Rozhinkes mit Mandlen

A traditional Yiddish lullaby, made famous by Abraham Goldfaden (1840-1908) who used it in his theatre piece Shulamis. The guitarist has to lower the pitch of the sixth string from E to D.

Rozhinkes mit mandlen
In dem beys-hamikdosh,
in a vinkel kheyder,
zitst di almone bas Tsion aleyn.
Ir ben yochidl Yidele vigt zi keseyder
un zingt im tsum shlofn a lidele sheyn.
“Unter Yideles vigele
shteyt a klor ways tsigele.
Dos tsigele iz geforn handlen,
dos vet zayn dayn beruf,
rozhinkes mit mandlen,
slof zhe, Yidele, shlof.”

Raisins with almonds
In the Temple,
in a quiet corner,
Sion’s widowed daughter is sitting alone.
She steadily rocks her only son, little Yuda,
and sings a beautiful lullaby.
“Under Yuda’s cradle
Is standing a clear white little goat.
The goat has been traveling to sell his ware.
That will be your trade,
Raisins with almonds,
Sleep, little Yuda, sleep.”