LYRIC
MY LITTLE TOWN- Shulem Lemmer- Composed by Chananya Rotenberg- Journeys 5
There were six hundred people in my little town
when they came on that cold winter day.
I remember the crying, the running, the smoke,
and the boxcars that took us away.
We held on to each other and spoke words of hope,
hiding the terror inside.
There were six hundred people in my little town,
but I, only I, would survive.
I can still smell the fresh morning bread
that I’d buy for Mama each day.
Henyak, the baker, would first pinch my cheek,
then hand me a keichel and say:
Mach a Brocha, mein kindt, we owe it to Him.
He made our world so very sweet
And wherever life leads you, never forget
siz gut tzu zayn a Yid.
Mutek and I were two of a kind,
like brothers, the very best of friends
Playing all day in the streets of the Shtetl,
growing from boys into men.
We would carry water to all of the shops,
for only five groschen a pail.
But first, we’d learn Torah in our little shul,
an hour or two without fail.
I’ll never forget when the Shidduch was Redt.
Papa came home with the news.
Mutek to my sister, Roizah,
in no time, the match was approved.
Blessed by the Heilige Rebbe himself,
a date for the wedding was set.
And whoever I met for the next week or two
said to me, soon you’ll be next.
The tables were set, Henyak baked the sweets,
Shneiderman finished the gown.
Laughter and joy could be felt in the air,
with music heard all through the town.
What a radiant bride, my dear Roizah was,
the groom looking handsome and strong.
And after his shoe came down on the glass,
the townsfolk all burst out into song.
עוֹד יִשָּׁמַע בְּעָרֵי יְהוּדָה
,וּבְחוּצוֹת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם
קוֹל שָׂשׂוֹן וְקוֹל שִׂמְחָה
קוֹל חָתָן וְקוֹל כַּלָּה
(x2)
And there, face to face, in joyous embrace,
in the center of the crowd,
Mutek and I danced into the night,
round and round, round and round,
round and round, round and round……
There were six hundred people in my little town –
but I, only I, would survive.