Lyr Req/Add: Yiddish songs

Subject: RE: Tsvelf Yiddish/klezmer music, song, spoken wor
From: Felipa
Date: 15 May 22 - 01:15 PM

UPDATE - the Tsvelf concdert for Ukraine was broadcast on 12 May

Re: post-event listening: at present you can still listen to Tsvelf via Facebook:

part 1 https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=1018818232074534

part 2 https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=1018818232074534

for the schedule, to get links to organisations you are invited to donate to, and for reporting donations; see http://klezmerinstitute.org/tsvelf/

Subject: Yiddish marathon concert for Ukraine 12 May 2022
From: Felipa
Date: 11 May 22 - 03:58 PM

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tsvelf-far-ukraine-a-fundraiser-for-humanitarian-aid-efforts-in-ukraine-tickets-295322727227

Tsvelf: 12-hr Yiddish Music and Spoken Word Concert, Thurs. May 12th, 12pm-12am EST, Thu, May 12, 2022 (5:00 PM 12 May – 5:00 AM May 13, 2022,BST)

You'll find a link to the schedule at http://klezmerinstitute.org/tsvelf/ (and also another link to register for the event)

A concert of Yiddish music and spoken word to raise funds for humanitarian aid efforts in Ukraine.

Tsvelf: 12-hr Yiddish Music and Spoken Word Concert, May 12th, 12pm-12am EST

"Building on the success of Yiddish New York's 2021 Klezathon, Tsvelf is a 12-hr Yiddish Music and Spoken Word Concert held via Zoom featuring artists from around the world. The concert will feature klezmer, Yiddish song, poetry, and more in an effort to raise funds for humanitarian aid in Ukraine. The event is supported by the Klezmer Institute, Yiddish New York, Center for Traditional Music and Dance, and Instituto da Musica Judaica - Brasil.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Yiddish songs
From: GerryM
Date: 03 Dec 21 - 10:59 PM

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, in Yiddish, recorded by the New York Festival of Song. https://youtu.be/4N_oDHJRLsU

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 29 Dec 18 - 08:44 PM

Back on 22 July 2008, allan s. wrote, "Has anyone heard of a yiddish song with the words Yossel Bear????
I remember it back in the 1950's played on station WELI in the New Haven , CT area   by a man who went by the name Berril Howard. his actual name was Bernard Horowitz
the choris went [Yossel Yossel Bear, gayt in die Militair]
"Yossel bear goes in the Military"
I suspect the reference could have refered to WW-2"

Look for Dan Kahn (or Daniel Kahn) and Yosl Ber (or Yossel Ber) and you will find links to Youtube videos, lyrics, and a CD by Kahn and the Painted Bird.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 29 Dec 18 - 08:39 PM

Back on 10 April 2010, Leah Krikun wrote, "I am looking for lyrics in Yiddish of songs about the holocaust, and would sincerely appreciate your forwarding available material for
presentation (reading) at a program in Haifa commemorating the 'sho'ah', to be held on Saturday the 17th of April."

So, I'm a little bit late, but there is a CD, Partisnas of Vilna,
that should do the job. There's also a related DVD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Dec 18 - 08:34 PM

The link given on 24 May 13 to a Susan McKeown recording of Oy Mayn Baykhele doesn't work for me. Here's a link to the recording she made with Lorin Sklamberg on the Saints and Tzadiks CD, given there as My Little Belly

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 29 Dec 18 - 08:19 PM

About a year ago, Joe Offer wrote, "I swear that the Barry Sisters sing "Ikh hob dir tsufil lib," which doesn't sound grammatically correct to me." Joe, I've listened to one of the Barry Sisters' recordings on Youtube, and it does sound like they are singing "dir" – but it also sounds like they are singing "Ir" instead of "Ikh". Maybe they just had trouble with the "kh" sound, or maybe their dialect of Yiddish didn't have it.

Subject: Yiddish songs - Ruth Rubin archive on line
From: Felipa
Date: 29 Dec 18 - 03:31 PM

from a Jewish genealogy newsletter:
YIVO Institute for Jewish Research has launched a website which features 1,500 Yiddish lider (songs)of the late Ruth Rubin's recordings of both amateur and established singers performing Yiddish fold songs. The songs go back centuries and represent all facets of Jewish life in Europe, ranging from lullabies to love songs and cover religious and political topics. The recordings were made by Rubin between 1946 and the 1970's.To access the archive go to: https://tinyurl.com/yaq6hjb8

Original url:
https://exhibitions.yivo.org/exhibits/show/ruth-rubin-sound-archive/home?mod=article_inline
To read more about Ruth Rubin see: https://tinyurl.com/yaq6hjb8

Original url:
https://exhibitions.yivo.org/exhibits/show/ruth-rubin-sound-archive/who-was-ruth-rubin

An article about the exhibit appeared in the Wall Street Journal which is a subscription newspaper:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/institute-gives-yiddish-songs-a-fresh-star-turn-11545355840

