Lyr Req: Nasser (waits for) Mechakeh L'Rabin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Nasser (waits for) Mechakeh L'Rabin
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 13 Jul 09 - 12:40 PM

I will contact my friend, Alan Sharkis who is a collector of Israeli songs from that era. Perhaps he still has it in his collection.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Nasser (waits for) Mechakeh L'Rabin
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Jul 09 - 02:05 AM

That's a good question, Sol. All I found was this (click):

Indeed, the Six-Day War song "Nasser Mechakeh L'Rabin" has its origins --
the music, if not the lyrics! -- in a bawdy Yiddish tune.

By way of introduction, a version of "Nasser Mechakeh L'Rabin" (sung by
the Doodaim) appears on the Hed-Arzi compilation album "Jerusalem of
Gold: Songs of the Six Days [sic] War." According to the liner notes, a
"folk tune was used by Haim Heffer for his song 'Nasser Waits for Rabin,'
which helped keep spirit high during the battles."

But an earlier tune -- with the same music and even the ai-ai-ais ending
each line -- can be found in an innocuous-looking French 78, released on
the Saturne label (just after World War II, from the looks of it) and
with two sides of Yiddish "folklore arranged and interpreted" by "S.
Berland et son orchesare" (orchestre is French for orchestra; I'm not
sure what orchesare refers to specifically). Both sides feature an
unidentified male vocalist and chorus; possibly the lead singer is S.
Berland himself.

The A-side is a slow version of "Yidl Mitn Fidl" (as it's spelled on
the disc). The B-side, and the inspiration for the Six-Day War song:
"Der Rebe Mit Di Schikse." Three guesses as to what it's about!

Subject: Lyr Req: Nasser (waits for) Mechakeh L'Rabin
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 11:53 PM

This Hebrew song came out during the 6 day war in 1967. At that time Yitzchak Rabin was a general in the Israeli army that was threatening to cross the Suez Canal and march on Cairo. The title of the song in Hebrew was "Nasser Mechakeh L'Rabin" (Nasser Waits For Rabin). It was part of an album that also contained "Yerushalayim Shel Zahav" (Jerusalem Of Gold), and "Sharm El Sheikh".

I lost the lyrics to this song when I lost the 8 track album tape that contained it and have been trying to rediscover them since.