My Virtual Reading Room

I love the tune; the lyrics..not so much :P
~~

Vus bisti, ketsele, baroygez -
Чего ты, котик,сердишься
Why, honey, are you so angry

In vus zhe geysti upgelozt di nuz?
- И чего ты ходишь, опустив нос?
And why are you walking about, hanging your head?

In efsher vilsti visn mayn yikhes
- А, может, знать мою родословную,
Maybe you want to know my family history,

Finvanen ikh shtam aroys?
- Откуда я происхожу?
What kind of background I come from?


Mayn tate iz a shmarovoznik
- Мой папа - шмаровозник
My dad is a greaser of wagon-wheels

Oy, in di mame ganvet fish in mark,
- А моя мама ворует рыбу на рынке,
Oh, and my mom steals fish in the marketplace,

Oy, in mayn brider iz a kartyozhnik,
Ой, а мой брат - картежник
And my brother is a card-gambler,

Zoln zey ale zayn gezint in shtark!
- Шоб они все были здоровы и крепки!
May they all stay healthy and strong!

Der feter iz geshtanen in di rogn,
- Мой дядя сидит за решёткой;
My uncle is in prison,

Oy, in di bobe a hendlerke in gas,
- А моя бабка - уличная торговка,
And my grandma is a street-pedler,

In eyn brider zitst in ostrogn,
- А один брат сидит в остроге,
And one of my brothers is in jail,

In di shvester tra-la-la-la-la...
А сёстры... тра ля ля ля ля
And my sisters...tra-la-la-la-la

[he replies to her:]

Farvus zhe bisti azoy ungeblusn,
- Так что ж ты такая надутая
So why are you looking so sulky,

Ikh bet dokh kim tsi mir arayn in shtib,
- Я прошу, зайди ко мне в комнату
Please, come into my room,

Oy, vus zhe toyg dir bluzn mit di huzn
- Ой, как тебе [подходит?] блузка с рукавами,
Oh, how good this sleeved blouse looks on you,

Oy, iz dokh, dushe, х'hob dikh azoy lib!
- Таки, душенька, я тебя люблю!
Really, darling, I do love you!

[she replies]

Iz zay nit, ketsele, of mir baroygez,
- так ты на меня, котик, не сердись,
So don't be angry at me, honey,

In gey zhe nit aropgelozt di nuz,
- И не ходи, повесив нос,
And don't go about, hanging your head,

Vayl di veyst ingantsn mayn yikhes,
Поскольку ты знаешь всю мою подноготную,
Because now you know all the details about my background,

Fin vanen ikh shtam - yo, finvanen ikh shtam - Fin vanen ikh shtam - aroys!
- Всю мою родословную
And all of my family history.

[he replies--this bit is not in the version of the song in this entry]

Dayn tate iz a shmarovoznik, dayn mame ganvet fish in mark, un dayn bruder iz a kartyozhnik, un dayn shvester geyt mit a soldat
Dayn feter iz geshtanen oyf di rogn, dayn mume - a hendlerke in mark, un dayn bruder zitst in di ostrogn, un dayn shvester geyt mit a matros ...
Dayn zeyde iz geven a shoykhet, dayn bobe - a tukerin in bod, un aleyn bistu, oy, a mamzer, un genumen bistu fun priut ...

--Your dad greases wagon-wheels, your mom steals fish in the marketplace, and your brother is a card-gambler, and your sister is seeing a soldier
Your uncle is in prison, your aunt is a street-pedler, and your brother is in jail, and your sister is seeing a sailor...
Your grandpa is a butcher, your grandma...


Best comment on this video on YT:

--Can anyone please tell me why she is telling all that to the cat?

(and yes, someone explained ;))