Jan Meisels Allen
Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Yiddish songs
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Aug 18 - 06:06 PM

https://www.nypl.org/blog/2015/07/06/yiddish-music-guide

Subject: Test, just a test
From: GUEST,Mixkino
Date: 13 Aug 18 - 05:20 PM

Smulewitz reputedly sold his rights to the song for twenty-five dollars—before it achieved its immense popularity and long before its use on the stage or in a film. When the film was released with his song in the title, without so much as mention of him as composer, his anger was understandably heightened, and he vented his moral protest in the press—to no avail. Unfortunately, he had no legal recourse. To add posthumous mendacious insult, a Hebrew song,

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Yiddish songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Oct 17 - 10:31 PM

Boy, I wish I could help with your request for "Ikh hob dikh tsufil lib." I have a lot of Yiddish songbooks, but most of the songs come from before or during World War II - and none have both piano and vocal notation. This song is from 1934, but I still don't have it.
I swear that the Barry Sisters sing "Ikh hob dir tsufil lib," which doesn't sound grammatically correct to me. Were the Barry Sisters Yiddish speakers, or did they just sing what was on the sheet music?

I wonder if there is a good source of sheet music for Yiddish pop songs - anybody know of one? I'll keep looking, but my preliminary search didn't find the song.

-Joe-

---

I found this listing (click) for the song at a Website at the Freedman Catalogue at the University of Pennsylvania:

Title: Ikh Hob Dikh Tsu Fil Lib -- איך האָב דיך צו פֿיל ליב
Also known as: I Love You Much Too Much
Author: Tauber, Chaim Shmuel (Shami) טױבער, חיים שמואל (שמאי)
Composer: Olshanetsky, Alexander -- אָלשאַנעצקי, אַלעקסאַנדער
Genre: Theater/Lament
Subject: Anger/Love/Rejection/Fool/Revenge
Origin: Alb T-005(c)/Metro Scher 29
Transliteration: Alb K-007(b)/Alb K-029(f)/Alb K-022(b)/Alb J-024(a)1/CD B-075(a)/CD F-042(a)/
Translation: Alb K-022(b)/Alb T-015(c)/Alb K-029(f)/Alb J-025(a)1/CD B-075(a)/CD F-042(a)
Music: SM Scher 2
Additional song notes: I Love You Much To Much Transliteration and translation in Ephemera 1552 From the play "Di Katerinshtshik" (The Organ Grinder), 1934/ See Heskes 2533

Related information in folder 122:
• Document type: Email
  Author: Olshanetsky, Alexander
  Publisher: Friedman, RA
  Comments: Transliterated songtext from original sheet music. Also, Yiddish text from Yiddish Forward , June 27,2003.
  
On album: B-087(a) (Henry Berman: 1945-1948 -- חיים בערמאַן: 1948-1945)
Track ID: 30769
Vocal Berman, Henry -- בערמאַן, חיים
First line: Ikh hob dikh tsu fil lib
First line (Yiddish):איך האָב דיך צו פֿיל ליב
Audio: Freedman Sound Archives at Penn Libraries (temporarily unavailable)
Language: Yiddish
Style: Theatre


---

Contact: [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Oct 17 - 07:53 PM

I need the sheet music for piano and voice of
"Ich hob dich zufiel lieb"

Thank you

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Yiddish songs
From: Jack Campin
Date: 15 Jul 17 - 07:00 AM

And the guy who wrote that also wrote "Happy Days Are Here Again" and "Ain't She Sweet"...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Yellen

(Seems to me "Happy Days" ought to work in Yiddish, if somebody wants to try translating it).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Yiddish songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Jul 17 - 05:14 AM

Hi, Fred -
It's "Min Mames Shabes Licht" (I'd spell it "Mayn Mames Shabes Likht"). Here's a recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crI_fvYa1xI.

Here's a transcription of the lyrics.

-Joe-

Mayn mames shabes likht

[My mother's Shabbat candles]

by Jack Yellen

[See lecture: Shabbat]

S'iz fraytik nakht, ikh zits un trakht	It's Friday night, I sit and think,
Vos hot di tsayt fun undz gemakht,	what the time has done to us,
Vi mir zaynen vayt farvandert funem veg,	How far we have strayed from our way,
Un vi gut iz zaynen geven di alte teg.	And how good the old days were.
Kh'vel keynmol nit fargesn	I'll never forget
mayn mames shabes likht,	my mother's Shabbat candles,
Di kinder zaynen gezesn	The children used to sit
baym tish, azoy sheyn gedikht.	at the table, decked out beautifully.
Der tate makht dem kidush,	Father would say Kiddush
Vi zis is, vos ikh her,	How sweet is what I hear,
S'iz take nit keyn khidush,	It's not new
Az s'flist fun oyg a trer.	that a tear would flow from our eyes.
Vu men hot dem yid fartribn,	Wherever the Jew has been driven,
Fun im ash gemakht,	turned into ash,
Far undz zaynen di likht farblibn	For us the lights have remained
vi shtern in di nakht.	like stars in the night.
Bney Yisroel zaynen mir,	We are the Children of Israel,
Un vu der yid farkrikht,	And wherever the Jew goes,
Dort vet eybik shaynen	There, for ever, will shine
di mames shabes likht.	Mother's Shabbat candles.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,Fred. Weisinger
Date: 15 Jul 17 - 03:53 AM

