In Yiddish
In 1927, Moshe Nadir (1885-1943) published his Yiddish version, "Der Rebe Elimeylekh." It has since become an incredibly popular Yiddish folksong.
Yiddish text
Az der Rebe Elimeylekh
Iz gevorn zeyer freylekh,
(Iz gevorn zeyer freylekh, Elimeylekh,)
Hot er oysgeton di tfilin
Un hot ongeton di briln
Un geshikt nokh di fidlers di tsvey.
Un di fidldike fidlers
Hobn fidldik gefidlt.
Hobn fidldik gefildt hobn zey!
(x2)
Az der Rebe Elimeylekh
Iz gevorn mer nokh freylekh,
Iz gevorn mer nokh freylekh, Elimeylekh,
Hot er opgemakht havdole
Mitn shames Reb Naftole
Un geshikt nokh di payklers di tsvey.
Un di paykeldike payklers
Hobn paykeldik gepaykelt.
Hobn paykeldik gepaykelt hobn zey!
(x2)
Az der Rebe Elimeylekh
Iz gevorn GOR SHTARK freylekh,
Iz gevorn gor shtark freylekh Elimeylekh,
Hot er oysgeton dos kitl
Un hot ongeton dos hitl
Un geshikt nokh di tsimblers di tsvey.
Un di tsimbeldika tsimblers
Hobn tsimbeldik getsimbelt.
Hobn tsimbeldik getsimbelt hobn zey!
(x2)
English translation
When Rabbi Elimelekh
Became happy,
(Became happy, Elimelekh)
He took off his tefillen
And he put on his glasses
And he sent for his two fiddlers.
And the fiddledika fiddlers
Fiddledika fiddled!
Oh, they fiddledika fiddled!
(x2)
When Rabbi Elimelekh
Became even happier,
(Became even happier, Elimelekh)
He made Havdalah
With his assistant, Reb Natfali
And he sent for his two drummers.
And the drummerdika drummers
Drummerdika drummed!
Oh, they drummerdika drummed!
(x2)
When Rabbi Elimelekh
Became OVERWHELMINGLY happy,
(Became overwhelmingly happy, Elimelekh!)
He took off his clothes,
And he put on his little hat,
And he sent for his two cymbalists.
And the cymbaldika cymbalists
Cymbaldika cymbaled!
Oh, they cymbaldike cymbaled!
(x2)
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