Origins: Tzena, Tzena, Tzena (Weavers, et al.)

Subject: RE: Origins: Tzena, Tzena, Tzena (Weavers, et al.)
From: Mrrzy
Date: 10 Jun 21 - 05:27 PM

Answering where I learned it in English, it was the year we were in the States, public school in Alexandria VA. Not jewish. 1970 or 71.

Subject: RE: Origins: Tzena, Tzena, Tzena (Weavers, et al.)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 11 Jun 21 - 05:50 AM

Looks like there have been conflicting ideas about the song ought to be, which go right back to its origins.

Did Miron and Haggiz write it from scratch or is there a Yiddish antecedent?

Subject: RE: Origins: Tzena, Tzena, Tzena (Weavers, et al.)
From: GUEST,Neil Foley
Date: 06 Aug 22 - 03:36 AM

A bit off topic but when I discovered The Weavers and first heard this song, I was a young high schooler, no more than 13 or 14. For years, I sang it the way I ‘heard’ and understood the English version - in which my ear substituted ‘bear’ for ‘square’ ?


Somehow knowing that dancing bears were still a not uncommon sight in Russia, I concluded that this was probably a Russian folk song and suspected that its Russian origins probably factored into the attempts by Senator Joe McCarthy’s House Un-American Activities Committee to label The Weavers as ‘Reds’ and get them blacklisted.

Subject: RE: Origins: Tzena, Tzena, Tzena (Weavers, et al.)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Aug 22 - 03:46 AM

Maybe not that far off, Neil. Like many large nations, Russia has an obsession with the pureness of its music and culture. But in reality, the most delightful Russian music comes from the fringes of its society, like the Russian Jews who have been persecuted for so long.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: Tzena, Tzena, Tzena (Weavers, et al.)
From: Mrrzy
Date: 12 Aug 22 - 10:55 PM

I noticed that the words I learned in English, what I recall from 1970 or 71, aren't in this thread, so voici:

Tzena tzena tzena tzena
Come into the fields and we'll begin to work the land
Hoeing sowing new things growing [...]
Come and lend a hand

Tzena tzena [...]ation
Toiling busily all daaaay
Soon we'll dance and have a celebration
First we'll work anf then we'll play!

[I looked this version up. Pete Seeger, sayeth the google. Blicky (see version III).

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Pete Seeger and The Weavers - Tzena, Tzena, Tzena

Version 1

Tzena, Tzena, Tzena, Tzena,
Can't you hear the music playing in the village square?
Tzena, Tzena, Tzena, Tzena,
Can't you hear the music playing in the village square?
Tzena, Tzena, join the celebration.
There'll be people there from every nation.
Dawn will find us dancing in the sunlight,
Dancing in the village square.

Version 2

Tzena, Tzena, Tzena, Tzena,
How can anything plainer than my love for you?
Tzena, Tzena, Tzena, Tzena,
Don't you know your eyes contain a look that thrills me through?
Tzena, Tzena, everyone is waiting
For a wedding they're anticipating
Everyone is happy celebrating
People dancing in the streets.

Clap your hands and (clap)
Raise your voices higher
Make a circle
While we dance around the fire
All the world's in
Love with Tze-na, Tze-na.

Versione 3

Tzena, Tzena, Tzena, Tzena
Come into the fields and we'll begin to work the land.
Hoeing, sowing, new things growing
Pioneering all together, come and lend a hand
Tzena, Tzena building a new nation
Toiling busily all day.
Soon we'll dance and have a celebration
But first we'll work and then we'll play.
Tzena, Tzena
Tzena, Tzena, Tzena,
Tzena, Tzena, Tzena, TZENA!

Originale (Hebrew)

TZENA

Tzena, tzena, tzena, tzena
Habanot, urena chayalim bamoshava.

Al-na, al-na, al-na, al-na,
Al-na titchabena miben-chayil ish tzava.