Would anyone know about this song:
Zi kenn ich nichst vergergessen
des Mames Schabbes Licht
mir all sene gesesn beit Tish oi asoi gedicht

Der Tate sugt dem Kiddish....

Subject: ADD: Oy, Mayn Baykhele (Kepele)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 May 13 - 09:15 PM

OY MAYN BAYKHELE

Oy,mayn baykhele, (2) Oy, mayn baykhele tut mir vey! In mayn baykhele kayklt zikh a yaykhele. Oy, mayn baykhele tut mir vey! Oy, mayn kepele, (2), Oy, mayn kepele tut mir vey! In mayn kepele katshet zikh an epele, Oy, mayn kepele tut mir vey! Oy, mayn fisele, (2), Oy, mayn fisele tut mir vey! In mayn fisele dreyt zikh dort a nisele, Oy, mayn fisele tut mir vey! Oy, mayn hentele, (2) Oy, mayn hentele tut mir vey! In mayn hentele kvaket dort an entele, Oy, mayn hentele tnt mir vey! Oy, mayn nezele, (2), Oy, mayn nezele tut mir vey! In mayn nezele shpringt arum a hezele, Oy, mayn nezele tut mir vey! Oy, mayn eygele, (2), Oy, mayn eygele tut mir vey! In mayn eygele flatert dort a feygele, Oy, mayn eygele tut mir vey! Oy, mayn bekele, (2) Oy, mayn bekele tut mir vey! In mayn bekele tantst arum a tekele, Oy, mayn bekele tut mir vey! Oy,mayn tseyndele, (2), Oy, mayn tseyndele tut mir vey! Oy, mayn tseyndele iz dokh mole-kheyndele, Un mayn tseyndele tut nit vey!

Oh, my little belly! (2) Oh, my little belly hurts! In my belly soup is churning about, Oh, my little belly hurts! Oh, my little head! (2) Oh, my little head hurts! In my head a little apple is rolling around, Oh, my little head hurts! Oh, my little foot! (2) Oh, my little foot hurts! In my foot a little nut is twirling, Oh, my little foot hurts! Oh, my little hand! (2) Oh, my little hand hurts! In my hand a little duck is quacking, Oh, my little hand hurts! Oh, my little nose! (2) Oh, my little nose hurts! In my little nose a little hare is hopping, Oh, my little nose hurts! Oh, my little eye! (2) Oh, my little eye hurts! In my eye a little bird is fluttering, Oh, my little eye hurts! Oh, my little cheek! (2) Oh, my little cheek hurts! In my cheek a little doll is dancing, Oh, my little cheek hurts! Oh, my little tooth! (2) Oh, my little tooth hurts! Oh, my little tooth is full of charm! And my little tooth does not hurt!

source: Yiddish Folksongs from the Ruth Rubin Archive, edited by Chana Mlotek and Mark Slobin (Wayne State University Press, Detroit, 2007), #56, page 111 [click].
O ye who speak German, notice how close the Yiddish words are to common German words we know.

Subject: ADD: Oy Mayn Kapele
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 May 13 - 07:56 PM

My friend Elaine justaposes verses sings this as "Oy Mayn Kepele," which is what I prefer - but it seems that the usual custom is to lead with the belly.

OY MAYN BAYKHELE

Oy Mayn Baykhele tut mir vey! (twice)
In mayn baykhele Kayklt zikh a pikhele
Oy mayn baykhele tut mir vey!

Oy mayn kepele tut mir vey! (twice)
In mayn kepele katshet zikh an epele
Oy mayn kepele tut mir vey!

Oy mayn fisele tut mir vey! (twice)
In mayn fisele dreyt zikh dort a nisele
Oy mayn fisele tut mir vey!

Oy mayn hentele tut mir vey! (twice)
In mayn hentele kvaket dort an entele
Oy mayn hentele tut mir vey!

Got that?
baykhele: belly (Bauch) [phonetically, that's Bike-ah-la]
kepele: head (Kopf)
fisele: foot (Fusz)
hentele: hand (Hand)

So, Oh, my belly-head-feet-hand hurts (twice)

And the irritants:
belly - pickle - pikele
head - apple - epele
foot - nut - nisele
hand - duck is quacking - kvaket dort an entele (Ente)

Source: Lillian's Wonderful Yiddish Site!

