Comments on: Looking for Specific Translation to Tum balalaika http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/looking-for-specific-translation-to-tum-balalaika/ Language, Culture and Kids Songs! Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:34:38 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: NJL http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/looking-for-specific-translation-to-tum-balalaika/comment-page-1/#comment-244377 NJL Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:54:43 +0000 http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/?p=692#comment-244377 I learnt this many years ago. The words that I remember are Maiden Maiden tell me true What can grow without the dew, What may burn for years and years, And what my cry but shed no tears. Chorus Silly lad the answers clear Hope may grow without the dew Love may burn for years and years A heart may cry but shed no tears Chorus Hope that helps I learnt this many years ago. The words that I remember are

Maiden Maiden tell me true
What can grow without the dew,
What may burn for years and years,
And what my cry but shed no tears.

Chorus

Silly lad the answers clear
Hope may grow without the dew
Love may burn for years and years
A heart may cry but shed no tears

Chorus

Hope that helps

]]> By: kbo http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/looking-for-specific-translation-to-tum-balalaika/comment-page-1/#comment-236764 kbo Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:45:45 +0000 http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/?p=692#comment-236764 YES! I sing this song as a lullaby to my son, age 4. the rythmic words and melody are sleep inducing but I was not aware of the very first verse, thanks! YES! I sing this song as a lullaby to my son, age 4. the rythmic words and melody are sleep inducing but I was not aware of the very first verse, thanks!

]]> By: Jessica Johnson http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/looking-for-specific-translation-to-tum-balalaika/comment-page-1/#comment-236488 Jessica Johnson Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:34:24 +0000 http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/?p=692#comment-236488 Hi Guys, I too learned this in music class many many moons ago. I don't know if this is correct but: Pacing puzzling all the night long a young man sang a haunting song, what shall I say to my love today? Oh what shall I say to my love today? (Chorus) Maiden, maiden can you explain what can grow oh what can grow without snow, or rain? What can burn for enldless years, and what can cry and shed no tears? (Chorus) Idle lad you're joking I know a stone can grow without rain or snow, love can burn for endless years, a heart can cry and shed no tears. (Chorus) Repeat 2X Hi Guys,

I too learned this in music class many many moons ago.

I don’t know if this is correct but:

Pacing puzzling all the night long a young man sang a haunting song,
what shall I say to my love today? Oh what shall I say to my love today?

(Chorus)

Maiden, maiden can you explain what can grow oh what can grow without snow, or rain? What can burn for enldless years, and what can cry and shed no tears?

(Chorus)

Idle lad you’re joking I know a stone can grow without rain or snow, love can burn for endless years, a heart can cry and shed no tears.

(Chorus)
Repeat 2X

]]> By: Gail Breckle http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/looking-for-specific-translation-to-tum-balalaika/comment-page-1/#comment-226944 Gail Breckle Thu, 28 May 2009 20:36:58 +0000 http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/?p=692#comment-226944 I agree with Jim C. above. I lived in Pennsylvania during that time frame and that's exactly what we sang. Amazing, I was sitting here thinking of the lyrics just a few minutes ago and found this website!I always loved this melody and the way it could pull on your heartstrings. I agree with Jim C. above. I lived in Pennsylvania during that time frame and that’s exactly what we sang. Amazing, I was sitting here thinking of the lyrics just a few minutes ago and found this website!I always loved this melody and the way it could pull on your heartstrings.

]]> By: Jim C. http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/looking-for-specific-translation-to-tum-balalaika/comment-page-1/#comment-217170 Jim C. Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:58:25 +0000 http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/?p=692#comment-217170 Like the previous responder I sang this in music class in grade 4 or 5. That would have been the mid 60s. An unusual song -- the melody is melancholy yet kind of toe-tapping catchy, and the words reflect the formality of bygone days. Apparently it has variations. I never understood the part about the stone and the dew. Chorus: Tumba, Tutumba, Tutumbalalaika, Tumba, Tutumba, Tutumbalalaika, Tumbalalaika, Tumbalalaika, Tumbalalaika, Tumbalalaika Maiden, maiden, tell me true, What can grow without the dew? What can burn for years and years? What can cry but shed no tears? (chorus) Silly lad, the answer true, A stone can grow without the dew, Love can burn for years and years, A heart can cry but shed no tears. Like the previous responder I sang this in music class in grade 4 or 5. That would have been the mid 60s. An unusual song — the melody is melancholy yet kind of toe-tapping catchy, and the words reflect the formality of bygone days. Apparently it has variations. I never understood the part about the stone and the dew.

