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Jonathan and His Tree
A Song for Jonathan and His Tree
Jeanene Pratt (1942), mostly European, 1/8 Cherokee; born in Kentucky; she sung “A Song for Jonathan and His Tree” which she wrote for her nephew Jonathan Michael Pinkston. She also sung “Raisins and Almonds” (Rozhinkes mit Mandlen)
This is the song, a birthday song
For Jonathan Michael Pinkston,
A boy who may someday dance in the tree-quarter time
Like the sound of his name.
This is a wish to grow upon,
A hope that tomorrow brings the
New little boy an ample measure of joy
In this ongoing game.
Jonathan Michael will teach and learn
Touching the world as he grows,
Jonathan Michael will reach and yearn
To know what that apple tree knows.
Maybe in time the boy will climb
As their limbs will bear it,
To see all the worlds that he can see
Kisses and clouds and growing time
Will give him the strengh to dare it.
But for today we’ll hold and rock him
To sleep with his own melody.
Jonathan Michael will teach and learn
Touching the world as he grows,
Jonathan Michael will reach and yearn
To know what that apple tree knows.
Delia and Michael will teach and learn
Tending then new little sprout
Often at midnight will crash and burn
That kid has been wearing them out.
So let it be. The boy and tree
Tomorrow the world will inherit.
But for today we’ll hold and rock him
To sleep with the Earth’s melody.
“Raisins and Almonds” was written by Abraham Goldfaden (1840-1908)
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In dem beys hamikdash, in a vinkl kheyder,
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In the temple, in a dark room,
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Zits di almone Bas Tsiyoyn aleyn,
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sits the widow, Bat Zion, alone,
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Ir ben-yokhidl, Yidelen, vigt zi keseder,
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As usual, she rocks Yidele, her only son,
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Un zingt im tsum shlofn a lidele sheyn:
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And sings him to sleep with a nice little melody:
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Ay-li-lu-li-lu.
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Ay-li-lu-li-lu.
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Unter Yideles vigele,
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Beneath Yidele's cradle
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Shteyt a klor-vays tsigele,
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stands a pure-white kid,
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Dos tsigele iz geforn handlen -
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The kid has gone trading -
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Dos vet zayn dayn baruf -
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That will be your calling -
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Rozhinkes mit mandlen,
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Raisins and almonds,
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Shlof-zhe, Yidele, shlof.
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Sleep, Yidele, sleep.
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In dem lidl, mayn kind, ligt fil nevies,
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In the melody, my child, are lots of prophesies
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Az du vest amol zayn tsezeyt oyf der velt,
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Of the time you will go out into the world,
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A soykher vestu zayn fun ale tevues,
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You will be a merchant of all types of produce
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Un vest in dem oykh fardinen fil gelt -
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From which you will earn a lot a lot of money.
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Ay-li-lu-li-lu.
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Ay-li-lu-li-lu.
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REFREN:
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REFRAIN:
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Un az du vest vern raykh, Yidele,
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And when you are rich, Yidele,
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Zolstu zikh dermonen in dem lidele,
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May you remember this melody,
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Rozhinkes mit mandlen,
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Raisins and almonds,
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Dos vet zayn dayn baruf,
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This will be your calling,
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Yidele vet alts handlen,
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Yidele will trade with everything.
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Shlof-zhe, Yidele, shlof.
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Sleep, Yidele, sleep.
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Es vet kumen a tsayt fun vertpapirn,
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A time will come of stocks and bonds,
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Kantorn veln zayn in der gantser velt,
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There will be offices in the whole world
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Der grester vestu zayn fun ale bankirn
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You'll be the greatest banker of them all,
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Un vest in dem oykh fardinen fil gelt.
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And you will earn a lot of money.
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Ay-li-lu-li-lu.
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Ay-li-lu-li-lu.
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REFREN: Un az ...
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REFRAIN: And when you are rich, ...
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Es vet kumen a tsayt fun ayznbanen,
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A time will come of railroads,
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Zey veln farfleytsn di gantse velt,
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They'll cover the whole world,
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Ayzerne vegn vestu oysshpanen
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You will unhitch their iron wagons
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Un vest in dem oykh fardinen fil gelt,
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And you will earn a lot of money.
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Ay-li-lu-li-lu.
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Ay-li-lu-li-lu.
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REFREN: Un az ...
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REFRAIN: And when you are rich, ..
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