Here's a video. Not a good video, but a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fevSqTtWB4

One more very good recording: (Susan McKeown)

And another: http://www.lrc.columbia.edu/yi/yi10000/elementary/oy-mayn-baykhele.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 07:49 PM

there are numerous books of Yiddish song, Klezmer and Jewish music -
start with Ruth Rubin, Mark Slobin, Henry Sapoznik.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,lgunther
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 07:20 PM

Lyrics to "In Odes" by Aaron Lebedev
sought.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,Dov Levi
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 09:34 AM

Not quite lyrics, but I am looking for musical arrangements of the standard Yiddish favoourites - we are a keyboard, clarinet, fiddle, bass. If anyone could help with music or suggest a website/source, I would be very grateful.

I have quite a lot of the stock klezmer repetoire arrangements (downloaded from web - no copyright issues ) I could help with if anyone is interested.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 01:34 PM

Google Books has several books in the subject heading "Songs, Yiddish"

Subject: ADD: Ikh hob dikh tsufil lib/I Love You Much Too M
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Jun 10 - 05:38 PM

Hi, Malkele -
could it be "Ich Hob Dich Tzufil Lieb" (I love you too much) by Alexander Olshanetzky and Chaim Towber (1934)? That one was recorded by Neil Sedaka on his Brighton Beach Memories CD. The Barry Sisters recorded it, under the title "Ich Chob Dich Zifeel Lieb." Can you give some Yiddish words so we're sure we're talking about the right song?
-Joe-

---

I found a YouTube recording of the Barry Sisters, with these Yiddish words:

Ikh hob dikh tsufil lib

Ikh hob dikh tsufil lib,
ikh trog oyf dir kayn khas,
ikh hob dikh tsufil lib,
zu sajn oyf dir in kas.

Ikh hob dich tsufil lib,
tsu zayn oyf dir gor beyz,
a nar ikh heyz, ikh veyz,
ikh hob dikh tsufil lib.

Ikh volt mayn lebn avekgegebn,
mayn harts, mayn neshome,
ikh bin krank, nor mayn gedank,
trakht nit fun nekome.

Ikh hob dikh tsufil lib,
tsu zayn oyf dir gor beyz,
a nar ikh heyz, ikh veyz,
ikh hob dikh tsufil lib.

---

Here are the lyrics, as sung by The Andrews Sisters, in English:

I LOVE YOU MUCH TOO MUCH
(Alexander Olshanetsky / Don Raye / Chaim Towber)

Also recorded by:
The Ames Brothers, Pat Boone, Alma Cogan, Irving Fields, Helen Forrest, Connie Francis, Dizzy Gillespie, Larry Hambro Quartet, Dick Haymes, Joni James, Gene Krupa, Dean Martin, Santana, Jerry Vale, Luis Varona, his piano and Orchestra, Bobby Vinton.



I love you much too much
I’ve known it from the start
But yet my love is such
I can’t control my heart

I love you much too much
I ask myself what for
Then, darling, when we touch
Mmmm, I love you more

Perhaps I hold your heart too tightly
But who am I to say
If I should hold it lightly
It might slip away

I love you much too much
You’ve never really known
I love you oh so much
I’m yours alone.

I love you much too much, I love you much too much
I’ve known it from the start, right from the start
But yet my love is such,
I can’t control my heart

I love you much too much
I love you too much oh my dear
I’ve known it from the start
But, but, but my love is such
I can’t control my heart

Perhaps I hold your heart too tightly
But who am I to say
If I should hold it lightly
It might slip away

(Musical Break)

I love you much too much
You’ve never really known
Oh no, oh no you’ve never known
I love you oh so much, so much
I’m yours alone, alone.


(Contributed by Bill Huntley - March 2007)

---

and hey, how 'bout a YouTube recording by Dean Martin (click)?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,malkele
Date: 20 Jun 10 - 03:13 PM

Can someone please post the english to ich hob dich tzu far lieb- please forgive spelling

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 10 - 06:57 AM

I am looking for lyrics in Yiddish of songs about the holocaust, and would sincerely appreciate your forwarding available material for
presentation (reading) at a program in Haifa commemorating the 'sho'ah', to be held on Saturday the 17th of April.
Your assistance will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Leah Krikun
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 04:02 PM

So, did you ever find the lyrics to Essen - vier gehen essen? If so, please send to [e-mail]. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,Tom
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 07:33 AM

Has anyone had a listen here http://aaronlebedeff.free.fr/anglais/codage/roumania.htm

Does anyone have an English translation?

---

See my translation a few messages above.
-Joe Offer, Forum Moderator-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,allan s.
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 07:12 PM

Has anyone heard of a yiddish song with the words Yossel Bear????
I remember it back in the 1950's played on station WELI in the New Haven , CT area   by a man who went by the name Berril Howard. his actual name was Bernard Horowitz
the choris went [Yossel Yossel Bear, gayt in die Militair]
"Yossel bear goes in the Military"
I suspect the reference could have refered to WW-2

---

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Stringsinger
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 05:31 PM

Judy Breslin recorded Rumania with the New England Conservatory Klezmers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Bill H //\\
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 04:22 PM

There is also a wonderful version of Romania/Romania done by The Limeliters---sidesplittingly funny as it parodies the piece.

