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Lyr Req/Add: Yosl Ber/Yossel Bear Gayt in Militar

21 May 05 - 01:12 PM (#1490100)
Subject: yossel Bear gaiet in Militare lirics wan
From: GUEST,G.I. Joe

Does anyone remember a yiddish song with the line "Yossel bear gait in Militar"   Trans. Yossel Bera[name] goes into the military/army.
Was played on a jewish program late 1940's in southern Connecticut

12 Nov 08 - 05:26 PM (#2492174)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yossel Bear Gaiet in Militare (Yiddish)
From: Joe Offer

This sounds very familiar, but I can't find it. It's been three years since the thread was started, and I think it's high time we resurrect it and get an answer.
Anyone?
-Joe-

12 Nov 08 - 06:42 PM (#2492240)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yossel Bear Gaiet in Militare (Yiddish)
From: GUEST,allan s

Bernie horowitz had a yiddish music hour on a New Haven, CT radio station late 1940's -early 1950's Sunday morning using the name Berril Howard I understand he has since passed away   At that time it probably was on a 78 rpm record as I dont think 33 RPM disks were in use then also old klesmer and The Barry Sister type music

13 Nov 08 - 04:52 AM (#2492549)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yossel Bear Gaiet in Militare (Yiddish)
From: GUEST,VOlgadon

I've been doing a search in Hebrew as well, no hits yet..

13 Nov 08 - 08:26 PM (#2493300)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yossel Bear Gaiet in Militare (Yiddis
From: GUEST,Gerry

I don't suppose there's any chance that this is the same as the song I've generally seen referred to as Yoshke Furt Avek which is, I think, about Yoshke joining the military?

13 Nov 08 - 08:31 PM (#2493305)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yossel Bear Gaiet in Militare (Yiddish)
From: Joe Offer

I'd be embarrassed if that were true, Gerry. I posted "Yoshke" in this thread a while back, and then promptly forgot about it. I looked again at the thread, and I don't think that's the song they're looking for.
-Joe-

14 Nov 08 - 10:13 AM (#2493749)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yossel Bear Gaiet in Militare (Yiddish)
From: GUEST,allan S.

No that is not the one I remember Back in those days there must have been many songs about men going into the military. Allan

14 Nov 08 - 04:44 PM (#2494118)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yossel Bear Gaiet in Militare (Yiddish)
From: GUEST,Volgadon

Especially as it was a recent phenomenom.

01 Feb 09 - 03:57 PM (#2554719)
Subject: YIDDISH SONG Yosel Baer
From: GUEST,allan s.

Sorry I havent figured how to get back to the old thread that I started on Yossel Bear gaet in militair but here it is

YOSL BER on page 173 Pearls of Yiddish Song.
it has the melody and guitar ghords.. Translation as follows
My name is Yosl Ber and I serve in the atmy
I wear boots and a uniform just like an officer
I was a cobblers apprentioce and I licked the soles with my tongue
Today I cary a rifle a sword and shoemaking can do to hell

Sung by Sidor Belarsky

01 Feb 09 - 04:26 PM (#2554741)
Subject: RE: yosel baer
From: GUEST,Allan.S

Back again guys I just Googled Sidor Belarsky and it has a list of songs he sung, clicked on Y ccrolled down to Yossel Bear set up my tape recorder clicked on play and there it was

01 Feb 09 - 04:38 PM (#2554746)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yossel Bear Gaiet in Militare (Yiddish)
From: GUEST,gi joe& allan s

I found it and posted it today Febuary 1, 2009

01 Feb 09 - 10:28 PM (#2554950)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yossel Bear Gaiet in Militare (Yiddish)
From: Joe Offer

I don't understand - where did you post it?
-Joe-

02 Feb 09 - 12:30 AM (#2554992)
Subject: ADD: Yosl Ber (Itsik Manger)
From: Joe Offer

Ah, NOW I see it. I'm surprised I missed it before. here are the lyrics, from Pearls of Yiddish Song (Mlotek), page 173.

YOSL BER
(Itzik Manger)

Heysn heys ikh Yosl-Ber
Un ikh din in militer —
Oy-ra-ra, oy-ra, oy-ra,
Shtivl trog ikh, a mundir,
Lehavdl vi an ofitsir
Oy-ra-ra, oy-ra, oy-ra.

