Translation of the song Di Elter artist Chava Alberstein

S'iz di elter nit geshmak, zogn ale zkeynim.

Old age is not a picnic, so old people say.

Af di dermbes kumt di hak, in a tog a sheynem...

One fine day the axe comes and cuts the oaks away...

Ven di dembes vern alt, faln zey in mitn vald.

But when the oaks grow old, they drop dead in the forest.

Vert der shtoltser odler alt, iz zayn shvung a lign.

When the haughty eagle ages,

Un der alter leyb in vald zitst un khapt zikh flign.

his swoop becomes a lie.

Shtarke leybn vernt alt, faln zey in mitn vald.

The old lion in the forest just sits and catches flies.

Af der elter iz nit gut!, zogt men af der elter.

It isn't good to get so old,so say all who've done so.

Kelter vert dos heyse blut, foyglen vern elter.

The hot blood starts to run quite cold,

Flinke foyglen vern alt, faln zey in mitn vald.

birds become more lonesome.

Af der elter vert men alt, kiler vert der flaker.

When old age comes, old's what you get

Nor der vayn, ven ven er iz alt, iz er nokh geshmaker.

and your flame burns cooler.

Nor der alter vayn iz gut, zol er varemen dos blut!

Unless you're wine: when it gets old

Vet mayn harts nit vern groy, vet mayn vort nit kiln.

My heart will not grow grey, my word not grow cooler.

Vet in veg der kalter toy, mayn gezang nit shtiln.

The chilly dew upon my path

Oyb kh'vel muzn alt shoyn zayn, vil ikh alt zayn vi der vayn!

won't make my song grow stiller.

Biz di elter hot ir shtoyb af mayn kop farlorn,

Until such time as old age wastes

tut dem altn vayn a hoyb far di yunge yorn,

its dust upon my head,

farn eybik-grinem vald, farn mentsh, vos vert nit alt!

lift a glass of ancient wine to years of youth instead;