It is on their LP--TOnight In Person

Bill Hahn

Subject: ADDE Version: Rumania, Rumania
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 03:42 AM

This page (click) has a transcription and translation by Fred Jacobowitz of the Machaya Klezmer Band in the Washington DC/Baltimore area.
Another source said that Lebedeff recorded the song in the 1940's.


Rumania, Rumania
(Aaron Lebedeff)

Ekh, Rumania, Rumania,...(6x) Geven amol a land a zise a sheyne. Ekh, Rumania, Rumania...(6x) Geven amol a land a zise a fayne. Dort tzu voynen is a fargenign. Vos dos hartz glust dir, dos kenstu krign. A mammeligele, a pastramele, a karnatsele, un a glezele vayn, aha! (FASTER) In Rumania iz dokh git, Funken dayges veyst men nit; Vayn trinkt men iberal, me farbayst mit kashtaval. (chorus) Hay, digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam; Hay, digi digi dam, digi digi dam. In Rumania iz dokh git, Funken zorgn veyst men nit; Vayn trinkt men iberal, me farbayst a kastravet. (chorus) Hay, digi digi dam,....etc. (FASTER) Oy vey g'vald, ikh ver meshige, 'kh lib nor brinze, mamelige, 'kh tantz un frey zikh biz der stelye, ven ikh es a patlozhele. Dzing-ma, tay tidl di dam, (4x) Ay, s'iz a mekhaye, besser ken nit zayn, ay, a fargenign iz Rumenish vayn. Di Rumener trinken vayn un esn mamalige. Ver es kusht zayb eygn vayb, o yenner iz meshuge. Dzing-ma, tay tidl di dam, (4x) Ay, s'iz a mekhaye,....etc. (FASTER) Yokum purkon min shemaye, shteyt un kusht di kekhne, Khaye, ongeton in alte shkrabes, makht a kugl l'koved Shabbes Zetz, tay tdl di da, (4x) Ay, s'iz a mekhaye,..... etc. Zis es iz tzu kush a moid, ven zi iz nokh zekhtzn. Ober, ven du kisht an alte moid, heybt zi on tzu krekhtzn! Zetz, tay tdl di da, (4x) Ay, s'iz a mekhaye,..... etc.

Oh, Romania.... It was a sweet, beautiful land Oh, Romania... It was a sweet, fine land To live there is a joy. What your heart desires, you can have. A mammelige (cornmeal porridge), a pastrami, a spiced meatball, and a glass of wine, aha! In Romania it's good, Noone has any --??-- ; People drink wine everywhere, Dessert is roasted chestnuts. (chorus) Hay, digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam; Hay, digi digi dam, digi digi dam. In Romania it's good, Noone has any worries; People dring wine everywhere, Dessert is --??--. (chorus) Hay, digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam; Hay, digi digi dam, digi digi dam. Oy, vey, catastrophe, I'm going nuts, I only like --??--, mamaligas, I dance and cavort until dawn, when I eat an eggplant. Ah, it is a pleasure, it can't be better than this. ah, what a joy Romanian wine is. The Romanians drink wine and eat mameligas. He who kisses his own wife is crazy. Yokum the bashful tinker stands and kisses the cook, Khaya, from old scrapings, she makes a Sabbath pudding. [inspired by this] sweet to kiss a girl when she is just sixteen. But when you kiss an old woman she starts to moan (complain).

On Sat, 13 Apr 1996, Cantor Neil Schwartz wrote:

> > Oh Romania, Romania, Romania Romania.....
> >
> > Im looking for the YIDDISH words for this song..
> >
> > Email me? -- Nu?
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Jonathan
> >
> > \\__o<
>
> You need to obtain a wonderful book called "Great Songs of the Yiddish
> Theater"
> ed. by Norman Warembud in 1975 for the Quadrangle / New York Times Book Co.
>
> "Rumania, Rumania" by Aaron Lebedeff is found on pp. 175-181, in the original
> arrangement (but modern typography).
>
> This valuable book is available thru Tara Publications   1-800-TARA-400
> http://www.jewishmusic.com/tara/
>
> --
> Cantor Neil Schwartz

---

There's a video with a good recording of this song here (click).

Subject: ADD: Rumania, Rumania [Rumenye, Rumenye]
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 03:33 AM

You'll find a teriffic recording of "Roumania, Roumania," sung by Aaron Lebedeff himself, on a Columbia album called From Avenue A To The Great White Way: Yiddish & American Popular Songs 1914-1950.

