BarmaLjova - Shterndl Shterndl (Little Star, Little Star) by Ljova

Song by the great Yiddish poet Moyshe Kulbak, published in 1916 in Vilna.
Performed and recorded by Inna Barmash and Lev 'Ljova' Zhurbin on January 20, 2014.

shterndl shterndl bloyer shtafetele,
zay mir a shliekh un fal in mayn shtetele.

zen vestu a gesele, nokh dem a gribele,
dortn gefint zikh mayn khoreve shtibele.

elnt aleyn bay der finsterer shaybele,
zitst dort fartroyert un dayget mayn vaybele.

treyst ir, du shterndl, laykht ir in shtub arayn,
zog ir der eybershter vet ir merakhem zayn.

freg vos makht yosele, laytse und rivele,
zog zey ikh leyen un kush zeyer brivele.

zog zey, az yankelen zol men nit shaleven,
geyn in kheyder, genug im tsu baleven.

zol er zikh oyslernen kadish vi ez darf tsu zayn,
efsher men veyst nit, nor g´t vet merakhem zayn.

Little star, blue herald,
Be a messenger for me.
And fall into my village.

You'll see a little street, then a little pit,
There you will find
My destroyed little house.

Lonely, alone by the dark window pane,
Sits my sad and worried wife.

Comfort her, little star,
And bring her light.
Tell her the Lord above will have mercy.

Ask her how are Yankele, Laytse and Rivele,
Tell them I read and kiss their little letter.

Tell them not to spoil Yankele
Send him to Cheder
Enough spoiling.

Let him learn to recite the Kaddish
As it should be.
Maybe.......who knows?....
God will be merciful.