Tumbalalaika Around the World: As Sung by The San Francisco Yiddish Combo at East Bay Jewish Music Festival

The Yiddish folk love song Tumbalalaika originated in Eastern Europe in the 19th century, but its exact origin is hard to pinpoint. That hasn't prevented it from being sung and played over and over, not only in places where Yiddish songs are sung, but just about everywhere in the world, in vocal and instrumental versions, in cabarets and in the movies.

Just as we have followed the songs Hava Nagila, Adon Olam, Hevenu Shalom Aleichem, and Abanibi as they took different forms as interpreted by a wide variety of singers, musicians, and dancers, we're continuing the series today that we started back in 2012, sharing our 24th version of this universal courting and love song.

The San Francisco Yiddish Combo was formed by accident when a love of Klezmer music collided with their collective backgrounds in every genre except Klezmer. Now they have embarked on a journey around the world to present their own unique blend of everything that is Klezmer, mixed with years of experience in the jazz, blues, folk, and even hip hop world. This group performs Klezmer for the 21st century! Made up of classically trained musicians who enjoy stretching musical boundaries, the SFYC is led by cellist Rebecca Roudman who has fronted groups all over the world bringing her virtuosic and fiery playing to stages from China to Italy and beyond.

Enjoy!

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English Translation: 

A young lad stands, and he thinks 

Thinks and thinks the whole night through 

Whom to take and not to shame 

Whom to take and not to shame

 

Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika 

Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika 

Tumbalalaika, strum balalaika 

Tumbalalaika, may we be happy

 

Girl, girl, I want to ask of you 

What can grow, grow without rain? 

What can burn and never end? 

What can yearn, cry without tears? 

 

Foolish lad, why do you have to ask? 

A stone can grow, grow without rain 

Love can burn and never end 

A heart can yearn, cry without tears