I finally did find "Rumania, Rumania" in a songbook - a very unsatisfying transcription can be found in Velvel Pasternak's The Jewish Fake Book (Tara Publications, 1997) page 106. The transcription at Zemerl is far better, so that's the one I'll post:

Rumania, Rumania
[Aaron Lebedeff (1873-1960)]

Ekh, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye,
Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye.
Geven a mol a land a zise, a sheyne.

Ekh, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye,
Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye.
Geven a mol a land a zise, a fayne.

Dort tsu voynen iz a fargenigen.
Vos dos harts glust dir, dos kenstu krign.
A mameligele, a pastramele,
A karnatsele, un a glazele vayn, aha!

In Rumenye iz dokh gut,
fun keyn dayges veyst men nit;
Vayn trinkt men iberal,
me farbayst mit kashtaval.
Hay digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam;
Hay digi digi digi digi digi dam.
Hay digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam;
Hay digi digi digi digi digi dam.

In Rumenye iz dokh gut,
fun keyn zorgn veyst men nit;
Vayn trinkt men iberal,
me farbayst a kastravet.
Hay digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam;
Hay digi digi digi digi digi dam.
Hay digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam;
Hay digi digi digi digi digi dam.

Oy vey g'vald, ikh ver meshige,
kh'lib nor brinze, mamelige,
Kh'tants un frey zikh biz der stelye,
ven ikh es a patlozhele.
Dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidlt ti dam.
Ay, s'iz a mekhaye, beser ken nit zayn,
Ay, a fargenign iz nor Rumenish vayn.

Di Rumener trinken vayn
un esn mamelige
Ver es kusht zayn eygn vayb,
o yener iz meshige.
Dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidlt ti dam.
Ay, s'iz a mekhaye, beser ken nit zayn,
Ay, a fargenign iz nor Rumenish vayn.

A ...
Yokum purkon min shemaye,
shteyt un kusht di kekhne, Khaye,
Ongeton in alte shkrabes,
makht a kugl l'koved Shabes.
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam!

A ...
Yokum purkon min shemaye,
shteyt un kusht di kekhne, Khaye,
Ongeton in alte shkrabes,
makht a kugl l'koved Shabes.
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam!
Ay, s'iz a mekhaye beser ken nit zayn,
Ay, a fargenign iz nor Rumenish vayn.

Ay, ay, ay!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 08:18 PM

This thread started (in 1999) with a request for lyrics to songs by Aaron Lebedeff. It wasn't until 2001 that anyone mentioned Romania, Romania, probably Lebedeff's best-known work, and now there is a request for its lyrics. You can find them at http://zemerl.com/cgi-bin//show.pl?title=Rumanye+Rumanye and at http://shakti.trincoll.edu/~mendele/vol05/vol05.124

The Australian band, Klezmania, do a take-off, Oystralia, on their album of the same name.

The song Frank Hamilton writes out was recorded by early klezmer-revival band Kapelye.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Stringsinger
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 07:38 PM

Nova Prof,

Here's a wonderful Lebedev song (that I've been threatening to learn). Zing ge-zunt!

1. Keyn Amerike tsu kumen,
Hob ikh keyn mi geshport.
Hob ikh gedenkt a rov tsu vern Un far-
Lo-an zikh a bord, Kh'hob ge-
Hat tsvey sheyne peyes, Vi
Yeder frumer Yid-tsum
sof, on shtot di bord ho-bikh di
pe-yes oy-khet nit. Vet
Ir mir fre-gn: styatsh? Vi en dos Zayn? Der
Te-rets der-fun iz li-be fraynt der bay:
(Chorus:)
Vos
Ken du macht es iz Amerike?   A
S'iz A-mer-i-ke, un vos ken du makh?
Vos ken du macht es iz Amerike?   A
fil-le der Yid hot der po-nim mit'n goy.

2. Az do in Amerike iz alts-ding far-kert, Di
Me-ner zey shey-vn zikh, By di
Vuay-ber shprot-sn berd,
Vos ken du macht es iz Amerike?'
S'iz Amerike, un "Bol-she nit she-vo!"

3. In Europe hob-n kha-se-ne
Yung-ge meyd-lekh gor, Un
Na-kher ho-bn zey-kin der, Ve es
Firt zikh, punkt tsum yor. In A-
Merike iz gor an-dersh, Me
nemt zikh tsayt on shir, M'hot
Kha-se-ne do shpte-ter nor di
Kin-der hot men frier.
Ir mir fre-gn: s'taytsh? vo ken dos zayn? Der
Te-rets der-fun iz li--be franynt der-bay:
(Chorus:)
Vos ken du macht es iz Amerike?
Do ken pa-sirn a-les, zog ikh (?)
Vos ken du macht es iz Amerike! Az do
Aylt men zikh dokh mit a Ye-der raykh. 4. Do
Zukht men tsu sey-vn, Ex-pen-ses, af-ge-vis, Der
Far makht men di kha-se-ne tsu-za-men mit-n
Bris!
Vos ken du macht es iz Amerike? Siz A-
Mer-i-ke, un vos den du macht? Az
Khos-n' ka-le fun der khu-pe a
He-ym nor me geyt, Iz
Shoyn dort'n a vi-ge-le mit a
Kind oykh on-ge-greyt!
(Tag:)
Vos ken du macht es iz Amerike? S'iz A-
Merike, a leyn un dat's all!

