A Bisele Mazl, a little luck, is one of the most touching songs in the Yiddish songbook: a quiet plea for just a handful of happiness, small enough to hold in one cupped hand, enough to make the whole load lighter.
RIGLI's Russian version, Gorstochka schastya, keeps that ache. The shutters are thrown wide open but no sun comes to the window; happiness runs away in a thin trickle between the fingers; a homeless heart wanders the wide world; and the singer sets out on the road to find that small handful. It closes on the Yiddish itself: mazl, a bisele glik.
A song this tender should be understood, not only heard. Bringing A Bisele Mazl into Russian and English lets anyone feel the plea in their own language, which is exactly what Jewish Songs for All is for.
Russian (Olga Anikina)English, line by line
Вот мне бы хоть чуточку счастьяIf only I had even a little happiness
Хоть горсточку счастья бы мнеEven a handful of happiness for me
И ставни распахнуты настежьThe shutters are thrown wide open
А солнца не видно в окнеBut no sun is seen in the window
Но всё что прошу я у небаBut all that I ask of heaven
Уместится даже в горстиWould fit even in a cupped hand
Мне бы малую горсточку счастьяIf only I had a small handful of happiness
Горсточку чтоб было легче нестиA handful, so the load would be lighter to carry
А в чем я был счастлив когда тоAnd what I was once happy in
То нынче лишь дым да золаIs now only smoke and ashes
Не нужно мне славы и златаI need no glory and no gold
Мне б только немножко теплаI only want a little warmth
Но счастие тоненькой струйкойBut happiness, in a thin trickle
Стекает меж пальцев моихRuns away between my fingers
Ах верните мне горсточку счастьяOh give me back a handful of happiness
Горсточку счастья хоть на мигA handful of happiness, if only for a moment
Мазл а биселе гликMazl, a bisele glik (luck, a little happiness)
Приходят за бедами бедыTroubles come after troubles
И хрипло кричит вороньёAnd the crows croak hoarsely
И бродит по белому светуAnd across the wide world there wanders
Бездомное сердце моёMy homeless heart
И я собираюсь в дорогуAnd I am setting out on the road
И мне очень нужно найтиAnd I very much need to find
Эту малую горсточку счастьяThat small handful of happiness
Горсточку чтоб было легче нестиA handful, so the load would be lighter to carry
Russian lyrics by Olga Anikina. The English is a literal, line by line rendering for meaning, prepared for review, not a singing version.
JewishSong.org