Khotsh kh'hob nit keyn prute,
Nit keyn shove kesef,
Di yad vi zayn shite
Shtrekt mikh oys der eysev-
Gib ikh.
Gib ikh!
Oy, oy, oy vey, oy vey gib ikh!
Khotsh ikh hob keyn heym nisht,
Keyn shtub vu tsu voynen,
Di velt, zi traybt un yogt mikh,
Kh'tu ir rak nisht loynen-
Leb ikh,
Leb ikh!
Oy, oy, oy vey, oy vey leb ikh!
Aza yor af mayne sonim,
Sara tam un sara ponim
S'hot mayn lebn, mayn farmegn,
Un mayn vander af di vegn-
Un dokh gib ikh!
Un dokh leb ikh!
Oy, oy, oy vey, oy vey leb ikh!
Khotsh ikh hob keyn fis nisht,
Keyn eyver nisht keyn gantsn,
Muz ikh zikh a mol dokh
hastik-vild tsetantsn-
Tants ikh.
Tants ikh!
Oy, oy, oy, oy vey, oy vey tants ikh!
Khotsh ikh hob keyn shtim nisht,
Keyn kol vos zol klingen,
Muz ikh zikh a mol dokh
Vild azoy tsezingen-
Zing ikh,
Zing ikh!
Oy, oy, oy, oy vey, oy vey zing ikh!
Aza yor af mayne sonim,
Sara tam un sara ponim
S'hot mayn lebn, mayn farmegn,
Un mayn vander af di vegn-
Un dokh tants ikh!
Un dokh zing ikh!
Oy, oy, oy vey, oy vey leb ikh!
Although I haven't got a cent,
Nothing of any value,
As is his way
Esau stretches his hand out to me-
I give.
I give!
Oy vey, I give!
Although I have no home,
No house to live in,
The world drives me and hunts me,
I am of no worth to it-
I live,
I live,
Oy vey, I live!
A curse on my enemies,
Such a taste, and such a face
Have my life, my possessions
And my wanderings on the paths-
And so I give!
And so I live!
Oy vey I live!
Although I have no feet,
No complete limbs,
I sometimes must
Dance rushing wild-
I dance,
I dance!
Oy vey I dance!
Although I have no voice,
Nothing which could sound,
I sometimes must
Sing wildly-
I sing,
I sing!
Oy vey I sing!
A curse on my enemies,
Such a taste, and such a face
Have my life, my possessions
And my wanderings on the paths-
And so I dance!
And so I sing!
Oy vey I live!
Translated by Benjy Fox-Rosen with thanks to Sonia Gollance and Itzik Gottesman
Benjy Fox-Rosen (Los Angeles, 1984) is a singer, bassist and composer based in Vienna, Austria. Fox-Rosen has been
commissioned to write works for choirs, artistic interventions, and audio-installations; he has produced two CDs of his own music, both of which were recognized by the Forward in the top-five Jewish music album of the year category....more
supported by 8 fans who also own “Khotsh Kh'hob Nit Keyn Prute / כאטש כ׳האָב נישט קיין פרוטה”
One of my favourite musical discoveries in a while. These musicians are seriously talented. I can’t help imagining that there would have been a whole significant subculture of Yiddish psych rock like this in a different, kinder universe. For now, this is a window into that world that might have been. And I love every second of it. Audrey
supported by 8 fans who also own “Khotsh Kh'hob Nit Keyn Prute / כאטש כ׳האָב נישט קיין פרוטה”
One of the best new albums of Yiddish and Klezmer music on Bandcamp in my opinion. The collaboration of two sensitive artists of different generations who know a lot about Yiddish and American music.
dcarkner
Raw black metal that brooks no compromises, this has all the ferocious guitars, lo-fi aesthetics and infernal howling you crave. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 30, 2023
Originally sung by Holocaust survivors in Yiddish, Polish and French, this moving album is now available in a gorgeous LP package. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 11, 2022
Led by klezmer phenom David Krakauer, this collaborative LP develops international sounds into an celebration of our common humanity. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 2, 2022