I Have a Little Dreidel
Encyclopedia
"I Have a Little Dreidel" (also known as "The Dreidel Song") is a Chanukah song
in the English speaking world, and also has an Yiddish version. This children's tune is about making a dreidel
and playing with it. The Yiddish version is "Ikh Bin A Kleyner Dreydl", (Yiddish: איך בין אַ קלײנער דרײדל Lit:
I am a little dreidel).
Ben Arn) and Samuel Goldfarb (also S. E. Goldfarb). The English version of the song is well associated with the festival of Chanukah, and is known by many Jews and non-Jews alike. The versions are roughly the same, with the Yiddish one making the dreidel out of "blay" , which is lead
, and in the English version making it out of clay
.
Hanukkah music
Hanukkah music contains several songs associated with the festival of Chanukah.- Chanukah blessings:There are three Chanukah blessings that are sung for lighting the candles of the menorah. The third blessing is only sung on the first night...
in the English speaking world, and also has an Yiddish version. This children's tune is about making a dreidel
Dreidel
A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top, played with during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.Each side of the dreidel bears a letter of the Hebrew alphabet:נ ,ג ,ה ,ש ,...
and playing with it. The Yiddish version is "Ikh Bin A Kleyner Dreydl", (Yiddish: איך בין אַ קלײנער דרײדל Lit:
Literal translation
Literal translation, or direct translation, is the rendering of text from one language to another "word-for-word" rather than conveying the sense of the original...
I am a little dreidel).
History
The author and lyrics writer for both versions are Samuel S. Grossman and the composers are Mikhl Gelbart (Yiddish: מיכל געלבאַרט) (pseudonymPseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Ben Arn) and Samuel Goldfarb (also S. E. Goldfarb). The English version of the song is well associated with the festival of Chanukah, and is known by many Jews and non-Jews alike. The versions are roughly the same, with the Yiddish one making the dreidel out of "blay" , which is lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
, and in the English version making it out of clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
.
Versions
| English version | Yiddish version | Yiddish transliteration Transliteration Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another... |
|---|---|---|
| I have a little dreidel Dreidel A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top, played with during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.Each side of the dreidel bears a letter of the Hebrew alphabet:נ ,ג ,ה ,ש ,... . I made it out of clay. When it's dry and ready, then dreidel I shall play. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, then dreidel I shall play. |
.איך בין אַ קליינער דריידל ,געמאַכט בין איך פון בלייַ .קומט לאָמיר אַלע שפּילן ,אין דרײדל – אײנס, צווײ, דרייַ .אוי ,דרײדל ,דרײדל, דרײדל ,אוי, דרײ זיך, דרײדל, דרײ .טאָ לאָמיר אַלע שפּילן ,אין דרײדל, אײנס און צוויי |
Ikh bin a kleyner dreydl, gemakht bin ikh fun blay Kumt (or to) lomir aleh shpiln, in dreydl eyns tsvey dray. Oy, dreydl, dreydl, dreydl, Oy, drey zikh, dreydl, drey To lomir aleh shpiln, in dreydl eyns un tsvey. |
| It has a lovely body, with legs so short and thin. When it gets all tired, it drops and then I win! Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, with leg so short and thin. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, it drops and then I win! |
און איך האָב ליב צו טאַנצן, זיך דרייען אין אַ ראָד .טאָ לאָמיר אַלע טאַנצן א דריידל-קאַראַהאָד .אוי ,דרײדל ,דרײדל, דרײדל ,אוי, דרײ זיך, דרײדל, דרײ .טאָ לאָמיר אַלע שפּילן ,אין דרײדל, אײנס און צוויי |
Un ikh hob lib tsu tantsn, zikh dreyen in a rod To lomir ale tantsn, a dreydl-karahod. Oy, dreydl, dreydl, dreydl, oy, drey zikh, dreydl, drey To lomir ale shpiln, in dreydl eyns un tsvey. |
| My dreidel's always playful. It loves to dance and spin. A happy game of dreidel, come play now let's begin. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, it loves to dance and spin. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel. Come play now let's begin. |
||
| I have a little dreidel. I made it out of clay. When it's dry and ready, dreidel I shall play. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made you out of clay. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, then dreidel I shall play. |
||
See also
- HanukkahHanukkahHanukkah , also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE...
- Hanukkah musicHanukkah musicHanukkah music contains several songs associated with the festival of Chanukah.- Chanukah blessings:There are three Chanukah blessings that are sung for lighting the candles of the menorah. The third blessing is only sung on the first night...
- Passover music
- Christmas musicChristmas musicChristmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
- Ma'oz Tsur
- "Mr. Hankey's Christmas ClassicsMr. Hankey's Christmas Classics"Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics" is episode 46 of Comedy Central's animated television series South Park. An album of comedic holiday songs, some featured in the episode, and others exclusive to the album, or featured in other episodes, was released the week prior to the episode's original air...
", a South ParkSouth ParkSouth Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
episode which featured the song