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 04:30 PM

Hi, klezdrummer - is it "Romania, Romanis," or "Romania, Romania"? I have an extensive collection of Yiddish songbooks, and didn't find it. Can you tell us more about it?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Bill H //\\
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 04:22 PM

There is a new album out---The Jewish SOngbook. It has some wonderful songs on it as performed by some people you might not have expected---Richard Belzer/Paul shaffer do Joe & Paul, Adam Sandler does Hine Ma Tov and more.

I have featured it on my Sunday Simcha program on WFDU (air time Sundays 10-11 AM and streaming on the web on wfdu.fm).

You can check it out on shoutfactorystore.com

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,Klezdrummer57
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 11:31 AM

Does anyone have all of hte Yiddish wrods for Romania, Romanis?"
a groysen dank!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: dozy rozy
Date: 14 May 07 - 06:05 PM

I was in the Nook at Holmfirth festival of Folk this weekend, and a lady sang "jump down turn around pick a bale of cotton"in Yiddish.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,Antonius
Date: 13 May 07 - 07:01 PM

Thank you, Joe for the Albersten's version, thanks to Bob for reference to zemerl. I've already found the text before on zemerl but it was not so suitable for singing with the music like the one that performed by Ch. Alberstein.

Subject: ADD: Rivkele di shabesdike
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 May 07 - 02:07 AM

Rivkele di Shabesdike (the Sabbath-Widow)

Rivkele di shabesdike Arbet in fabrik, Dreyt a fodim tsu a fodim, Flecht tsunoyf a shtrik. Oy de geto fintstere, Doyert shoyn tsu lang, Un dos harts azoy farklemt Tut ir azoy bang. Ir getroyer Hershele Iz avek, nito, Zint fun yenem shabes on, Zint fun yener sho. Iz fartroyert Rivkele Yomert tog un nacht, Un atsind baym redele, Zitst zi un zi tracht. Vu iz er, mayn libinker, Lebt er noch chotsh vu? Tsi in kontsentratsie-lager Arbet shver on ru? Oy, vi fintster iz im dort, Biter iz mir do - Zint fun yenem shabes on, Zint fun yenem sho.

Rivkele the shabesdike Works in the factory, Twists a thread to a thread, And so braids a string. Oh the dark ghetto, Is lasting too long And her heart is so depressed And beats so hard. Her betrothed Hershele Is gone, not here, Since a certain Sabbath Since a certain hour. Rachel is saddened, Lamenting day and night And now by the little wheel, She sits and she thinks. Where is he, my beloved, Is he still alive? Or is he in the concentration camp Working hard without rest? Oh, how dark it is for him there, I am bitter here - Since that certain Sabbath Since that certain hour.

Text - P. Kaplan
On a Saturday (Sabbath) in the Bialestok ghetto the women were separated from their men who were all killed. These women were referred to as the 'Shabesdike". P. Kaplan, the author of this song, was a well-known writer and editor of the Bialestok publication The New Life. He perished in the Bialistok ghetto.

Source: Songs Never Silenced a songbook by Velvel Pasternak (Tar Publications, 2003)

This is pretty close to what Albestein sings, although she starts and ends with a lamenting wail, and she repeats the first verse at the end.

Another very good transcription of the song is here (click)

---

The Yiddish version at Zemerl is a bit sloppy, but the English translation is taken direct from the Chava Alberstein Yiddish Songs CD:

Rivkele Di Shabesdike

Music:	Pesakh KAPLAN
Lyrics:	Pesakh KAPLAN

rivkele di shabesdike arbet in fabrik, zi shpint a fodem nokh a fodeml, flekht tsunoyf di shtrik. oy di geto, di fintstere, doyert azoy lang, 'vert mayn harts farumet, tut mir azoy bank.' zifst zikh rivkele fun benkshaft, oy oy oy farshmakht, vegn ir tayer hershele shtendik nor zi trakht. 'oy vi biter iz im dort, fintster iz mir do, zint fun yenem shabes, zint fun yener sho.' zitst zikh rivkele un treyst ir eyn-un-eyntsik kind, 'kumen vet der tate, kumen vet geshvind. brengen vet er esn, gor a sakh broyt.' nit gevust hot rivkele az hershele iz toyt.

Rivkale, "De Shabbatdike", works in factory, spins yarn and plaits rope. "Oh this dark and cursed ghetto has been lasting for too long". Her heart is pained and sad. Her darling Hershele has disappeared and gone. Since that Sabbath day, since that time, Rivkale sits and weeps at her spinning loom day and night. "Where is my love? Is he still alive? Is he in a concentration camp? In a labor camp? Oh, how black is it for him there and how bitter here for me. Since that Sabbath, since that time."

