0:00/???
  1. tsum kval

From the recording Pashtes [simplicity]

Elegy for Yiddish poets. Yiddish poem and Englishtranslation: Simcha Simchovitch (SIMCHA WRITES/SOCAN). Music: Lenka Lichtenberg (LENKAL MUSIC/SOCAN)
arrangement: Brian Katz (LILAH MUSIC/SOCAN)

Lyrics

fargeyen zey eyntsikvayz, shtile,
eynzam, in elnt in groyer;
bagleyt zey der umet der trayer,
der eydeler tunkeler troyer.

ayngeshtilt vert zeyer nign,
der nign fun letste klezmorim;
farshotnte shteyen in vinklen,
vi alte matseyves – di sforim…

s’vet ven a vanderer kumen
fun tuml-gemarkn a mider
un tsufaln vi tsu a heylung
tsum eynzamen kval fun di lider.

un vakhn vet nokh vu a yingl
mit gloybike oygn, mit eyfer.
un oyszingen vet er in benkshaft
dem nign fun yidishn seifer.


They fade away quietly,
lonely to the end.
Sadness is their escort,
sorrow their friend.

Silenced are the melodies,
the folksy Yiddish sound.
like tombstones their books
on dusty shelves stand.

Some day a wanderer, weary
from all the bustling marts,
will plunge into the hidden
source of Yiddish bards.

And a lad with zealous eyes
will ardently recite
verses of Yiddish poets
in the dark of the night.