Chorus:
Tumba, Tutumba, Tutumbalalaika,
Tumba, Tutumba, Tutumbalalaika,
Tumbalalaika, Tumbalalaika,
Tumbalalaika, Tumbalalaika

Maiden, maiden, tell me true,
What can grow without the dew?
What can burn for years and years?
What can cry but shed no tears?

(chorus)

Silly lad, the answer true,
A stone can grow without the dew,
Love can burn for years and years,
A heart can cry but shed no tears.

]]> By: Jack Hawk http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/looking-for-specific-translation-to-tum-balalaika/comment-page-1/#comment-213183 Jack Hawk Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:32:54 +0000 http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/?p=692#comment-213183 I think this is what John was looking for... we sang this often in 5th grade music class (1965-66) Waiting wondering all the night long A young man sang a haunting Song What shall I say to my love today Oh what shall I say to my love today Chorus: Tumbala Tumbala Tumbalalaika Tumbala Tumbala Tumbalalaika Tumbalalaika Play Balalaika Tumbalalaika, Laugh and be gay Maiden Maiden can you explain What can grow without snow or rain What can burn and never die What can weep, yet never cry Chorus: Idle lad you’re joking I know A Stone can grow without rain or snow Love can burn for endless years A heart can weep and shed no tears Chorus: I think this is what John was looking for… we sang this often in 5th grade music class (1965-66)

Waiting wondering all the night long
A young man sang a haunting Song
What shall I say to my love today
Oh what shall I say to my love today

Chorus:
Tumbala Tumbala Tumbalalaika
Tumbala Tumbala Tumbalalaika
Tumbalalaika Play Balalaika
Tumbalalaika, Laugh and be gay

Maiden Maiden can you explain
What can grow without snow or rain
What can burn and never die
What can weep, yet never cry

Chorus:

Idle lad you’re joking I know
A Stone can grow without rain or snow
Love can burn for endless years
A heart can weep and shed no tears

Chorus:

]]> By: anne owen http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/looking-for-specific-translation-to-tum-balalaika/comment-page-1/#comment-210915 anne owen Fri, 20 Mar 2009 21:55:42 +0000 http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/?p=692#comment-210915 We sang a version of this in primary school in Edinburgh in the 1980s. I sing it to my wee boy and he loves it! The version I know goes 'Here now my tale of a foolish young man, stayed up all night till he thought of a plan he wanted a girl who would be his delight a girl who was pretty witty and bright'... We sang a version of this in primary school in Edinburgh in the 1980s. I sing it to my wee boy and he loves it! The version I know goes
‘Here now my tale of a foolish young man,
stayed up all night till he thought of a plan
he wanted a girl who would be his delight
a girl who was pretty witty and bright’…

]]> By: Cait Cannon http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/looking-for-specific-translation-to-tum-balalaika/comment-page-1/#comment-199849 Cait Cannon Sun, 01 Feb 2009 02:07:28 +0000 http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/?p=692#comment-199849 I learned this song many years ago. I had forgotten most of the lyrics excepting the refrain and one verse where she replies to him: Foolish lad, I'll answer you, Stones can grow without the dew. True love can burn for years and years, A heart can cry and shed no tears. Thank you for finding the other lyrics. I learned this song many years ago. I had forgotten most of the lyrics excepting the refrain and one verse where she replies to him:

Foolish lad, I’ll answer you,
Stones can grow without the dew.
True love can burn for years and years,
A heart can cry and shed no tears.

Thank you for finding the other lyrics.

