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Origins: Hava Nagila

DigiTrad:
HAVA NAGILA


Related threads:
Lyr Req: Dance, Dance, Everybody Dance (2)
Lyr Req: Harvey and Sheila (Hava Nagila parody) (5)


GUEST,Nuiz@aol.com 23 Apr 00 - 04:36 PM
Joe Offer 23 Apr 00 - 06:05 PM
Jon Freeman 23 Apr 00 - 06:26 PM
Jon Freeman 23 Apr 00 - 06:33 PM
Susan of DT 23 Apr 00 - 09:38 PM
Mark Cohen 24 Apr 00 - 01:33 AM
Ditchdweller 24 Apr 00 - 09:52 AM
GUEST,Nuiz 24 Apr 00 - 08:07 PM
Mark Cohen 24 Apr 00 - 11:33 PM
GUEST,Mrr 25 Apr 00 - 11:27 AM
pastorpest 25 Apr 00 - 11:27 PM
Mrrzy 17 Jul 00 - 09:17 PM
Mrrzy 17 Jul 00 - 09:20 PM
Mark Cohen 18 Jul 00 - 12:57 AM
BUTTERFLY 16 Dec 02 - 04:58 PM
artbrooks 16 Dec 02 - 05:09 PM
BUTTERFLY 16 Dec 02 - 05:28 PM
Joe Offer 16 Dec 02 - 06:28 PM
Hrothgar 17 Dec 02 - 05:47 AM
Hrothgar 11 Jan 03 - 09:47 PM
Steve Latimer 11 Jan 03 - 11:03 PM
Art Thieme 12 Jan 03 - 09:45 PM
Art Thieme 12 Jan 03 - 09:47 PM
Peter Kasin 12 Jan 03 - 10:07 PM
An Pluiméir Ceolmhar 13 Jan 03 - 10:02 AM
GUEST,sorefingers 10 Apr 03 - 04:36 PM
masato sakurai 10 Apr 03 - 07:38 PM
LukeKellylives (Chris) 25 Apr 07 - 05:24 PM
Joe Offer 25 Apr 07 - 05:33 PM
LukeKellylives (Chris) 25 Apr 07 - 05:41 PM
skipy 25 Apr 07 - 05:41 PM
Sorcha 25 Apr 07 - 05:47 PM
GUEST,JimP 25 Apr 07 - 07:00 PM
oldhippie 25 Apr 07 - 08:41 PM
Amos 25 Apr 07 - 08:51 PM
Charlie Baum 26 Apr 07 - 12:09 AM
Wilfried Schaum 26 Apr 07 - 03:11 AM
GUEST,Darowyn 26 Apr 07 - 08:18 AM
GUEST,Volgadon 30 Nov 07 - 02:34 AM
nickp 30 Nov 07 - 12:54 PM
GUEST,Volgadon 20 Mar 08 - 10:26 PM
GUEST,GUEST, TONY, UK 02 Feb 09 - 04:01 PM
Amos 02 Feb 09 - 04:55 PM
GUEST,Gerry 02 Feb 09 - 06:39 PM
GUEST,Peace 02 Feb 09 - 09:24 PM
Jack Campin 03 Feb 09 - 01:23 PM
GUEST,orah pninah 28 Jun 10 - 02:31 AM
Tattie Bogle 28 Jun 10 - 07:12 PM
GUEST,TJ in San Diego 28 Jun 10 - 07:29 PM
GUEST,guest:Don W. in Germany 29 Jun 10 - 02:16 PM
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Subject: Alternative-Hava Nagila
From: GUEST,Nuiz@aol.com
Date: 23 Apr 00 - 04:36 PM

Years ago I heard alternative lyrics to Hava Nagila. One verse went like this:
    Come to the valley
    Run through the valley
    Harvest is over
    Dance, everybody, dance.
Can anyone furnish the rest of the lyrics? I really have searched high and low on the net. Would appreciate an email if you can find a web page. Thx for any help.
Messages from multiple threads combined.
-Joe Offer-


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Subject: Lyr Add: HAVA NAGILA (trad. Israeli)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Apr 00 - 06:05 PM

Well, Here are the Hebrew lyrics and a recording.


HAVA NAGILA
( Israeli folk song)

Hava nagila, hava
nagila, hava,
nagila venis mecha.
Hava nagila, hava
nagila, hava,
nagila venis mecha.
Hava neranena, hava neranena,
hava neranena, venis mecha.

