Origins: Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen

Subject: Bai Mir Bist Du Shen/Cabaret
From: GUEST,Sofie
Date: 15 Oct 00 - 07:48 PM

I'm looking for the lyrics to this song in either German or English. I have them in Yiddish, but the way we are playing it they don't fit to the rhythm... Can anyone help?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bai Mir Bist Du Shen
From: MK
Date: 15 Oct 00 - 08:01 PM

Here.

Subject: Lyr Add: BEI MIR BIST DU SCHÖN
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Aug 02 - 10:12 PM

Copied from http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/newbonham/6/beimirbist.htm

BEI MIR BIST DU SCHÖN (MEANS YOU'RE GRAND)
(Sholom Secunda, Jacob Jacobs, Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin)

Of all the boys I've known, and I've known some
Until I first met you, I was lonesome
And when you came in sight, dear, my heart grew light
And this old world seemed new to me

You're really swell, I have to admit you
Deserve expressions that really fit you
And so I've racked my brain, hoping to explain
All the things that you do to me

Bei mir bist du schön, please let me explain
Bei mir bist du schön, means you're grand
Bei mir bist du schön, again I'll explain
It means you're the fairest in the land

I could say "Bella, bella", even say "Wunderbar"
Each language only helps me tell you how grand you are

I've tried to explain, bei mir bist du schön
So kiss me and say you understand

Bei mir bist du schön, you've heard it all before
but let me try to explain
Bei mir bist du schön means that you're grand
Bei mir bist du schön, it's such an old refrain
and yet I should explain
It means I am begging for your hand

I could say "Bella, bella", even say "Wunderbar"
Each language only helps me tell you how grand you are

------ instrumental break ------

I could say "Bella, bella", even say "Wunderbar"
Each language only helps me tell you how grand you are

I've tried to explain, bei mir bist du schön
So kiss me and say that you will understand

[As recorded November 24, 1937 by The Andrews Sisters. Originally written in Yiddish by Jacob Jacobs and Sholom Secunda for the Yiddish musical "Men Ken Lebn Nor Men Lost Nisht" ("I Would If I Could") in 1933. English lyrics written for The Andrews Sisters by Sammy Cahn. "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön" means "To Me, You Are Beautiful."]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bai Mir Bist Du Shen
From: masato sakurai
Date: 25 Aug 02 - 10:48 PM

Listen to the Andrew Sisters' singing (Realaudio).

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bai Mir Bist Du Shen
From: masato sakurai
Date: 25 Aug 02 - 11:04 PM

Sholom Secunda (1895-1974) is the composer of "Dona, Dona."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bai Mir Bist Du Shen
From: Genie
Date: 26 Aug 02 - 02:21 AM

The original song is in Yiddish. Somewhere I have the lyrics and will post them if no one does it before I find them.

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bai Mir Bist Du Shen
From: Genie
Date: 26 Aug 02 - 02:50 AM

Sophie, these links may be of interest:

History of "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen"

Yiddish Love Songs

Yiddish lyrics and translation

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BEI MIR BIST DU SCHOEN
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Aug 02 - 05:55 AM

Hi, Genie - please do post the Yiddish lyrics. I changed the name of this thread - hope that makes it easier to find. Hard to figure out what to do with umlauts.
Is the common English spelling of the song title BEI MIR BIST DU SCHOEN, or what?
-Joe Offer, in Yorkshire-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BEI MIR BIST DU SCHOEN
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 26 Aug 02 - 12:49 PM

I have the Yiddish sheet music for this at home. If I can, I shall post on this tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BEI MIR BIST DU SCHOEN
From: Armen Tanzerian
Date: 27 Aug 02 - 12:14 AM

Bei mir bist du schön, spelled correctly above. Pronounced "by meer bis' doo shayne" in yiddish (as in "shayne punim").

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BEI MIR BIST DU SCHOEN
From: Genie
Date: 27 Aug 02 - 12:30 AM

Bay Mir Bistu Shein (Yiddish)

     Music: Secunda, Sholom
     Lyrics: Jacobs, Jacob

      Kh'vel dir zogn, dir glaykh tzu hern
      Az du zolst mir libe derklern
      Ven du redst mit di oygn
      Volt ikh mit dir gefloygn vu du vilst
      S'art mikh nit on
      Ven du host a bisele seykhl
      Un ven du vaytzt dayn kindershn shmeykhl
      Vendu bist vild vi indianer
      Bist afile a galitsianer
      Zog ikh: dos art mikh nit.

