Tumbalalaika
Russian/Yiddish Folk Song Waltz
Key: Am

Lyrics and chords provided by Judy Muldawer
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File Created 12/15/2014
File Updated 05/10/2019
 
Am                         E7
Shteyt a bocher, shteyt un tracht,
          F7     E7        Am
tracht un tracht  a gantze nacht.
          F                C
Vemen tsu nemen un nit far shemen,
          E7               Am      E7
vemen tsu nemen un nit far shemen.

A young lad is thinking, thinking all night
Would it be wrong, he asks, or maybe right,
Should he declare his love, dare he choose,
And would she accept, or will she refuse?

Am                        E7
Tumbala, tumbala, tumbala laika,
F7       E7               Am
Tumbala, tumbala, tumbala laika
        F                  C
tumbala  laika shpiel bala laika
        E7                   Am    E7
tumbala laika - freylach zol zayn.

Am                           E7
Meydl, meydl, ch'vel bay dir fregen,
        F7     E7       Am
Vos kan vaksn, vaksn on regn?
        F                 C
Vos kon brenen un nit oyf hern?
        E7                Am      E7
Vos kon benken, veynen on treren?

Maiden, maiden tell me again
What can grow, grow without rain,
What can burn for many years,
What can long and cry without tears?

Am                           E7
Narisher bocher, vos darfstu fregn?
             F7     E7       Am
A shteyn ken vaksn, vaksn on regn.
          F                 C
Libeh ken brenen un nit oyf hern.
            E7               Am
A harts kon benkn, veynen on treren.

Silly young lad, why ask again?
It's a stone that can grow, grow without rain,
It's love that can burn for many long years,
A the heart that can yearn and cry without tears.

Chorus:

Am                        E7
Tumbala, tumbala, tumbala laika,
F7       E7               Am
Tumbala, tumbala, tumbala laika
        F                  C
tumbala  laika shpiel bala laika
        E7                   Am
tumbala laika - freylach zol zayn.

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