Geven bin ikh a shuster-yung,
Gelekt podeshves mitn tsung —
Haynt hob ikh a biks, a shverd,
Shusteray hob ikh in dr'erd.

Mit dem bezem iz mir gring,
Kh'ker kazarmes un ikh zing —
S'endikt zikh di bezem-shlakht,
Dank ikh Got, s'falt tsu di nakht.

Gey ikh mir in gas aroys
Un ikh zukh a meydl oys —
Gib ikh zikh tsu ir a boyg
Un a pintl mitn oyg.

Farbet zi mikh in kikh arayn,
Git mir bronfn, git mir vayn —
Zi git mir a bulke, fish un khreyn,
Oy, a meydl mole-kheyn.


Translation:
    My name is Yosl Ber and I serve in the army. I wear boots and a uniform just like — pardon the comparison — an officer.

    I was a cobbler's apprentice, I licked soles with my tongue. Today I carry a rifle, a sword, and shoemaking can go to hell.

    With a broom it's easy. I sweep the barracks and I sing. When the sweeping action is over, I thank God that night comes.

    I go out on the street and look for a girl. I bow to her and give her a wink.

    She invites me into her kitchem, gives me brandy, gives me wine. She gives me a roll, fish, and horseradish. Oh, she's a girl full of charm.

    -Joe-



    Notes:
      Words by the well-known Yiddish poet Itsik Manger (1901-1969). There are two popular melodies — one composed by David Beigelman (1887-1944) and the other by Henekh Kon (1898-1972) — both of which are presented here. They were transcribed by the compilers from recordings of Ben Bonus and Sidor Belarsky.
      In some versions of the song, the last line reads: 'Un vos nokh — doszog ikh nisht.' (And what else [she gives] — I won't divulge).
      During the Holocaust, the more popular melody by Beigelman was used for Khane Kheytin's song 'Ikh leb in geto in kavkaz' (I live in the Ghetto in the Caucasus), published by S. Kaczerginski in 1948. This melody was also used by Sam Liptzin for his song 'Vi der zeyger tut
      klung' (When the clock strikes).

      Tunes available on request - but not tonight, because I'm tired.

Here's a verse translation, from Anthology of Yiddish Folksongs from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Volum 7 Itzik Manger, page 193-195.

    YOSL BER
    Itzik Manger

    I am Yosl Ber - you see
    I’m in the mi-li-ta-ree.
    Oy-ra-ra, oy-ra, oy-ra,
    Officers and new recruits
    Both look good in coat and boots.
    Oy-ra-ra, oy-ra, oy-ra.

    Once I was apprenticed to
    Some old goat who mended shoes.
    Aren’t my sword and musket swell!
    Cobbling now can go to hell!

    So I sweep the barracks floor —
    Evening ends the broomstick-war.
    Evening comes and I am glad
    That’s the time for the soldier lad!

    Now I’m strutting down the street
    Till a maid I chance to meet.
    Make a bow and wink an eye—
    Maids with soldiers are not shy.

    Leads me through the kitchen door
    Gives me wine and schnapps and more,
    Makes a sandwich just for me.
    What a lovely maid is she!


    English: Esther Cameron

20 Jun 16 - 10:27 AM (#3796679)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Yosl Ber/Yossel Bear Gayt in Militar
From: GUEST,John

I remember that song that my father had and play on 78rpm in Australia
We lost all my father's records
Yossel Bear gait in Militer
Yossel, Yossel, Yossel Bear gait in Militer

20 Jun 16 - 10:58 AM (#3796689)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Yosl Ber/Yossel Bear Gayt in Militar
From: Charlie Baum

And the Sidor Belarsky recording of it can be heard, thanks to soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/yiddishkayt/yosl-ber

--Charlie Baum

09 Jul 16 - 12:49 AM (#3799480)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Yosl Ber/Yossel Bear Gayt in Militar
From: GUEST,Gerry

Daniel Kahn has recorded this on his album, Partisans and Parasites. That recording is also included on the CD, The Rough Guide to Klezmer, and it has been put up on Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlG3taX-xnE. There are also a couple of live recordings of Kahn and his band doing the song, just search Youtube.