Hava neranena, hava neranena,
hava neranena, venis mecha.
Uru, uru achim,
uru achim belev sameach,
uru achim belev sameach,
uru achim belev sameach,
uru achim
uru achim
belev sameach.
^^

Click to play


Rise Up Singing offers this translation:
Let us rejoice and be happy
Awaken brothers and sisters with a happy heart.
I wasn't able to find an English version that could be sung.
-Joe Offer-


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Subject: Lyr Add: HAVA NAGILA (English version)
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 23 Apr 00 - 06:26 PM

I hope I'm thinking of the right tune. If so, here are some English words from Singing Together Summer 1974(BBC Schools Radio):

Out in the meadow
Music is playing
People are dancing
They Circle about.
Arms linked with one another
They dance the Hora
And while they dance merrily shout

Come do the hora now
Watch and we'll show you how
Step hop and once again
See how it is done.
Hear how we keep the beat
Stepping with lively feet
Come join our circle now
Come dance with your friends

Now that were together
Everyone steps a little faster
Evryone hops a little faster
See how the circle's turning faster
See how the circle's turning faster
How it's done
Rest everyone
We've danced the hora joyfully ^^

Jon


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 23 Apr 00 - 06:33 PM

I hadn't noticed Joe had given a MIDI, I was thinking of the right tune.

Jon


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Susan of DT
Date: 23 Apr 00 - 09:38 PM

Come to the valley
Run thru the clover
Harvest is over
Dance, everyone, dance

Dance were the corn was high
Under a golden sky
Dance where the wine was born
Dance, everyone, dance
^^
go from Hebrew to English and back again for a reasonable length song.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 01:33 AM

If I'm not mistaken, and I often am, Connie Francis recorded an English version of this, back in the 50s. I can ask my mom if she still has the record.

Aloha,
Mark


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Ditchdweller
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 09:52 AM

I seem to remember some Jewish comedienne/actress come up with; "Hava Negela, Have two Negelas Have three Negelas, They're pretty cheap" Sapper


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: GUEST,Nuiz
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 08:07 PM

Your answers are great--all of them. I got what I was looking for--gee, you're all so smart!

Muchas thankus


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 24 Apr 00 - 11:33 PM

Sapper, that was on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, circa 1968, and the singer was JoAnne Worley. I remember the last line as "They're very small." What a show that was -- thanks for the memory!

Aloha,
Mark


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Subject: Lyr Add: HAVA NAGILA (French version)
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 11:27 AM

Les Compagnons de la Chanson also do a great version in French (and rather hilarious French-accented Hebrew). The Hebrew lyrics are above; here are the French (and until someone teaches me how to do accents in HTML, I'll just ignore them, sorry):
    Dansons, car dans les granges
    Le ble se range
    C'est le dernier jour des mouissons!
    Dansons, sur cette terre, verte et fiere, qui n'oublie pas de nos sillons! (line unclear)
    Dansons sans plus penser
    Au bal qu'on c'est donne
    Pour faire lever le grain
    Qu'on aura demain!
    Dansons pour oublier
    Sous le ciel etoile
    Nos peines et nos peurs
    Que le grain demeure!
    Lai, lai, lai lai lai lai
    Et ma joie devient complete
    Pres de toi, le temps s'arrete
    Dans tes bras je perd la tete
    Et tout prend un air de fete
    Serre-moi jusqu'au jour
    Dansons, dansons mon amour!

    Vague translation:
    Let's dance, for in the silos, wheat is piling up, it's the last day of the harvest! Let's dance, on this earth, green and proud, which doesn't forget a single furrow! Let's dance without thinking any more about the party we're having, to raise the grain we'll have tomorrow! Let's dance to forget, under starry skies, our labors and fears, let there be nothing but grain! (or possibly There is nothing left but grain!) La, la, la la la la, And my joy is completed, near you time stops, in your arms I lose my mind, and everything becomes like a celebration! Hold me tight until day! Let's dance, let's dance my love!

I checked this song with my Israeli cousin-in-law and he said it was a pretty good gloss of the original...


