A staple of Yiddish Music, "A Brivele Der Mamen" is one of the most celebrated Yiddish Songs. This classic of Jewish song has long achieved near folk song status. It is sung here by Marc Berman.
Like the best Yiddish folk songs, "A Brivele Der Mamen" is widely beloved. The background of the song is the immigrant experience of East European Jewry to America at the turn of the 20th century. In that sense, this piece of music is a quintessential immigrant song.
"A Brivele Der Mamen" has earned its place among the best Jewish songs and best Jewish music, and traditional Jewish music in general.
Solomon Smulewitz (1868-1943), a well-known tenor in his own right, composed the words and music of what was eventually to become essentially a Jewish folk song. Reputedly, Smulewitz sold his rights in the song for $25 before it became a hit (and later a title of a popular Yiddish movie.)
The video features captions with a capsule translation. Here is a more complete and literal translation. Note: only the first and last stanzas are sung in the video.
I
My child, my comfort, you are going away.
See, be a good son.
With tears and fear I beg you,
your faithful, dear mother.
You are traveling, my child, my only child,
across distant seas.
Ah, get there fresh and healthy
and don’t forget your mama.
Yes, go in health and arrive happy.
See, send a letter every week,
comfort your mother’s heart, my child.
Refrain:
A letter to your mama
you shouldn’t delay.
Write soon, dear child.
Give her this consolation.
Your mother will read your letter
and she will recover.
Heal her pain, her bitter heart.
Comfort her soul.
II
For eight years I’ve been alone.
My child has disappeared far away.
His childish heart is hard as stone:
Not a single letter has come.
How can my child continue?
How is his life going?
It must be going very well for him there,
Let it be so!
I’ve sent him a hundred letters,
and he still has no idea
how deep my pain is .
Refrain: A letter to your mother …
III
In New York City , a wealthy home,
but with hearts that have no feeling.
Her son lives there, well off.
A happy family:
a beautiful wife and two children
with radiant figures.
And as he sits and takes pride at them,
he receives a letter:
“Your mother is dead,”
it has come to pass.
In life you neglected her.
Now here is her last wish:
Refrain II
Say kaddish for your mama,
you shouldn’t delay.
Say it soon, dear child.
Give her this consolation.
Your mother will hear your Kaddish
from her grave.
Heal her pain, her bitter heart.
Comfort her soul.
28 сен 2024
