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Melody and Lyrics by the Yiddish poet Morris Rosenfeld based on his actual experiences bent over machines in sweatshops and as a union delegate.

Arranged by Linda Hirschhorn

Lead Voice: Linda Hirschhorn

This song is in response to the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire in 1911 when over 130 young immigrant women were killed as they jumped to their deaths. This song has been in my repertoire for over twenty years. With exploited labor in sweatshops still very much an issue today, Rosenfeld's words are still (sadly) relevant.

Nit zukh mikh, vu die mirten grinen,
Gefinst mikh dortn nit, mayn shats.
Vu lebns velkn bay mashinen,
Dortn iz mayn rue plats.

Nit zukh mikh, vu die feygl zingn,
Gefinst mikh dortn nit, mayn shats.
A shklaf bin ikh, vu keytn klingn,
Dortn iz mayn rue plats.

Nit zukh mikh, vu fontanen shpritsn,
Gefinst mikh dortn nit, may shats.
Vu trern rinen, tseyner kritsn,
Dortn iz mayn rue plats.

Un libst du mikh mit varer libe,
To kum tsu mir, mayn guter shats.
Un hayter oyf mayn harts, dos tribe,
Un makh mir zis mayn rue plats.

[Don't look for me where myrtles are green,
You will not find me there, my beloved.
Where lives wither at the machines,
There is my resting place.

Don't look for me where birds sing,
You will not find me there, my beloved.
I am a slave, where chains ring;
There is my resting place.

Don't look for me where fountains spray,
You will not find me there, my beloved.
Where tears flow and teeth gnash,
There is my resting place.

And if you love me with true love,
So come to me, my good beloved,
And lighten up my heavy heart,
And make sweet my resting place.]

© 1997 Linda Hirschhorn, Kehila Publications (BMI) ℗ Oyster Albums, P.O. Box 3929, Berkeley, CA 949703

ISRC: US-CGH-05-75102

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