      Bay mir bistu sheyn,
      Bay mir hos tu heyn,
      Bay mir bistu eyner oyf der velt.
      Bay mir bistu sheyn,
      Bay mir hostu heyn,
      Bay mir bistu tayerer fun gelt.

      Fil sheyne meydlekh hobn gevolt nemen mir,
      Un fun zay ale oys-geklibn hob ikh nor dikh.
 
I will say to you so that you would hear,
"I love you."
When you speak with your eyes,
I would fly with you wherever you wish --
I do not care where."
When you have a bit of sense
And when you show your childlike little smile,
When you are wild as an Indian,
Even if you were a Galitzyaner,
I say: It doesn't bother me.

                                            To me, you are lovely,
                                            To me, you are charming.
                                            To me, you are the only one in the world.
                                            To me, you are lovely,
                                            To me, you are charming,
                                            To me, you are more precious than money.

                                            Many pretty girls
                                            Wanted me for a husband
                                            But among them all I chose only you.

                          Zemerl - http://www.princeton.edu/zemerl

BTW, is there one "correct" way to spell things in Yiddish? I thought Yiddish was largely an oral tradition, and I often see supposedly authentic Yiddish books that use variant spellings of the same words. "Bei Mir Bistu Shön," "Bay Mir Bistu Shayne," "Bay Mir Bist Du Shayne," etc.

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BEI MIR BIST DU SCHOEN
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Aug 02 - 12:34 AM

Sorry - did not mean to SCREAM ...(accidental HTML)here it is again..nicer. Yipees !!! still offensively wrong!

Cripes - GENIE !!!-

RE: I have the Yiddish sheet music for this at home. If I can, I shall post on this tomorrow

It is same thing over and over.....You have a lot lyrics "stuffed in your genie's-bottle" somewhere!!!

Why don't your start finding the lyrics (at home and within the MC threads) and begin POSTING them...rather than making unfulfilled promises.

As one song states:
You are no F-ing use to anyone
You are no F-ing use at all
You may be a joy to your brother
But you are a pain in the A-hole to me.

POST your Bloody LYRICS or shut up!!!

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BEI MIR BIST DU SCHOEN
From: harpgirl
Date: 27 Aug 02 - 12:52 AM

gee garg, how did you do that? I saw your first post with your name, at 12:30???????

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BEI MIR BIST DU SCHOEN
From: Genie
Date: 27 Aug 02 - 01:34 AM

Gargoyle, please read people's posts carefully, including the HTML links, and pay attention to the posting times. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BEI MIR BIST DU SCHOEN
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Aug 02 - 04:28 AM

Hi, Genie - Yiddish is properly written with Hebrew characters, but transliterations are common. I've noticed that Germans transliterate Yiddish differently from the way English speakers do it.
I think the song was originally English, with a few German phrases sung with an Americanized Yiddish pronunciation, but I can't tell for sure when I'm half a world away from my library. Interesting song, though.
Gargoyle, be nice.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BEI MIR BIST DU SCHOEN
From: Genie
Date: 27 Aug 02 - 12:33 PM

Thanks for reminding me, Joe. I had been told before that that was why the transliterations of Yiddish varied so much.

I have always read and been told that the original song was Yiddish and then it was 'translated' into the song that the Andrews Sisters made popular. (See the link I posted above re "History of Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen.") That's what I'm told by the staff and residents (and residents' families) of several Jewish retirement homes where I play and sing. (They were the ones who first "corrected" my understanding that the title phrase was in German.)

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BEI MIR BIST DU SCHOEN
From: M.Ted
Date: 27 Aug 02 - 05:04 PM

A very interesting site you linked us to, Genie--I've been a fan of the Barry Sisters for years, but had no idea how their Yiddish Swing style came to be--only thing is that the real audio links at the site no longer seem to work, so we'll have to look for the magic elsewhere!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BEI MIR BIST DU SCHOEN
From: Genie
Date: 27 Aug 02 - 05:17 PM

I hate it when links go extinct like that!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BEI MIR BIST DU SCHOEN
From: chico
Date: 07 Jan 06 - 05:58 PM

  (C° B7)
       Em              (C°)       Em       (C°)   
  Bei mir bist du schön — please let me explain, 
      B7                                  Em
  Bei mir bist du schön means that you're grand. 
  Bei mir bist du schön, again I'll explain,  
  It means you're the fairest in the land.
   
