Ver es hot in blat gelezn,
Vegn a barimter shtot Ades,
Akh vos far an umglik s'hot getrofn
In eyne tsvey-dray mesles.
Plutsling hot men oysgeshrien:
Ay shlog dem Yidn vi vayt ir kont!
Oy, shteyner in di fenster hobn genumen flien,
A pogrom hot zikh oysgerisn in eyn moment.
Merder zaynen in di gasn gefloygen,
Mit di hek, mit di mesers in di hent gegreyt,
Ay, vu nor a Yidn getrofn,
Oy, glaykh im ouf an ort geteyt.
Dortn ligt a kale a sheyne,
Zi ligt ongeton in khupe kleyd,
Lebn ir shteyt a merder eyner,
Un halt dem sharfn khalef ongegreyt.
Dortn ligt a froye a sheyne,
Zi ligt farvorfn in di mist.
Lebn ir ligt a kind a kleyne,
Un zeygt ir kalte toyte brist.
Oh, have you read in the newspapers
About the famous city Odessa?
Oh, what a calamity befell it
In only two-three days.
Suddenly, someone yelled:
Hey, beat the Jews with all your might!
Oh, stones began flying through windows,
And a pogrom was raging in a moment.
Murderes flew through the streets,
With axes and knives ready in their hands.
And wherever they found a Jew
They killed him on the spot.
There lies a beautiful bride,
She lies there in her wedding gown,
Oh near her stands a murderer
And holds his dagger poised to strike.
There lies a handsome woman,
She lies crumpled in the dirt.
Near her lies a little baby
Sucking her cold, dead breast.