]]> By: cs http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/looking-for-specific-translation-to-tum-balalaika/comment-page-1/#comment-154870 cs Sat, 24 May 2008 12:50:04 +0000 http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/?p=692#comment-154870 Hi! What a great website! Just wandered into it by chance, but I love the links to all the resources for the kind of activities I try to introduce my grandkids to. Also, it just took one try on Google, But I think this may be what John was looking for. (I found it at www.kaikracht.de.balalaika): Shteyt a bokher, un er trakht, trakht un trakht a gantse nakht, vemen tsu nemen un nit farshemen, vemen tsu nemen un nit farshemen. A lad is standing and longing, pondering and brooding the whole night long, whom to choose and not to offend, whom to choose and not to offend. Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika, tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika, tum balalaika, shpil balalaika, tum balalaika, freylekh zol zain! Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika, tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika, tum balalaika, play the balalaika, tum balalaika, merry we'll be! "Meydl, meydl, kh'vil bai dir fregn: Vos ken vaksn, vaksn on regn? Vos ken brenen un nit oifhern? Vos ken benken, veynen on tren?" "Maiden, maiden, let me ask you: What can grow, grow without rain? What can burn and never cease? What can cry, cry without tears?" Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika, tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika, tum balalaika, shpil balalaika, tum balalaika, freylekh zol zain! Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika, tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika, tum balalaika, play the balalaika, tum balalaika, merry we'll be! "Narisher bokher, vos darfs tu fregn? A shteyn ken vaksn, vaksn on regn! A libe ken brenen un nit oifhern! A harts ken benken, veynen on tren!" "Silly boy, what do you ask? A stone can grow, grow without rain! A love can burn and never cease! A heart can cry, cry without tears!" Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika, tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika, tum balalaika, shpil balalaika, tum balalaika, freylekh zol zain! Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika, tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika, tum balalaika, play the balalaika, tum balalaika, merry we'll be! PS: Also, while my Yiddish is now more than a little rusty, the translation of the first verse seems a little flowery to me. I would read it a simply: A boy is standing and thinking, Thinking and thinking all thru the night - Whom to choose and not embarrass Whom to choose and not embarrass. Hi!

What a great website! Just wandered into it by chance, but I love the links to all the resources for the kind of activities I try to introduce my grandkids to.

Also, it just took one try on Google, But I think this may be what John was looking for. (I found it at http://www.kaikracht.de.balalaika):

Shteyt a bokher, un er trakht,
trakht un trakht a gantse nakht,
vemen tsu nemen un nit farshemen,
vemen tsu nemen un nit farshemen.

A lad is standing and longing,
pondering and brooding the whole night long,
whom to choose and not to offend,
whom to choose and not to offend.

Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika,
tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika,
tum balalaika, shpil balalaika,
tum balalaika, freylekh zol zain!

Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika,
tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika,
tum balalaika, play the balalaika,
tum balalaika, merry we’ll be!

“Meydl, meydl, kh’vil bai dir fregn:
Vos ken vaksn, vaksn on regn?
Vos ken brenen un nit oifhern?
Vos ken benken, veynen on tren?”

“Maiden, maiden, let me ask you:
What can grow, grow without rain?
What can burn and never cease?
What can cry, cry without tears?”

Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika,
tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika,
tum balalaika, shpil balalaika,
tum balalaika, freylekh zol zain!

Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika,
tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika,
tum balalaika, play the balalaika,
tum balalaika, merry we’ll be!

“Narisher bokher, vos darfs tu fregn?
A shteyn ken vaksn, vaksn on regn!
A libe ken brenen un nit oifhern!
A harts ken benken, veynen on tren!”

“Silly boy, what do you ask?
A stone can grow, grow without rain!
A love can burn and never cease!
A heart can cry, cry without tears!”

Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika,
tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika,
tum balalaika, shpil balalaika,
tum balalaika, freylekh zol zain!

Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika,
tum bala, tum bala, tum balalaika,
tum balalaika, play the balalaika,
tum balalaika, merry we’ll be!

PS: Also, while my Yiddish is now more than a little rusty, the translation of the first verse seems a little flowery to me. I would read it a simply:

A boy is standing and thinking,
Thinking and thinking all thru the night -
Whom to choose and not embarrass
Whom to choose and not embarrass.

]]>