אויפן וועג שטייט א בוים [Oyfn veg shteyt a boym] [English translation]

On the road stands a tree,

it stands bent and deserted,

All the birds of that tree

have flown away.

Turn toward the west, turn toward the east,

And the rest - turn toward the south,

And the tree is left alone

abandoned to the storm.

I say to momma--"Listen,

If you don't stand in my way,

then, one and two,

I'll quickly become a bird...

I'll sit in the tree

And lull it

during the winter and comfort it

With a lovely tune.

And momma says, "No, child,"

And weeps bitter tears -

God forbid, in the tree

you might freeze.

So I say, "Momma, it's a waste

of your lovely eyes,

Because before you know it,

I'll be a bird."

And momma cries: - Itzik, my Crown,

As God would want,

take a scarf with you,

Lest you catch cold.

"Put on your galoshes,

It will be a severe winter.

And take your fur hat, too.

Woe is me!

"And take your warm underwear,

put it on, foolish child,

Lest you become a guest

among the dead...

I lift my wing, but it's hard...

Too much, too many things

Has momma put on

her weak little fledgling.

I look sadly straight forward

into my momma's eyes,

Her love did not allow me

to become a bird...

On the road stands a tree,

it stands bent and deserted,

All the birds of that tree

have flown away.