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: pastorpest
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 11:27 PM

A zooologist travelled to Cuba to study lizards. To his surprise he discovered a strange new lizard near the capital. In fact in several places around the capital he saw members of this unexpected spieces. He took photographs and when he returned home to his university he excitedly showed colleagues his photographs of this previously unknown lizard.

His colleagues laughed and said, "Oh that! It's just the Havana Gila."

Sorry for the bad pun: I could not resist.


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Subject: Lyr Add: HAVA NAGILA (French version)
From: Mrrzy
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 09:17 PM

HAVA NAGILA (Dansons, mon amour)

French lyrics recorded by Les Compagnons de la Chanson, recalled by Mrrzy

(They sing the verses in Hebrew too, very French, don't pronounce any H's; but all I'm posting here is the translation)

Dansons car dans les granges
Le blé se range
C'est le dernier jour des mouissons!
Dansons sur cette terre
Verte et fière
Qui reviendra de nos sillons!
Dansons sans plus penser
Au bal qu'on s'est donné
Pour faire lever le grain
Qu'on aura demain!
Dansons pour oublier
Sous le ciel étoilé
Nos peines et nos peurs!
Que le grain demeure!
Lai, lai, lai lai lai lai
Et ma joie devient complète
Près de toi le temps s'arrête
Dans tes bras je perds la tête
Et tout prend un air de fête!
Serre-moi! Jusqu'au jour!
Dansons, dansons mon amour!


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: French Lyrics to Hava Nagila
From: Mrrzy
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 09:20 PM

I ran this translation by my Israeli cousin-in-law, and every time I said Let's Dance (for whatever reason - to raise the grain, to celebrate the harvest, to honor the earth...) he agreed that it was a good translation of the phrase Hava Nagila...

Also, this is in response to the French Lyrics thread.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: French Lyrics to Hava Nagila
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 12:57 AM

Thanks, Mrrzy, it's absolutely wonderful! I will learn it forthwith. (Maybe somebody can fix the accents--it took me a few seconds to figure out what happened.)

Of course, who can forget JoAnne Worley on Laugh-In, singing:

Hava nagila, have two nagilas
Have three nagilas, they're very small

Aloha,
Mark


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Subject: Lyr Add: HAVA NAGILAH
From: BUTTERFLY
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 04:58 PM

Dear All,

I wonder if anyone out there can translate the words of "Hava Nagilah" into English, either from direct knowledge of Hebrew (or is it Yiddish?) or otherwise. I have shown the words below, which I got from a CD-ROM.

HAVA NAGILAH

Ha-vah Na-gi-lah, Ha-vah Na-gi-lah,
Ha-vah Na-gi-lah, Vay-nis-m' chah.
Ha-vah Na-gi-lah, Ha-vah Na-gi-lah,
Ha-vah Na-gi-lah, Vay-nis-m' chah.
Ha-vah n'-ra-ne-nah,
Ha-vah n'-ra-ne-nah,
Ha-vah n'-ra-ne nah,
Vay-nis-m' chah.
Ha-vah n'-ra-ne-nah,
Ha-vah n'-ra-ne-nah,
Ha-vah n'-ra-ne nah,
Vay-nis-m' chah.
U-ru, U-ru, a-chim,
U-ru a-chim, b'-lev sa-me-ach,
U-ru a-chim, b'-lev sa-me-ach,
U-ru a-chim, b'-lev sa-me-ach,
U-ru a-chim. b'-lev sa-me-ach,
U-ru a-chim! U-ru a-chim!
B'-lev sa-me-ach.

Ha-vah Na-gi-lah, Ha-vah Na-gi-lah,
Ha-vah Na-gi-lah, Vay-nis-m' chah.
Ha-vah Na-gi-lah, Ha-vah Na-gi-lah,
Ha-vah Na-gi-lah, Vay-nis-m' chah.
Ha-vah n'-ra-ne-nah,
Ha-vah n'-ra-ne-nah,
Ha-vah n'-ra-ne nah,
Vay-nis-m' chah.
Ha-vah n'-ra-ne-nah,
Ha-vah n'-ra-ne-nah,
Ha-vah n'-ra-ne nah,
Vay-nis-m' chah.
U-ru, U-ru, a-chim,
U-ru a-chim, b'-lev sa-me-ach,
U-ru a-chim, b'-lev sa-me-ach,
U-ru a-chim, b'-lev sa-me-ach,
U-ru a-chim. b'-lev sa-me-ach,
U-ru a-chim! U-ru a-chim!
B'-lev sa-me-ach.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: artbrooks
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 05:09 PM

From Zemerl:

Dance where the wheat grows high, under a golden sky, dance where the wine was born. Dance, everyone dance. Whirl and turn about, lift up your arms and shout, join hands and kick along. Dance, everyone . . .

