Heysn heys ikh Yosl Ber
An ikh din in militer
Shtivl trog ikh, а mundir
L'hovdl vi an ofitsir
Geven bin ikh a shuster yung
Gelekt podeshves mitn tsung
Haynt hob ikh a biks, a shverd
Shusteray hob ikh in dr'erd
Yosl ber dint in militer
Yosl Ber
Din in militer
Yosl Yosl Yosl Ber
Din in militer
Yes my name is Yosl Ber / & I serve the militar'
Steel-toed boots & a uniform / keep this soldier's carcass warm
I used to work in a factory / 'til the army drafted me
Now I work for army brass / factory can kiss my a
Yosl Ber
Serves the militar'
Yosl Yosl Yosl Ber
Serves the militar'
Vashe visokorodye, kh'bin take a tray er
Zelner un take derfar bin ikh antlofn!
Ikh hob azoy faynt dem soyne, az ikh vel
Im afile in di oygn nit onkukn
[Accused of having broken his oath to the Czar by running away
From the front, the arrested Jewish soldier replys to his officer:
"But sir, 1 am indeed a faithful soldier!
That's why I ran away from the front!
I hate the enemy so much, I don't even want to look him in the eye!"]
Gey ikh mir in gas aroys
Un ikh zukh a meydl oys
Gib mir bronfn, vayn un fish
Un vos vayter, zog ikh nisht
Every night I hit the town / all you ladies gather 'round
Gimme brandy, gimme wine / gimme something else that's fine
Yosl Ber
Din in militer
Yosl Yosl Yosl Ber
Din in militer