                Am                  Em            
  I could say, 'Bella, bella', even say 'voonderbar'.   
                Am             C°        B+        
  Each language only helps me tell you, How grand you are. 
    
  I've tried to explain 'Bei mir bist du schön',  
  So kiss me and say you understand.
  
  * * *
  
  Kh'vel dir zogn, dir glaykh tzu hern
  Az du zolst mir libe derklern
  Ven du redst mit di oygn
  Volt ikh mit dir gefloygn vu du vilst
  S'art mikh nit on
  Ven du host a bisele seykhl
  Un ven du vaytzt dayn kindershn shmeykhl
  Vendu bist vild vi indianer
  Bist afile a galitsianer
  Zog ikh dos art mikh nit.
  
  Bei mir bistu sheyn,
  Bei mir hos tu heyn,
  Bay mir bistu eyner oyf der velt.
  Bei mir bistu sheyn,
  Bei mir hostu heyn,
  Bei mir bistu tayerer fun gelt.
  
  Fil sheyne meydlekh hobn gevolt nemen mir,
  Un fun zay ale oys-geklibn hob ikh nor dikh.
  
  [Words & Music by Jacob Jacobs & Sholom Secunda, 1929. English version by sammy Cahn & Saul Chaplin. Recorded by The Andrews Sisters, 1938.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BEI MIR BIST DU SCHOEN
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 07 Jan 06 - 06:27 PM

According to "Klezmer! Jewish Music from Old World to Our World"
by Henry Sapoznik, this song was popular with klezmer bands in the 1930s and the final word of the title was written "shayne" when transliterated to English. When the Andrew Sisters recorded it, the last word was written as "schoen" mit an umlaut over the "o" so it would appear to be from German instead of yiddish in order to sell more records in those antisemitic times.

If the Andrew sisters had recorded the song a few years later, anti-German sentiment might have been stronger than anti-Jewish sentiment.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
From: chico
Date: 08 Jan 06 - 01:44 AM

"written as "schoen" mit an umlaut over the "o" so it would appear to be from German instead of yiddish in order to sell more records in those antisemitic times."

That is quite a strech that the record industry in America (Strongly influenced by Jews) in the late 1940's was "antisemetic". It is in fact quite unsupported by any evidence. There is something called the law of parsimony--I'll spare you the explanation. Nevertheless, it is far far more likley that most people both and outside Germany are more familar with the standard German character rules and preferred to have the title with the correct spelling. The "Yiddish" words above are in fact transliterations from the actual hebrew script (which Yiddish is written in). They are transliterated without modern German spellings for various reasons, but a conspiracy of "antisemitism" is not one of them.

Please do not spread rumours without some basis in fact.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
From: chico
Date: 08 Jan 06 - 02:02 AM

Oops the above post should be late 1930's, not 40's.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 08 Jan 06 - 10:28 PM

Chico:

We think Sapoznik was not saying the record industry was antisemitic but rather that some of the buying public was antisemitic. So, if the song could be divorced from its Jewish history by simply changing the spelling of one word, it would result in more record sales.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
From: GUEST,Friederike
Date: 27 Sep 06 - 01:47 PM

I am very interested in sheet music of the yiddish version of Bei mir bistu sheyn. If anyone has it (e.g. EBarnacle1), please send it to me ([e-mail]).
Thank you very much!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BEI MIR BIST DU SCHOEN
From: GUEST,Liron.g
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 12:34 AM

I am very desperate to get the sheet music of the yiddish version of Bei mir bistu sheyn if anyone has it can you please post it or email it to me? ([e-mail]) Also if anyone has or knows where i can find or purchase the Karsten Troyke version please let me know. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW_VWw2jhtY

Thank you very much1 :D

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: BEI MIR BIST DU SCHOEN
From: Tootler
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 02:43 AM

This song was also recorded by the Benny Goodman Quartet (plus singer). I can't remember who the singer was nor do I know the date of the recording. I have it on an LP which is up in the loft and I don't have means of playing it anyway. It must have been quite long and taken up both sides of a 78 as the track on the LP is faded out then in again half way through.