This is obviously not a singable translation either.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: BUTTERFLY
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 05:28 PM

Dear All,

I should have taken the trouble to look at past postings before asking for translation of Hava Nagilah, but in any case I am grateful for such a quick reply from Zemerl. It seems then that "Hava Nagilah" means "Let's Dance" - wasn't there a song of that name (was it by Chris Montez?).

Regarding Mark Cohen's posting on 18th July 2000 below, Fred Wedlock also did this on an album although as all his songs were originally by others, I presume he heard Jo-Ann Worley or someone else sing it. Does anyone know what happened to Jo-Ann Worley? You see some of the ex-Laugh In People from time to time, especially Goldie Hawn, in films, etc, but I can remember seeing Henry Gibson, Artie Johnson, Lily Tomalin and Dick Rowan. Dan Rowan died some years back.

wSubject: RE: Lyr Add: French Lyrics to Hava Nagila
From: Mark Cohen - PM
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 12:57 AM

Thanks, Mrrzy, it's absolutely wonderful! I will learn it forthwith. (Maybe somebody can fix the accents--it took me a few seconds to figure out what happened.)

Of course, who can forget JoAnne Worley on Laugh-In, singing:

Hava nagila, have two nagilas
Have three nagilas, they're very small


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 06:28 PM

I saw a book once about the man who wrote "Hava Nagila." I should have bought the book, but my budget got the better of me.
I had alwasy thought of the song as traditional, but now I'm wondering about authorship. http://www.hebrewsongs.com says the tune is traditional Hassidic, but the lyrics were written by Mosheh Nathanson and transcribed by Abraham Zevi Idelsohn. I checked several sources, but couldn't find definitive information about the origin of this song. Can anybody help?
-Joe Offer-


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Hrothgar
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 05:47 AM

Additions to above, from the singing of Ray Gurney, at the Folk Centre in Brisbane, mid-60s:

Over the valley
Voices are singing,
Bells are a-ringing,
Dance, everyone, dance!
Come to the valley,
Run to the valley,
Harvest is over,
Dance, everyone, dance!

Dance where the corn was high
Under a golden sky,
Dance where the wine was born,
Dance, everyone, dance!

Twirl and twirl about,
Lift up your arms and shout
...................
Dance, everyone, dance!

Lift your feet,
Heart will follow,
Lift your voice
Fill the hollow
Spread your wings
Like a swallow.
Dance, dance, everybody, dance!

Have to talk to a couple of the old heads around the place who might remember more ...


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Hrothgar
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 09:47 PM

I knew I could find somebody!

From Anne Infante's memory:

Down in the valley
Voices are singing
Bells are a-ringing
Dance, everyone, dance!

Come through the valley
Run through the valley
Harvest is over
Dance, everyone, dance!

Dance where the corn was high
Under a golden sky
Dance where the wine was born
Dance, everyone, dance!

Twirl and twirl about
Lift up your arms and shout
Join hands skip along
Dance, everyone, dance!

Turn, turn,
Turn right, hold tight
Lift your feet, the heart will follow
Lift your voice, fill the hollow,
Spread your wings like a swallow
Fly away, greet the day
Dance, dance, everybody, dance!


I have a couple of small disagrements with her, as shown in the fragment above.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 11:03 PM

And how can we forget Bob's "Talkin' Hava Nagila Blues"?


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Art Thieme
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 09:45 PM

I believe I posted in another thread that an old Sioux Indian told me that this song was a rain dance in his part of the American west. As everyone danced they would toss live lizards under the dancer's feet---and sing---loudly,   "Hop on a gila, hop on a gila, hop on a gila..."

This is true.

Art Thieme


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Art Thieme
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 09:47 PM

It did make for a certain amount of moisture. ;-)

Art


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 10:07 PM

We used to sing that in folk dance class. It goes:

Hava, nagila hava, nagila hava, nagila uhhhh,uh,uh,uhhhh.

la, da, ladeeda,daaaaa
la da, la dee da daaa
da, da, dee da daaaaaa, daaaa, da, da da!   

