Mit Farmakhte Oygn (With Closed Eyes) - Klezmer Klub

Mit Farmakhte Oygn (With Closed Eyes) Lyrics

"Mit farmachte oygn"
This is a powerful poem by Itsik Manger.
"The golden peacock" is a mythical bird which brings good fortune. Frequently appears in medieval folklore. If you ever happen to see one flying across the sky, you are truly blessed.
The poet refers to the "golden peacock" using the feminine singular personal pronoun zi (German sie), meaning she. So it might perhaps be more accurate to translate "di goldene paave" as "the golden peahen".
Mit farmachte oygn [ With your eyes closed ]
herstu nenter dem yam [ you can hear the waves of the sea approaching ]
Mit fiberndike finger [ With feverish fingers ]
filstu gringer dem gram [ you can feel the rhythm more easily ]
Di goldene paave [ The golden peahen ]

derkenstu in fli [ you'll recognise her in her flight ]
Un a benkshaft vert shener [ And your longing for her is even more beautiful]
ven zi iz fun nisht-hi [ when she's far, far away ]
Di midkeyt vert mider [ Your weariness becomes more weary ]
bay der shvel fun a hoys [ at the doorstep of your house ]
Ven du knist filstu sharfer [ When you kneel, that's when you feel more sharply ]
az Gott iz groys*. [ that God is awesome* ]
[* Gott is groys, literally, God is great ]
Gott kivyochl iz groys [ God the Invisible is truly awesome ]
haynt punkt vi a mol, [ today just as He always was before ]
Nisht vayl er dunert in himl [ Not because He thunders in the heavens ]
nor vayl er chlipet im tol. [ but because He sobs in the valley ]
Az voyl iz tsu dem [ Happy is the one ]
vos hot dos chlipen derhert [ who has heard this divine weeping ]
Dir iz aza herung [ For you to have such a gift of hearing]
gevezn bashert. [ has been predestined]
Un a trer iz gefaln [ And a divine teardrop has fallen ]
in dayn gemit. [ upon your spirit ]
Un mit vund un mit vunder [ And with your soul wounded, and with wonder ]
zich tseblit in dayn lid. [ it has blossomed into your song ]
Lyrics Submitted by George Tzamouranis