Lyr Req/Add: Di Bord

Subject: Lyrics req, 'Di Bord'
From: GUEST,Miriam
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 09:12 AM

I'm looking for the lyrics to the humorous song "Di Bord". I remember the first stanza, but not the rest.

Az Tshipe-Treyne iz in shtub arayngekummen,
hot zi ir eygenem man nisht derkent:
Di gantshitshke bord aruntergenummen!
Hot zi gemacht a yomerlech gevald.

(refrain) Di Bord, di bord, di bord zol mir zayn
          Di bord, di bord, in tatn arayn
          Di Bord, di bord, di bord zol mir zayn,
          Di bord, di bord in tatn arayn!

Tsi iz dos a man, tsi iz dos a bokher... ?

    Anyone know the rest?

Subject: ADD: Di Bord (The Beard)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 02:11 PM

Hi, Miriam-
I found it in Mir Trogn a Gezang, one of three wonderful Yiddish songbooks edited by the Mlotek family and published by Workmen's Circle.

DI BORD

Az Tshipe-Trayne iz in shtub arayngekumen,
Hot zi ir eygenem man nit derkent —
Di gantshitshke bord aruntergenumen;
Hot zi gemakht a yomerlekh gevald.

REFRAIN:
Di bord, di bord, di bord zol mir zayn,
Di bord, di bord, in tatn arayn!

Tsi iz dos a man, tsi iz dos a bokher,
Tsi iz dos a nekeyve, tsi iz dos a zokher,
Tsi zol ikh dos trakhtn, tsi zol ikh dos klern,
Az mayn frumer man zol zikh di bord gor opshern?

Tsi hot dir di bord geton a roe?
Tsi hot zi dir gekost a spetsyele hotsoe?
Tsi hot zi fun dir gor gemont esn?
Oy gevald geshrign, ikh ken dos nit fargesn!

Nekhtn bay nakht iz mir gekumen tsu kholem
Di gantshitshke bord olehasholem;
A hor ahin un a hor aher —
Un lebn der bord iz gelegn a sher.


I'd like a better translation, but here's what they give. They don't translate the chorus very well, and I won't attempt to improve it.

When Tshipe Trayne came home,
she stared and did not recognize her own husband—
he had shorn off his beard.
So she raised a pitiful outcry:

"Is this a man or a youth?
Is it a man or a woman?

What harm did the beard do?
Did it cost anything?
Did it need food?

Last night I had a premonition—
the Beard, may it rest in peace, came to me in a dream
and there, alongside the Beard, lay the shears.
"The Beard, the Beard—give me back the Beard!"

Notes:
Folklorized version of a song by Mikhl Gordon (1823-1890), author of such popular songs that are considered folk songs like Di Mashke, Di Shtifmuter, As Ikh Volt Gehat Dem Keysers Oytsres, Fun Der Khupe Tsu Der Sude, and others. Di Bord was originally published, like others, anonymously "fun a groysn khosid" in 1868 out of fear of the Hassidim. The author included it with revisions in his second collection in 1889, under his real name. This song, written during the Haskalah period in Russia, pokes fun, through the personification of the beard, at the tragic reaction to changes in traditional practices and appearance. This folklorized version was collected and published by Chane Mlotek in 1951.

MIDI tune available on request...

Subject: RE: Lyr req/ADD: 'Di Bord'
From: GUEST,Miriam
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 06:05 PM

A hartziken dank, Joe!!! Brings back such fond memories!! - and I know the tune, no need for a MIDI, but thanks. My rabbi, who is also a Chazan, but with limited Yiddish, will be delighted to hear me sing it in entirety.

I knew Chana Mlotek personally, she was my music teacher in an Arbeter Ring folkshul when I was growing up in the Bronx in the 60's. My older brother went to school with her son (I think? - maybe her nephew?), Zalman Mlotek, who I believe is still very involved in Yiddish folksong.

Thanks again.