*BG*


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: An Pluiméir Ceolmhar
Date: 13 Jan 03 - 10:02 AM

It's really a Palestinian song:

"Have a narguileh?"

- "No thanks, I prefer to smoke my own."


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Subject: RE: Origins: Hava Nagila - - How old?
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 10 Apr 03 - 04:36 PM

I learned it when I was still a little kid, the Book contained several so called easy tunes. I am now so old I can't remember the flood so I guess it was after that. Try two Galaxies after the one that fell apart before ours and subtract a large boat full of animals... oh never mind....


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Subject: RE: Origins: Hava Nagila - - How old?
From: masato sakurai
Date: 10 Apr 03 - 07:38 PM

This page (Who wrote Havah Nagilah?) may help.

~Masato


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Subject: Lyrics for Havah Nagila
From: LukeKellylives (Chris)
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 05:24 PM

Phonetic would be appreciated. It's been in my head for a while now. I just need to check my pronunciation. I really only know that I'm right on the chorus. Chords aren't needed; I already have them.

Oh.

And welcome back to me! Whoo!


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 05:33 PM

Hi, Chris - I've moved you over to this previous thread. Do any of the transcriptions above help you? I learned the song from the Belafonte recording. I wonder if he pronounced it right.
-Joe-


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: LukeKellylives (Chris)
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 05:41 PM

Much appreciated, Joe. I found one that I was looking for.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: skipy
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 05:41 PM

Have a Taquilla
Have 2 Taquilla
Have 3 Taquilla
Let's get pissed!
Skipy


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Sorcha
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 05:47 PM

Havah nahgeelah, repeat, etc
B'hvlay neese m'cah

Havah nah rrrroo nahh nahh, repeat

Oooo, roooo, oooo rooo ahkeem
Bh'lave sah may ach

Does that help?


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: GUEST,JimP
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 07:00 PM

I was at a late night sing a couple of years ago when someone sang, "Havana, Cuba . . ." with the rest of the tune being city names. He said it was a common parody, but I've never been able to find the words. Does this sound familiar to anyone?


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: oldhippie
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 08:41 PM

"Dance Everyone Dance" was a top 40 hit for Betty Madigan in August 1958 (Coral 62007) with the lyrics:

Over the valley
Voices are singing
Bells are a ringing
Dance, everyone, dance

Come to the valley
Run through the clover
Harvest is over
Dance, everyone, dance

Dance where the corn was high
Under a golden sky
Dance where the wine was born
Dance, everyone, dance

Whirl and turn about
Lift up your arms and shout
Join hands, skip along
Dance, everyone, dance

Turn left, turn right, hold tight
Lift your feet, the heart will follow
Lift your voice, fill the hollow
Spread your wings like the swallow
Fly away, greet the day
Dance, dance, everybody, dance

Dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance, dance


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Amos
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 08:51 PM

Phonetic:

Havah na-geela (4x)
Vay-neece-may-ghah

(repeat)

Hah-vah nah-renn-nen-nah
(3x)
Vay-neece-may-ghah
Repeat

ooo-roo, oo-roo ach-him
00-ra'gheem bayleff samaya
00-ra'gheem bayleff samaya
00-ra'gheem bayleff samaya
00-ra'gheem !
00-ra'gheem!
bayleff samay-ay-ya

Disclaimer: I am not an Israeli, Jewish or a native Hebrew or Yiddish speaker, and your mileage may vary.


A


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 12:09 AM

The version above from BUTTERFLY (Date: 16 Dec 02 - 04:58 PM ) is the best of the transliterations here.

