Text & Translation
Vi azoy lebt der Kayser
English source:
Traditional
Kh’vel aykh fregn, kh’vel aykh fregn!
- Nu, freg zhe, freg zhe, freg!
- Entfert ale oyf mayn shayle:
Vi azoy trinkt der keyser tey?
- Me nemt a hitele tsuker,
Un me makht in dem a lekhele,
Un me gist arayn heyse vaser,
Un me misht, un me misht…
Oy, ot azoy, oy, ot azoy
Ot azoy trinkt der keyser tey! …
Raboysay, raboysay…
Vi azoy est der keyser bulbes?
- Me nemt a fesele puter,
Un me shtelt avek dem keyser
Oyf der anderer zayt,
Un a rote soldatn, mit harmatn,
Shisn di bulbes durkh der puter
Dem keyser glaykh in moyl arayn…
Oy, ot azoy, oy, ot azoy
Ot azoy est der keyser bulbes!...
- Raboysay, raboysay…
Vi azoy shloft der keyser bay nakht?
- Me shit on a fuln kheyder mit federn,
Un me khmalet ahin arayn dem heyser,
Un dray polk soldatn
Shteyen a gantse nakht un shrayen:
Sha! Sha! Sha!
Oy, ot azoy, oy, ot azoy
Ot azoy shloft der keyser bay nakht! …
How the Tsar lives
English translation ©
Anon.
How does the Tsar drink his tea?
You take a cylinder of sugar
And carve a hole into its top.
Into the hole you pour hot water
And then stir and stir and stir -
Thus the Tsar drinks his tea.
I ask you, gentlemen all
How does the Tsar eat potatoes?
You build a barrel of butter
And load a cannon with potatoes.
Then soldiers shoot potatoes
Through the butter right into the Tsar's mouth.
That is how the Tsar eats potatoes.
I ask you, gentlemen all
How sleeps the Tsar at night?
You fill his room with feathers
And toss the Tsar inside.
And three regiments of soldiers
Stand all night and shout Hush! Hush! Hush!
That is how the Tsar sleeps at night.
Vi azoy lebt der Kayser
English source:
Traditional
How the Tsar lives
English source:
Anon.
Raboysay, raboysay! Khakhomim on a breg!
I ask you, gentlemen all
Kh’vel aykh fregn, kh’vel aykh fregn!
How does the Tsar drink his tea?
- Nu, freg zhe, freg zhe, freg!
You take a cylinder of sugar
- Entfert ale oyf mayn shayle:
And carve a hole into its top.
Vi azoy trinkt der keyser tey?
Into the hole you pour hot water
- Me nemt a hitele tsuker,
I ask you, gentlemen all
Un me makht in dem a lekhele,
How does the Tsar eat potatoes?
Un me gist arayn heyse vaser,
Un me misht, un me misht…
Oy, ot azoy, oy, ot azoy
Ot azoy trinkt der keyser tey! …
Raboysay, raboysay…
You build a barrel of butter
Vi azoy est der keyser bulbes?
And load a cannon with potatoes.
- Me nemt a fesele puter,
I ask you, gentlemen all
Un me shtelt avek dem keyser
How sleeps the Tsar at night?
Oyf der anderer zayt,
Un a rote soldatn, mit harmatn,
Shisn di bulbes durkh der puter
Dem keyser glaykh in moyl arayn…
Oy, ot azoy, oy, ot azoy
Ot azoy est der keyser bulbes!...
- Raboysay, raboysay…
You fill his room with feathers
Vi azoy shloft der keyser bay nakht?
And toss the Tsar inside.
- Me shit on a fuln kheyder mit federn,
Un me khmalet ahin arayn dem heyser,
Un dray polk soldatn
Shteyen a gantse nakht un shrayen:
Sha! Sha! Sha!
Oy, ot azoy, oy, ot azoy
Ot azoy shloft der keyser bay nakht! …
Composer
Poet
Traditional
Traditional