I Have a Little Dreidel

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Main article: Hanukkah music

"I Have a Little Dreidel"^[1] (also known as "The Dreidel Song"^[1]) 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).

History

The author and lyrics writer for both versions are Samuel S. Grossman^[1] and the composers are Mikhl Gelbart^[1] (Yiddish: מיכל געלבאַרט^[1]) (pseudonym Ben Arn^[2]) and Samuel Goldfarb (also S. E. Goldfarb)^[1]. 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" (Yiddish: בלייַ), which is lead, and in the English version making it out of clay.

Versions

English version	Yiddish version	Yiddish transliteration
I have a little dreidel. 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.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} University of Pennsylvania Library: Freedman Collection of Recorded Jewish Music
2. ^ Lori Cahan-Simon Ensemble / Vessel of Song: The Music of Mikhl Gelbart

See also

• Hanukkah
• Hanukkah music
• Passover music
• Christmas music
• Ma'oz Tsur
• "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics", a South Park episode which featured the song