the poet after the death of his wife in April 1943. Kaczerginski joined the partisan forces following the liquidatio of the ghetto in September '43. After the war he compiled several hundred poems and song lyrics. He survived the war to meet his death in a plane crash. The music is by Abraham Brudno, who, following the liquidation of the ghetto was deported to a concentration camp in Estonia, where he died.

Lyrics

Translation, etc.

1. Ikh blondzhe in geto Fun gesl tsu gesl Un ken nit gefinen keyn ort Nito iz mayn liber, Vi trogt men ariber? Mentshn, o zogt khotsh a vort. Es laykht oyf mayn heym itst Der himl der bloyer Vos zhe hob ikh itst derfun? Ikh shtey vi a betler Bay yetvidn toyre Un betl a bisele zun. Refrain Friling, nem tsu mayn troyer Un breng mayn libstn Maynt trayen tsurik Friling oyf dayne fligl bloye O, nem mayn harts mit Un gib es op mayn glik. Ikh gey tsu der arbet Farbay undzer shtibl In troyer, der toyer farmakht. Der tog a tsehelter Di blumen farvelkte, Zey vanynen, far zey iz oykn nakht. Far nakht oyf tsurikvegs, Es noyet der troyer, Ot do hostu libster gevart. Ot do inem shotn Nokh kentik dayn trot iz, Flegt kushn mikh liblekh un tsart Refrain 3. S'iz hay-yor der friling Gor fri ongekumen, Tseblit hot zikh benkshaft nokh dir, Ikh ze dikh vi itster Balodn mit blumen, A freydiker geystu tsu mir. Di zun hot fargosn Dem gortn mist shtraln, Tseshprotst hot di erd zikh in grin Mayn trayer, mayn libster, Vu bistu farfaln? Du geyst nit aroys fun mayn zin. Refrain

Here's a singable translation: I walk through the Ghetto alone and forsaken, There's no-one to care for me now. And how can you live when your love has been taken, Will somebody please show me how? I know that it's springtime, and birdsong, and sunshine, All nature seems happy and free, But locked in the Ghetto I stand like a beggar, I beg for some sunshine for me. (Refrain) Springtime, what good is springtime, What good is sunshine, when he is away? Springtime, you shine upon my sorrow, but still tomorrow Is as bleak as today. The house that we lived in is now barricaded, The windows are broken and bare. The sun is so fierce that the flowers have faded, They wilt in the wintery air. Each morning, each evening I have to walk past it, Hiding my eyes from the sight The place where you loved me the place where you kissed me, The place where you held me so tight. (Refrain) How thoughtful, how kind of the heavenly powers To send spring so early this year. Why thank you for coming, I see you brought flowers You want me to welcome you here? They say that the Ghetto is golden and glowing But sunlight and tears make me blind. You see, my beloved, how soon they start flowing I can't get you out of my mind. (Refrain) here's another translation: I wander through the ghetto From lane to lane Useless, no solace I find. My beloved is gone How can I go on? Someone, oh say just a word! My house is aglow now The sky's like a blue dome But what is there left in my life? I stand like a beggar At each of these doorways And beg for a little bit of sun Refrain Springtime, please take my sorrow And bring my loved one, My dear one back to me. Springtime, upon your wings of blue Take my heart with you And bring love back to me 2. I go to my work And pass by our small house In sadness, the door is closed tight The days is full of sunlight But flowers won't bloom now, They're wilting, for them too it's night At night when returning The sadness is burning Right here love, you waited for me Right here in the shadows I still hear your footsteps You kissed me so passionately Refrain Springitme is with us This year very early My longing for you is in bloom. I see you before me Adorned with spring lfowres Smiling, you will greet me soon The sun's rays have lit up The garden with sunlight, Turning the hard earth to geen. My dearest, my loved one Are you gone forever? I can't get you out of my mind. Clip Location: Friling (Springtime)