If anyone has any info. I would welcome it. One of these days - when I get a round tuit - I will have to put it on to my computer as the Benny Goodman small group recordings were superb.

PS Getting round tuits takes much longer than mañana ;-}

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Feb 09 - 01:32 PM

According to Allmusic.com, Karsten Troyke's recording (without Sinti Swing, apparently) of BAI MIR BIST DI SHAIN (note spelling) is on the album "Yiddish Anders (Yiddish Jazz)" (Raumer CD 00982, 1994).

For a sound sample, see Raumer Records.

I don't know where to buy sheet music, but you might be able to find it in a public library by following this link to WorldCat.

Here's their description:

Bei mir bistu shein = Bay mir bizṭu shehn = Bei mir bisti shein : voice and piano
by Sholom Secunda; Jacob Jacobs
Type: Musical score; Yiddish
Publisher: New York : J & J Kammen Music, ©1933.
Editions: 5 Editions
OCLC: 265724463
Related Subjects: Songs, Yiddish -- United States.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
From: GUEST,Lloyd S.
Date: 31 Oct 10 - 02:14 PM

The Yiddish lyrics posted here are not quite correct. The second verse goes:

Bei mir bistu gut
Bei mir hostu "it"
Bei mir bistu teurer vun gelt

To me, you're good
To me, you have it
To me, you're more precious than money

To "have it" was a phrase used in the twenties to say someone had that certain something, je ne sais quoi, sex appeal. It was most famously applied to Clara Beau, the "It Girl." Having the expression in a Yiddish theater song was not as incongruous as it may seem, because English slang had certainly penetrated Yiddish in the New York of the day (just read the Joys of Yiddish - Leo Rosten covers the phenomenon well).

Also, although the lyrics are usually transliterated with "U" in a lot of places, the versions I've heard pronounce them as a short "I" or long "E." Thus "gut" rhymes with "it." "Bistu" comes out "Bistea" and "Hostu" as "Hostea." I don't know why, but if I recall correctly, that follows the official YIVO transliteration rules.

Subject: Will Fly - Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
From: olddude
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 01:30 PM

God I love this Will
wow what a job

Will Fly

Subject: RE: Will Fly - Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 02:01 PM

Very fine! Thanks for posting.

Yes, Will. I agree that the bear liked it. It was so enthralled that it never stirred.

Subject: RE: Will Fly - Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 21 Feb 11 - 06:25 PM

The bear probably thought it was about him. You do know the alternate lyrics: The bear missed the train/The bear missed the train/The bear missed the train/That's why he's walking. See, e.g., http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIRz4imxLNE

Subject: RE: Will Fly - Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 12:19 AM

Thank you for the charming smile at the end, Will.

☺ right back 2U.

~M~

Subject: RE: Will Fly - Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
From: alanabit
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 03:36 AM

It's quite charming, isn't it? A gentle soul with a lifetime of music behind it. Lovely stuff!

Subject: RE: Will Fly - Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 04:50 AM

Just struggling to get my head through the door. Thanks for the kind words. The fingerpicking was slightly low key - I'd just broken all the nails on my right hand shifting amps and stuff around!

Subject: RE: Will Fly - Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
From: olddude
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 12:33 PM

shifting amps? Amps ? Ok I am calling the folk police on ya my brother, no electric allowed (tee hee)

Subject: RE: Will Fly - Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 01:32 PM

Guilty as charged, Dan! Here's a sample of why...

The Star Above The Guitar

Subject: RE: Will Fly - Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
From: Mo the caller
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 05:54 AM

Those links give me a black rectangle and a message that I can't see it without a link.

Subject: RE: Will Fly - Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
From: Will Fly
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 07:24 AM

Strange - every YouTube video I've tried at random just now is just giving me a black rectangle.

Sound like a site problem.

Subject: RE: Will Fly - Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
From: Will Fly
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 07:34 AM

YouTube's working with Safari - but not with Firefox! Just tried both links and they're playing OK in Safari... weird!