"ch" is the soft fricative sound as in German Bach or Scottish loch
long "i" is a long "ee" as in "pita bread" (but not in the "nis" of "vay-nis-m' chah"
"a" is always short, except when spelled out as "ay"
And it's "sa-may-ach"


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 03:11 AM

Hava nagila ve-nism:kha
Hava neranena ve-nism:kha
Uru akhim be-lev sameakh

: = sh:wa mobile, a murmured e-sound (e as in best, not as in before)


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: GUEST,Darowyn
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 08:18 AM

I have never sung Hava Nagila but for a long time now I've used the tune as a guitar warm up, because the Middle Eastern scale uses all four fingers.
I've never seen the words written down before this, but I did always wonder who the couple in the second verse were
"Uru Hakim and Vanessa Mayer"
I am glad to be put right on this long standing mystery.
Cheers
Dave


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 30 Nov 07 - 02:34 AM

Guys in the 40s and 50s would sing the part that goes hava neranena with gusto. In the slang of the time the verb leranen was rather naughty.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: nickp
Date: 30 Nov 07 - 12:54 PM

UK version done by Joe Brown and his Bruvvers [sic] in the '60s. On the B side of 'That Yellow Dress You Wore' (from memory)


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 20 Mar 08 - 10:26 PM

As to the origins, I can't remeber by who, but it was written and arranged to mark Allenby's liberation of Jerusalem in 1917.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: GUEST,GUEST, TONY, UK
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 04:01 PM

Right, here goes. To the best of my knowledge, the song is by Connie Francis and it's entitled "HAVA NAGILA (DANCE EVERYBODY DANCE)
and the lyrics are as follows

Hava nagila, hava
nagila, hava,
nagila venis mecha.
Hava nagila, hava
nagila, hava,
nagila venis mecha.

Hava neranena, hava neranena,
hava neranena, venis mecha.
Hava neranena, hava neranena,
hava neranena, venis mecha.

Uru, uru achim,
uru achim belev sameach,
uru achim belev sameach,
uru achim belev sameach,
uru achim belev sameach,
uru achim
uru achim
uru achim
belev sameach.

Over the valley
Voices are singing
Bells are a ringing
Dance, everyone, dance

Come to the valley
Run through the clover
Harvest is over
Dance, everyone, dance

Dance where the corn was high
Under a golden sky
Dance where the one was born
Dance, everyone, dance

Whirl and turn about
Lift up your arms and shout
Join hands, skip along
Dance, everyone, dance

Turn left, turn right, hold tight
Lift your feet, the heart will follow
Lift your voice, fill the hollow
Spread your wings like the swallow
Spread your wings like the swallow
Fly away, greet the day
Dance, dance, everybody, dance

Hava neranena, hava neranena,
hava neranena, venis mecha.
Hava neranena, hava neranena,
hava neranena, venis mecha.

Uru, uru achim,
uru achim belev sameach,
uru achim belev sameach,
uru achim belev sameach,
uru achim belev sameach,
uru achim
uu achim
uru achim
belev sameach.

Hope this was of some help to you.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Amos
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 04:55 PM

Connie FRANCIS???


Um...I think it goes back a bit further than that, no?



From this site on Jewish culture

"If there is one Jewish song known by Jews and non-Jews alike, it is undoubtedly Hava Nagila. From its obscure origins in early twentieth-century Palestine, the song has gone on to become a perennial favorite at weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, and Jewish--and non-Jewish--cultural events around the world. With its short lyrics and simple yet distinctive melody, Hava Nagila has been recorded hundreds of times by musicians ranging from Neil Diamond, the Barry Sisters, and Harry Belafonte to the contemporary pop singer Ben Folds and the Serbian Gypsy brass band legend Boban Marcovic. Yet for all of its widespread popularity, few know the history of this global Jewish hit.
        
Eastern European Origins

Like many modern Israeli and popular Jewish songs, Hava Nagila began its life as a Hasidic melody in Eastern Europe. There the tune was sung as a nigun (wordless melody) among the Sadigorer Hasidim, who took their name from the small town of Sadigora in Bukovina (present-day Ukraine), where the Rizhiner Rebbe, Reb Yisroel Friedman (1798-1850) had settled from Russia and established his court in 1845.

At some point around the turn of the last century, a group of Sadigorer Hasidim emigrated to Jerusalem and brought the nigun with them. There the melody might have remained in the cloistered world of Jerusalem's Hasidic communities if not for one man, Avraham Zvi Idelsohn--the father of Jewish musicology.

Idelsohn was born in 1882 in Foelixburg (Filzburg), a small town in the Courland province of Tsarist Russia (present-day Latvia). He trained as a cantor in Russia and studied classical music in conservatories in Berlin and Leipzig before settling in Jerusalem sometime after 1905. He soon became active as a musician, music teacher, and scholar in the Jewish community there.

