'Twas the night before Hanukkah, boichiks and maidels Not a sound could be heard, not even the dreidels The menorah was set in the window alight In the kitchen, my Bubbie was grabbin' a bite Salami, Pastrami, a glaisele tay Lots of Kosher dill pickles and bagels-- Oy vay! Gezint and geshmak the kinderlakh felt While dreaming of Game Boys and Hanukkah gelt My alarm clock was sitting, a kloppin' and tickin' And Bubbie was carving a shtickele chicken When a tummel arose, like a thousand barukhas Santa had fallen and broken his...(glasses)! I put on my slippers, ains, tzvay, drei While Bubbie was eating her herring on rye I grabbed for my bathrobe and buttoned my gotkes As Bubbie was just then devouring the latkes To the window I ran, and to my surprise A little red yarmulka greeted my eyes. When he got to the door and he saw our menorah "Yiddishe kinder," he cried, "Kineahora!" I thought for a minute I was in a strange hoise! As long as I'm here, I'll leave a few toys." He went into the kitchen, and picked up a dish A gupel, a messer, a shtickele fish. With smacks of delight he started his fressen Chopped liver, knaidlakh, and kreplakh gegessen Along with his meal, he had a few schnapps When it came to eating, this boychik was tops He asked for some knishes with pepper and salt But they were so hot that he yelled "Oy Gevalt!" He buttoned his hoysen as he ran from the tish "Your koshereh meal was simply delish!" As he went through the door, he said "See ya later I'll be back on Pesah in time for the seder!" Then more rapid than eagles, his prancers they came As he whistled and shouted and called them by name Now Izzy, Now Morris, Now Louie and Sammy On Irving, on Maxie, on Hymie and Manny! He gave a geshrai, as he drove out of sight "A Gut Yontif to all, and to all a good night!" Back to Lyrics |