When I was a gypsy

When I was a gypsy, I walked,
with my mother and father and my brothers,
over meadows, lands, and rivers,
over roads, streets, and forests,
oh, how we walked,
our boots shiny and our horses wild!

When I was a gypsy, I danced,
with my mother and father and my sisters,
in taverns, inns and pubs,
in rooms, cottages and tents,
oh, how we danced,
our feet shiny and our violins wild!

When I was a gypsy, I cried,
with my mother and father and my family,
behind the graves, churches, and minarets,
behind the prisons, camps, and barracks,
oh, how we cried,
our tears shiny and our faces wild!

When I was a gypsy, I even met some happy
gypsies,
in sledges of fire on snowy mountains,
embers glowing like hearts.