My Little Town

There were six hundred people in my little town
When they came on that cold winter day
I remember the crying, the running, the smoke
And the boxcars that took us away
We held on to each other and spoke words of hope, hiding the terror inside
There were six hundred people in my little town, but I, only I, would survive

I can still smell the fresh morning bread that I'd buy for Mama each day
Henyak, the baker, would first pinch my cheek, then hand me a keichel and say
Mach a Brocha mein kindt, we owe it to Him. He made our world so very sweet
And wherever life leads you, never forget siz gut - tzu zayn a Yid

Mutek and I were two of a kind, like brothers the very best of friends
Playing all day in the streets of the Shtetl, growing from boys into men
We would carry water to all of the shops, for only five groschen a pail
But first, we'd learn Torah in our little shul, an hour or two without fail

I'll never forget when the shidduch was redt. Papa came home with the news
Mutek to my sister, Roizah, in no time, the match was approved
Blessed by the Heilige Rebbe himself, a date for the wedding was set
And whoever I met for the next week or two said to me, soon you'll be next

The tables were set, Henyak baked the sweets, Shneiderman finished the gown
Laughter and joy could be felt in the air, with music heard all through the town
What a radiant bride, my dear Roizah was, the groom looking handsome and strong
And after his shoe came down on the glass, the townsfolk burst out in song

עוד ישמע בערי יהודה ובחוצות ירושלים קול ששון וקול שמחה קול חתן וקול כלה
עוד ישמע בערי יהודה ובחוצות ירושלים קול ששון וקול שמחה קול חתן וקול כלה

And there face to face, in joyous embrace, in the center of the crowd
Mutek and I danced into the night, round and round
Round and round, round and round, round and round

There were six hundred people in my little town - but I, only I, would survive