Sleep, Sleep, Sleep

Late 19th–Early 20th Century

Shlof, shlof, shlof,
Der tateh vet kumen in dorf,
Vet er brengn an epeleh,
Vet zayn gezunt dos kepele.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
Daddy is traveling to the village,
He will bring back a little apple,
So your little head will be healthy.
Shlof, shlof, shlof,
Der tateh vet kumen in dorf,
Vet er brengn a nisele,
Vet zayn gezunt dos fisele.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
Daddy is traveling to the village,
He will bring back a little nut,
So your little foot will be healthy.
Shlof, shlof, shlof,
Der tateh vet kumen in dorf,
Vet er brengn an enteleh,
Vet zayn gezunt dos henteleh.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
Daddy is traveling to the village,
He will bring back a little duck,
So your little hand will be healthy.
Shlof, shlof, shlof,
Der tateh vet kumen in dorf,
Vet er brengn a hezeleh,
Vet zayn gezunt dos nezeleh.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
Daddy is traveling to the village,
He will bring back a little hare,
So your little nose will be healthy.
Shlof, shlof, shlof,
Der tateh vet kumen in dorf,
Vet er brengn a feygele,
Vet zayn gezunt dos eygele.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
Daddy is traveling to the village,
He will bring back a little bird,
So your little eyes will be healthy.

Translated by
Kathryn
Hellerstein
.

Credits

Joel Engel, “Shlof shlof shlof,” 50 yidishe kinderlider far kinderheymen, shuln, un familiye (Moscow: Yoel Engel, 1916), p. 14.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 7.

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