I Have a Little Dreidel

The lyrics for the English version were written by Samuel S. Grossman[1] and the composer of the English version is listed as Samuel E. Goldfarb (also S. E.

[2][3][4] The Yiddish version was both written and composed by Mikhl Gelbart,[1] albeit under the name of Ben Arn, a pseudonym referring to himself as the son of Aaron.

[5]) There is a question about who composed this music since the melody for both the Yiddish and the English versions are precisely the same.

The writers of the song in English only translated the original Yiddish version which was considered a folk song with the lyrics written by Mikhl Gelbart.

The meaning of the lyrics to the Yiddish and English versions is largely the same.

However, in the original Yiddish version, the singer is referring to themself as the dreidel -- a four-sided spinning top -- made out of "blai" (Yiddish: בלײַ), which translates to lead.

In the English version, the lyrics refer to the singer having a dreidel made out of clay.

Kumt lomir ale shpiln, in dreydl – eyns, tsvey, dray.

און איך האָב ליב צו טאַנצן, זיך דרייען אין אַ ראָד.

Un ikh hob lib tsu tantsn, zikh dreyen in a rod.

To lomir ale shpiln, in dreydl, eyns un tsvey.