Valeria's Klezmer Chariot | Tumbalalaika

Valeria Conte - vocal
cantor Yuval Hed - viola
John Runefelt - accordion
Stian Grimstad - tuba
Hugo Widén - drums

original arrangement: Valeria Conte

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Tumbalalaika (play balalaika)

Shteyt a bokher, shteyt un trakht
Trakht un trakht a gantse nakht
Vemen tzu nemen un nit farshemen
Vemen tzu nemen nit tsur farshemen

Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika
Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika
Tumbalalaika, shpil balalaika
Tumbalalaika, freylekh zol zayn

Meydl, meydl, kh'vil bay dir fregn,
Vos ken vaksn, vaksn on regn?
Vos ken brenen un nit oyfhern?
Vos ken benken, veynen on trern?

Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika...

Narisher bokher, vos darfstu fregn?
A shteyn ken vaksn, vaksn on regn.
Libe ken brenen un nit oyfhern.
A harts ken benken, veynen on trern.

Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika...

translation:

A young lad stands, stands and thinks
Thinks and thinks the whole night through
Whom to take and not to shame
Whom to take and not to shame

Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika
Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika
Tumbalalaika, play balalaika
Tumbalalaika, may we be happy

Girl, girl, I want to ask of you
What can grow, grow without rain?
What can burn and never end?
What can yearn, cry without tears?

Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika...

Foolish lad, why do you have to ask?
A stone can grow, grow without rain
Love can burn and never end
A heart can yearn, cry without tears

Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika...