Di levune shaynt in der fintsterer nakht
The moon shines in the dark night
Sung by Lifshe Schaechter-Widman
Recorded by Leybl Kahn, Bronx 1954
Commentary by Itzik Gottesman
Lifshe Schaechter-Widman with her 2nd husband, Isaac Widman,
approximately at the time of the recording of this song, 1950s.
This lyrical love song from the man’s perspective contrasts with the ballads in Lifshe Schaechter Widman’s repertoire which have a single narrative plot. The three verses barely relate to each other other than the two lines about sending letters that connect the second and third verse, and the reptition of the woman’s name Libele. As in most lyrical songs, the song emphasizes the emotion rather than the storyline. The lines about swimming in a deep river would usually signal an upcoming tragedy but nothing is made of it.
TRANSLITERATION
Di levune shaynt in der fintsterer nakht.
Libele zitst dort baym fentster un trakht.
Es dakht zikh ir az Itzikl geyt
in nayem mantl ungetin.
Gebudn hob ikh mikh in a takhele.
Dus takhlele iz geveyzn tif.
Veyn nit, veyn nit Libele,
ikh vel dir shikn briv.
Brivelekh vel ikh dir shikn.
Brivelekh vesti leynen.
Az ikh vel mekh dermanen in dan tayer zis punim,
klugn vel ikh in veynen.
TRANSLATION
The moon shines in the dark night.
Libele sits there at the window and thinks.
She imagines that Itzikl is coming
dressed in a new coat.
I was bathing in a river;
the river was deep.
Don’t cry, don’t cry Libele,
I will send you letters.
Letters I will send you
Letters you will read.
And when I think of your dear, sweet face,
I will lament and cry.
Yiddish Song of the Week 