Der Rebbe Elimelech
"Der Rebbe Elimelech" is a Yiddish version of "Old King Cole", but with a rabbi instead of a king.
Phylacteries are boxes containing scrolls of the law, placed on the forehead and forearm during morning prayer.
A kitl (kittel) is a white robe worn at weddings and on certain holidays.
Cymbalists are players of the cymbalon, a wire-stringed instrument
Der Rebbe Elimelech
The Rabbi Elimelech
Folk Song
Folk Song
(Yiddish)
(English)
Az der Rebbe Elimelech
Iz gevoren zeyer freylach
Is gevoren zeyer freylach Elimelech
Hot er oysgeton di tfilen
Un hot ongeton di brilen
Un geshikt nokh di payklers di tsvey
Un az di paykeldike payklers
Hobn paykeldik gepaykelt
Hobn paykeldik gepaykelt hobn zey...
Later verses:
Hot er oysgeton dos hitl
Un hot ongeton dos kitl
Un geshikt nokh di tsimblers di tsvey
Un az di tsimbldike tsimblers
Hobn tsimbldik getsimbelt
Hobn tsimbldik getsimbelt hobn zey.
When the rabbi Elimelech
Became very happy*
He became very happy.
He took off his phylacteries
And put on his glasses
And sent for the two drummers**
And when the drummers started drumming
On their drums they were drumming
On their drums they were drumming right away.
Later verses:
He took off his kitl
And put on his hat
And sent for the two cymbalists.
And when the cymbalons started cymbaling,
On their cymbalons they were cymbaling
On their cymbalons they were cymbaling right away!
Notes
*A bit tipsy
**Some versions are longer and he also sends for his fiddlers (same word in Yiddish)
Song written and composed by Moshe Nadir (1885-1943)
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Stanley F. Levine, Emeritus Professor of French and Latin, University of South Carolina Aiken, for contributing this song with the translation. Thanks to Jody Hirsh for the definition of kitl!