Subject: RE: Will Fly - Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
From: Mo the caller
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 08:49 AM

I'm on Internet Explorer. I'll come back later, or try Chrome

Subject: RE: Will Fly - Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
From: olddude
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 10:06 PM

When I grow up I want to play guitar just like Will ....
I do ... he is a music hero to me

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
From: GUEST,Caryn
Date: 06 Jan 13 - 12:02 PM

I have the exact opposite problem; I'm looking for the Yiddish lyrics of "Bei mir bist du schon." Since I work with elderly patients, I sing Andrews sisters' songs with them. I do know the chorus of the song in English, if it's of any help:

Bie mir bist du schon
Please let me explain
Bie mir bist du schon means you're grand;
Bie mir bist du schon
Again I'll explain
It means you're the fairest in the land(2nd time: that I'm begging for your hand)
I could say bella bella, even say wunderbar,
Each language only helps me tell you, how grand you are.
I tried to explain, bei mir bist du schon,
So kiss me, and say you'll understand.

I hope to hear from you!
Caryn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
From: GUEST,Jack Sprocket
Date: 07 Jan 13 - 08:53 AM

The tune was adapted from the (traditional?) Russian Jewish song Valodya's Farewell to Odessa - a rather kitsch version from Sheffield here. I can't find who originally recorded this, but it's long been a standing favourite in Klezmer sessions.
Valodya's Farewell to Odessa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32BLyw5x6PQ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 07 Jan 13 - 09:31 AM

There's a recording by Judy Garland, but it's hard to find. She made it for a movie, but it was cut from the film before the film was released. There's a 3-CD set of Judy Garland recodings that has it, I think it may be a Bear Family CD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
From: Felipa
Date: 21 Nov 22 - 06:50 PM

I see The Bear Missed the Train has already been mentioned
It even has a Wikipedia entry
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bear_Missed_the_Train

The lyrics are nothing to write home about

The bear missed the train, the bear missed the train,
The bear missed the train and now he's walking.
The bear missed the train, the bear missed the train,
The bear missed the train and now he's walking.
And now he's walking far, and now he's walking near,
And now he's riding in a car, and now he's drinking a can of beer!
The bear missed the train, the bear missed the train,
The bear missed the train and now he's walking.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
From: Monique
Date: 22 Nov 22 - 02:03 AM

Here are the lyrics in Yiddish borrowed from Yidlid

בײַ מיר ביסטו שײן

ווען דו האָסט אויגן ווי בייַ אַ קאָטער,‏
און ווען דו הינקעסט צוביסלעך
האָסט קרומע פֿיסלעך,‏
זאָג איך:‏ דאָס אַרט מיך ניט.‏

און ווען דו האָסט אַ נאַרישן שמײַכל ,‏
און ווען דו האָסט ווייַזתאס שׂכל ,‏
ווען דו ביסט ווילד ווי אַן אינדיאַנער,‏
אַפֿילו אַ גאַליציאַנער,‏
זאָג איך:‏ דאָס אַרט מיך ניט.‏

‏זאָג מיר ווי דערקלערסטו דאָס?‏—
‏ כ'‏וועל דיר זאָגן באַלד פֿאַר וואָס:‏—

בייַ מיר ביסטו שיין,‏
בייַ מיר האָסטו חן,‏
בייַ מיר ביסטו איינער אויף דער וועלט.‏
בייַ מיר ביסטו גיט,‏
בייַ מיר האָסטו "‏היט”,‏
בייַ מיר ביסטו טייַערער פֿון געלט.‏

פֿיל שיינע מײדלעך האָבן שוין
געוואָלט נעמען מיך,‏
און פֿון זיי אַלע אויסגעקליבן
האָב איך נאָר דיך.‏
בייַ מיר ביסטו שיין,‏
בייַ מיר האָסטו חן,‏
בייַ מיר ביסטו איינער אויף דער וועלט

Subject: RE: Origins: Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
From: GUEST,jack sprocket
Date: 24 Nov 22 - 06:12 PM

I see i replied to this 9 years ago. But i'll add that my mother's friends' take on the lyrics back in the day was horrific, given the events of the time. They sang "you're mean, mr sheen", the racist trope about jews.

And i described it as "russian jewish" back then. Odesa is of course in ukraine.