As a passionate Zionist, Idelsohn sought to collect and preserve the folk music of Jewish communities from around the world, using a phonograph to record the traditional melodies of Yemenite, Russian, German, Moroccan, and other communities he encountered in Jerusalem. At the same time, he sought to pioneer a new style of modern national music that would unify the Jewish people as they returned to their historic homeland in Palestine. To that end, he arranged and composed many new Hebrew-language songs based on traditional melodies. These modern songs with ancient roots quickly became popular as new Hebrew folk songs, sung in kibbutzim, moshavot, and printed in songbooks in the Jewish yishuv and beyond. Among them was Hava Nagila."


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 06:39 PM

Amos, I assumed the Connie Francis reference was to the English stanzas. Those stanzas are not likely to have been written by anyone Jewish, what with the line, "Dance where the one was born."


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: GUEST,Peace
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 09:24 PM

Hava Nagila.

No thanks. Just had one and I'm full. But thanks.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Jack Campin
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 01:23 PM

There are also the Matt McGinn lyrics "Have a Banana".

I have a CD of Georgian folk music performed by the band "Rustavi". They include an instrumental version of the tune, which they say originated in North Ossetia. So I wonder if its origins aren't a good bit further south-east of Bukovina and maybe a bit less mono-ethnic.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: GUEST,orah pninah
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 02:31 AM

Thank you everyone so much..... I'm passing this English version on to a three year old and his mother....they LOVE the melody and tempo. Thank you for brainstorming and finding the English lyrics from my childhood.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 07:12 PM

Here'a Youtube of the Matt McGinn version "Have a Banana" which Jack referred to last year: not for the faint-hearted or politically correct!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLA-4nP4cyQ


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Subject: Lyr Add: HARVEY AND SHEILA (Allan Sherman)
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 07:29 PM

This song first gained wide popularity in the late 1940's or early 1950's courtesy of The Weavers. I remember hearing it on radio then.

And, of course, there is also the Allan Sherman "version:"

Harvey And Sheila Lyrics by: Allan Sherman Music by: Lou Busch
Recorded live at Allan Sherman's Birthday Party (Nov 30, 1962)
from "This time, Allan Sherman's Mother Proudly Presents:
Allan Sherman: My Son, The Celebrity" ©1963 Warner Bros. Records, Inc.

Harvey and Sheila, Harvey and Sheila, Harvey and Sheila,
Oh, the day they met.
Harvey and Sheila, Harvey and Sheila, Harvey and Sheila,
No one will forget.
Harvey's a CPA.
He works for IBM.
He went to MIT and got his PhD.
Sheila's a girl I know,
At B.B.D.& O.
She works the PBX,
And makes out the checks.
Then came one great day when
Harvey took the elevator,
Sheila got in two floors later,
Soon they both felt they were falling,
Everyone heard Sheila calling,
"Ring the bell,"
But they fell.
Harv and Sheila fell in love.

Harvey and Sheila, Harvey and Sheila, Harvey and Sheila,
Chose a wedding ring.
Harvey and Sheila, Harvey and Sheila, Harvey and Sheila,
Married in the spring.
She shopped at A & P.
He bought a used MG.
They sat and watched TV
On their RCA.
Borrowed from HFC,
Bought some AT&T,
And on election day, worked for JFK.
Then they went and got a
Charge-A-Plate from R.H. Macy,
Bought a layette, pink and lacy,
Then they had twin baby girls,
Both with dimples, both with curls,
One named Bea,
One named Kay,
Soon they joined the PTA.

Harvey and Sheila, Harvey and Sheila, Harvey and Sheila,
Moved to West LA.
Harvey and Sheila, Harvey and Sheila, Harvey and Sheila,
Flew TWA.
They bought a house one day,
Financed by FHA.
It had a swimming pool, full of H2O.
Traded their used MG
For a new XKE.
Switched to the GOP,
That's the way things go.
Oh that Harvey he was
Really smart, he used his noodle.
Sheila bought a white French poodle,
Went to Europe with a visa,
Harvey's rich, they say that he's a VIP!
This could be,
Only in the USA!


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hava Nagila
From: GUEST,guest:Don W. in Germany
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 02:16 PM

In 1980 I was on a kibbutz- there were a load of volunteers from latin America there who introduced us europeans to the art of drinking Tequila, which led to a song.........

Have a tequila
Have a tequila
Have a tequila
Have one more........


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