D'ror Yikra

D'ror yikra l'ven im bat, v'yintzorchem k'mo vavat, n'im shimchem v'lo yushbat, sh'vu v'nuchu b'yom shabbat.

D'rosh navi v'ulami, v'ot yesha aseh imi, n'ta sorek b'toch karmi, she'e shavat b'nei ami.

D'roch purah b'toch batzrah, v'gam bavel asher gavrah, n'totz tzarai b'af v'evrah, sh'ma koli b'yom ekra.

Elohim ten b'midbar har, hadas shitah b'rosh tidhar, v'lamazhir v'lanizhar, sh'lomim ten k'mei nahar.

Hadoch kamai, el kanah, b'mog levav uvamginah, v'narchiv peh unmalenah, l'shonenu l'cha rinah.

D'eh chochmah l'nafshecha, v'hi cheter l'roshecha, n'tzor mitzvat k'doshecha, sh'mor shabbat kodshecha.

He grants release to lad and lass:
As His eye's apple safe, they play.
Their​ innocence​ shall never pass:
Then take your ease this Sabbath day.

O seek in love my martyred shrine
And to mine eyes salvation​ show.
In Zion's vineyard plant her vine
And hear my people's cry of woe.

On Bozrah's sin tread deep Thy press,
That Thy fair world be pure once more.
'Gain​st Babel's full-grow​n wickednes​s
This day Thy safeguard​ I implore.

On desert hill Thy garden rear,
Make bloom the myrtle, fir and pine.
Teach​ers and taught-Th​y saplings dear-
Nurtu​re with streams of peace divine.

Our foemen rage in wrath and pride :
O turn their hearts, contrite,​ to Thee.
Then shall our mouths in song be wide,
Our tongues, with them in unity.

By wisdom crowned, in regal state
Let quest of wisdom be your goal.
As you each Sabbath consecrat​​e
May Sabbath consecrat​​e your soul.

Trans​lation by Herbert Loewe, Mediae​val Hebrew Minstrels​y, Songs for the Bride Queen's Feast​, published​ 1926.

Zemer usually sung on Shabbat afternoon, but often at Seudah Shelishit as well.
It is attributed to Dunash ibn Labrat, a 10th century Babylonian paytan, whose name is spelled acrostically in verses 1,2,3 and 6.

Rebbe Baruch of Mezbuzh, zy"a, taught that his grandfather, the holy Baal Shem Tov, zy"a, said that he "doesn't know where someone gets his strength for the entire week unless he sings 'Dror Yikra' by Shalosh Seudos"


The "Sloop John B" tune sung by Gabe Seed below is based on a Bahmanian folk tune (also called "John B. Sails") that was popularized by the Beach Boys in 1966. The tune is in the public domain. (See this page.)

The owner of the Zemirot Database has licensed the melody by Elli and Ravital Kranzler for streaming and downloads from this page. The original melody is on their album "Ki Ato Imadi."

The surviving son and the two granddaughters of Herbert Loewe have been glad to give their permission to reproduce his English version of this song. See this page for more information on the copyright status of Mediaeval Hebrew Minstrelsy.

Click here to read about Herbert Loewe. The linked page is written by Herbert Loewe's son Michael Loewe.