When the Rabbi Elimelech
Felt a happy mood upon him,
Felt a happy mood upon him, Elimelech,
He took off his phylacteries
And put on his glasses
And sent for the two fiddlers.

And the fiddling fiddlers fiddled in a fiddling way,
In a fiddling way the fiddling fiddlers fiddled. (2x)

When the Rabbi Elimelech
Felt happier still,
Felt happier still, the Rabbi Elimelech
He took off his mantle,
And put on his cap,
And sent for the two cimbalom players.
And the cimbalom players...

And when the Rabbi Elimelech
Felt very happy indeed,
Felt very happy indeed, did Elimelech,

He said Havdole,
Called for the beadle, Naftole,
And called for the two drummers.
And the drummers...