The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #78662   Message #1417382
Posted By: GUEST,Philippa
22-Feb-05 - 08:37 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Oj, dortn, dortn / Oy, Dortn, Dortn
Subject: RE: Origins: Oj, dortn, dortn
the lyrics and translation given above are from Zemerl. The second link given by Wolfgang is interesting for it gives Yiddish and German side by side [maybe Wolfgang can give us an English translation for Papirossn/Zigaretten song on the same recording/webpage, or maybe I'll look it up at Zemerl?]. According to Oksana Sowiak's notes, the context of "Oj, dortn, dortn" is the large-scale emigration of Jews from Eastern Europe in the late 19th century and "ibern vaserl" (over the water) refers to America.

and Wolfgang's first link is also very useful for it gives musical notation