Zemerl - www.zemerl.com

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: DADGBE
Date: 04 May 07 - 11:50 PM

Hi Mark and all,

Gilbert and Sulivan in Yiddish is some of the most hilarious stuff I've ever heard. I don't know about your translations, Mark, but when I was a kid I heard a version of Little Buttercup sung in Yiddish. I laughed for days over -

Zey ruft mir claner putter shissel,
Claner, shaner puter shissel...

Which translates roughly as -

They call me little tub o' butter,
Pretty, little tub o' butter.

Yikes!

Best to all,
Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 04 May 07 - 07:19 PM

There is a version of Rivkele Die Shabbasdike here on Zemerl

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,GUEST Antonius
Date: 04 May 07 - 06:53 PM

And I need lyrics for the song 'Rivkele Die Shabbasdike', the version sung by Chava Alberstein. Susan A-R seemed to promise dig it up if required.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs - Ich Vil Zoch Spillen
From: GUEST,Robin Greenstein
Date: 08 Jan 07 - 12:58 AM

I learned a fragment of a song which is Yiddish and English mixed together humorously.

it goes like this:

Ich vil zoch shpillen, I long to be
Mit zinge boyes, Who fall for me
Ich vil zoch shpillen, That's all I do
If you want to live, you must ba shpillen too.

I went to see a Doctor,
He said it was my nerves
He looked me over carefully
He listened to my heart but kept
looking at my curves
And suddenly the doctor said to me


Ich vil zoch shpillen
My lovely wench
Ich bin a Doctor, but oy cha mensch
Ich vil zoch shpillen
Come kiss me quick,
If you refuse me, it is I who will be sick

Does anyone know where this is from, and what the rest of the lyrics are, if any?

many thanks.

Robin Greenstein
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,abraham diner
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 12:06 PM

Friends: I need your help.
Please go to the website : www.esther-ofarim.de
and in the opening page click song of the week.
Where it says the song you prefer for the following
week press OYFN PRIPITCHOK. ( The other 2 are hebrew songs)
I am urgently looking to download this song, which is
possible to do from this website. Esther Ofarim is
a very talented singer. She sings this song in Yiddish.
I am counting with your help. Please HURRY.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,Abraham Diner
Date: 10 Oct 04 - 06:10 AM

A GEM!!! JEWISH WEDDING SONG ( TRINKT L'CHAIM)
sung by Julie Andrews in the original soundtrack from
THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. It is actually a medley of
two yiddish songs ( TRINKT L'CHAIM) which Julie Andrews
sings in yiddish, and then a klezmer dance done by
hassid jews to the tune of LOMIR ZICH UBERBEITEN,
then Julie Andrews reprises with TRINKT L'CHAIM.
I Believe this movie was released on DVD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,Abraham Diner
Date: 10 Oct 04 - 06:02 AM

You find Yiddish songs in the most unexpected artists.
For example, HERB ALPERT ( HERB ALPERT and the TIJUANA BRASS)
recorded two yiddish songs (instrumentals) with him playing
trumpet: BELZ ( My little town)
         IF I WERE A RICH MAN
Herb Alpert is jewish, but his recordings have a "mexican" sound.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Troll
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 10:13 PM

www.tara.com Tara publications is a good place to look. They are a publisher that specializes in Jewish music of all kinds. ZEMRL (click) is also excellent.

troll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: artbrooks
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 08:43 PM

That much maligned reference "Rise Up Singing" has several Yiddish songs, including Donna Donna and Tumbalalyka.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: BH
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 06:55 PM

As to Lebidoff----find his Romania, Romania. What a classic, and the best version yet. Leo Fuld has an album of "greatest hits"---not that great except for Yidishe Mama (A staple in the Borscht Belt until the 60s---guaranteed to bring a tear to the left eyeball), Dona Dona---and a similar title but different song--Doyna Doyna.

And for some great comedy material never forget Joel Gray's dad---Mickey Katz. Oy vier gehen essen---essen gehen vier---remember that oldie?

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Stewart
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 06:29 PM

I just got a great new Yiddish songbook, "Songs of Generations" by Eleanor and Joseph Mlotek (1997)from The Yiddish Voice Store. It has about 130 songs with lyrics in Hebrew Yiddish, Yiddish transliteration, and English translation, music and chords (what more could you ask for!). There are also two earlier volumes in this series: "Mir Trogn a Gezang" and "Pearls of Yiddish Song."

Also, you might check out my music web page Click Here. I have 3 songs posted - Papirosn, A Yor Nokh Mayn Khasene, and Shtil di Nakht - with lyrics, music, sound clips, and background info. I will post more as I learn them.

Cheers, S. in Seattle