Az vey dem tatn un vey der mamen, Vos zey hobn a zun a /запасной/. Men tut im on di soldatske kleyder, Un men shikt im, oy vey, glaykh in /бой/.
Oy, vi mir zenen tsum /поезд/ gekumen, Oyf def /площадке?/ zenen mir geblibn shteyn. Vi der /поезд/ hot oysgesviftshet, Oy, oysgebrokhn hot a groys geveynl.
Nor veyn nit mame un veyn nit muter, Az got vet helfn, vel ikh kumen geshvind. Du zolst mir mayn shtub ophitn, Du zolst mir ophitn mayn vayb un kind.
Nor veyn nit mame un veyn nit muter, Konst nokh meynen as ikh lig aleyn. Ale tog brengt men naye briderlekh - Es vert a yomer mit a geveyn!
[Translation]
Woe unto the father and woe unto the mother, When they have a son of draft age, They put him into a military uniform, And send him straight into battle.
When we arrived at the train, We stood there on the platform. And when the whistle blew, Ah me, we all broke out into a great cry.
But weep not, mother, oh weep not mother, With God’s help, I’ll come home soon. Take good care of my home, Take good care of my wife and child.
But weep not, mother, oh weep not mother, You may think I lie here alone. Every day brings us new little brothers - The air is filled with cries of pain!