I Have a Little Dreidel

Jewish and Israeli music
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Contemporary Piyyut Zemirot Nigun Pizmonim Baqashot
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Music for Holidays
Shabbat Hanukkah Blessings Oh Chanukah Dreidel song Al Hanisim Mi Y'malel Ner Li Passover (Haggadah) Ma Nishtana Dayenu Adir Hu Chad Gadya Echad Mi Yodea

Main article: Hanukkah music

"I Have a Little Dreidel" (also known as "The Dreidel Song") is a children's Chanukah song in the English speaking world which also exists in a Yiddish version called "Ikh Bin A Kleyner Dreydl", (Yiddish: איך בין אַ קלײנער דרײדל Lit: I am a little dreidel). The song is about making a dreidel and playing with it.

History

The lyricist for both versions is Samuel S. Grossman and the composers are Mikhl Gelbart (Yiddish: : מיכל געלבאַרט) (pseudonym Ben Arn) and Samuel Goldfarb (also S. E. Goldfarb). The English version of the song is strongly associated with the festival of Chanukah, and is known by many Jews and non-Jews alike. The meaning of the lyrics to the Yiddish and English versions is largely the same. In the Yiddish version, the dreidel is made out out of "blay" (Yiddish: בלייַ), which is lead, and in the English version it is made out of clay.

Versions

English version	Yiddish version	Yiddish transliteration
I have a little dreidel. I made it out of clay. When it's dry and ready, then dreidel I shall play. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, then dreidel I shall play.	.איך בין אַ קליינער דריידל ,געמאַכט בין איך פון בלייַ .קומט לאָמיר אַלע שפּילן ,אין דרײדל – אײנס, צווײ, דרייַ .אוי ,דרײדל ,דרײדל, דרײדל ,אוי, דרײ זיך, דרײדל, דרײ .טאָ לאָמיר אַלע שפּילן ,אין דרײדל, אײנס און צוויי	Ikh bin a kleyner dreydl, gemakht bin ikh fun blay Kumt (or to) lomir aleh shpiln, in dreydl eyns tsvey dray. Oy, dreydl, dreydl, dreydl, Oy, drey zikh, dreydl, drey To lomir aleh shpiln, in dreydl eyns un tsvey.
It has a lovely body, with legs so short and thin. When it gets all tired, it drops and then I win! Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, with leg so short and thin. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, it drops and then I win!	און איך האָב ליב צו טאַנצן, זיך דרייען אין אַ ראָד .טאָ לאָמיר אַלע טאַנצן א דריידל-קאַראַהאָד .אוי ,דרײדל ,דרײדל, דרײדל ,אוי, דרײ זיך, דרײדל, דרײ .טאָ לאָמיר אַלע שפּילן ,אין דרײדל, אײנס און צוויי	Un ikh hob lib tsu tantsn, zikh dreyen in a rod To lomir ale tantsn, a dreydl-karahod. Oy, dreydl, dreydl, dreydl, oy, drey zikh, dreydl, drey To lomir ale shpiln, in dreydl eyns un tsvey.
My dreidel's always playful. It loves to dance and spin. A happy game of dreidel, come play now let's begin. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, it loves to dance and spin. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel. Come play now let's begin.
I have a little dreidel. I made it out of clay. When it's dry and ready, dreidel I shall play. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made you out of clay. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, then dreidel I shall play.

See also

• Hanukkah
• Hanukkah music
• Passover music
• Christmas music
• Ma'oz Tsur
• "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics", a South Park episode which featured the song