Lyr Req/Add: Yiddish songs

Subject: Yiddish songs
From: Nova Prof
Date: 06 Dec 99 - 06:58 PM

Does anyone have lyrics to Yiddish songs? Specifically, I'm looking for words to songs as sung by Aaron Lebedeff. Any suggestions gratefully accepted.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Dec 99 - 07:13 PM

Hi, Nova - you'll get a start if you put Yiddish in the search box on this page. Any songs in particular you'd like? You name 'em, and we'll try to find 'em. Charlie Baum gets a kick out of posting Yiddish songs. All my Yiddish songbooks are on loan to the good Mrs. Lev, but they'll be home soon - or I'll have to find a new adjective to describe Mrs. Lev.
You may also enjoy this thread (click here)
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From:
Date: 07 Dec 99 - 04:43 AM

There is a German site http://www.snafu.de/~troyke/start.htm which might have links to what you want.

Murray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Philippa
Date: 07 Dec 99 - 08:31 AM

Here are some llinks to Yiddish song threads, besides the thread Joe offered:

White Christmas !
Main Rue Platz (Eng. trans. in DT, Mayn Rue Platz)
Banks of the Ohio
Vu Iz Dus Gesele

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Áine
Date: 07 Dec 99 - 09:04 AM

Philippa listed this one, but on my computer the link got messed up; so, here it is again just in case:

Die Alter Tzigayner/White Christmas

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Jacob Bloom
Date: 07 Dec 99 - 10:03 AM

Here's a link to the Zemerl - The Jewish Song Database site.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Philippa
Date: 07 Dec 99 - 06:15 PM

I have a Flying Fish recording of a Klezmer band called 'Brave New World' The lyrics are included with the notes. Some of the lyrics are recent compositions by band members Michael Alpert & Alan Bern.

I had heard that 'those were the days' was originally in Yiddish. the DT identifies it as Russian. Does anyone have further details? I'm off to Jacob's Link to see if they have Yiddish words for Dona Dona; only the English is in the DT.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Áine
Date: 07 Dec 99 - 06:39 PM

Would anyone be interested in the lyrics in Yiddish to 'Maria' (from West Side Story); God Bless America, or Take Me Out To The Ballgame?

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Dec 99 - 08:06 PM

Is there any question, Áine? Of course, we'd be interested.
-Joe Offer, still waiting for Charlie's Yiddish "Banks of the Ohio"-

Subject: Lyr Add: DONA, DONA (in Yiddish)
From: Sarah-HS
Date: 07 Dec 99 - 09:48 PM

Philippa - I have the Yiddish words for Dona, Dona ...

DONA, DONA
(words, Aaron Zeitlin; music, Sholem Secunda)

Oyfin fur'l ligt a kelb'l
Ligt gebunden mit a shtrik
Hoykh in him'l flit a shvelb'l
Freyt zikh dreyt zikh hin un tzurik

Cho:
Lakht der vint in korn, lacht un lakht un lakht
Lakht er op a tog a gantzn, un a halbe nakht
Hey, dona, dona, dona ... dona dona dona don
Dona, dona, dona, dona ... dona dona dona don

Shryt dos kelbl, zogt der poyer
Verzhe heyst dikh zayn a kalb?
Volst gekent dokh zayn a foygl
Volst gekent dokh zayn a shvalb

Bidne kelber tut men bind'n
Un men shlept zey un men shekht
Ver s'hot fligl, flit aroyftzu
Iz bay keynem nit kayn k'necht

Subject: Lyr Add: NEM MIKH MIT TSU DER BALL GEYM
From: Áine
Date: 07 Dec 99 - 11:13 PM

NEM MIKH MIT TSU DER BALL GEYM
(TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME)
by Jack Norworth and Albert von Tilzer

Nem mikh mit tsu der ball geym
(Take me out to the ballgame)
Tsum oylem lomir dokh geyn
(Take me out to the park)
Koyf mir di nislekh un krekerjek
(Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack)
Vil ikh keyn molfun dort nit avek
(I don't crae if I never get back)
Git zey mut, mut, mut, di ball shpiler
(For it's root, root, root for the home team)
Es past nit az men farshpilt
(If they don't win, it's a shame)
Vayls'iz eyns, tsvey, dray strikes, un oys
(For it's one, two, three strikes you're out)
Bay der beysball shpil
(At the old ballgame)
Shpil Ball!
(Play Ball!)

Subject: Yiddish songs & Brave Old World
From: Philippa
Date: 09 Dec 99 - 08:02 PM

Apologies to Michael Alpert, Alan Bern et al and to Aldous Huxley. Lamarca has pointed out to me my mistake; the klezmer band I mentioned is called Brave Old World

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Susan A-R
Date: 09 Dec 99 - 11:26 PM

I too am (patiently) awaiting Banks of the Ohio.

I also have several songs in Yiddish about the holocost. If these are of interest, I also do have sheet music for them and could snail mail them to you. Approximate spelling of titles: Dremlein Vygel (Birds are Dreaming) Tswei Teybelech (Two Doves) Heis Ysrolich (My name is Israel) Rivkele Die Shabbasdike Rivkele the Shabat Widow) (My spelling is interesting)

Anyway, I'll dig them up if you want them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Roger the skiffler
Date: 10 Dec 99 - 07:00 AM

Sarah, thanks for the Donna, Donna lyrics, I have the Topol recording as well as the well-know Joan Baez one & often thought of trying the Yiddish version if I could find it.
RtS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Philipppa
Date: 10 Dec 99 - 04:04 PM

Thanks Sarah. Zemerl site recommended by Jacob does have the words to Dona Dona in Yiddish, and also a Hebrew translation and another song to the same tune. Have a look at the site (everyone)!

Subject: Lyr Add: SHTIL DI NACHT (Hirsh Glik)^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 11:53 PM

Jillian Tallmer sang this powerful song at Camp Harmony in the San Francisco area this week. I thought I'd post it.
-Joe Offer-

---

SHTIL DI NACHT
(Hirsh Glik)

Shtil, di nacht iz oysgeshternt, Un der frost - er hot gebrent; Tsi gedenkstu vi ich hob dich gelernt Haltn a shpayer in di hent. A moyd, a peltsl un a beret, Un halt in hant fest a nagan, A moyd mit a sametenem ponim Hit op dem soynes karavan. Getsilt, geshosn un getrofn Hot ir kleyninker pistoyl, An oto a fulinkn mit vofn Farhaltn hot zi mit eyn koyl. Fartog fun vald aroysgekrochn, Mit shney-girlandn oyf di hor, Gemutikt fun kleyninkn n'tsochn Far undzer nayem, frayen dor.

The starry night is silent, And the frost is sharp and crisp; Do you remember when I taught you To hold a pistol in your hand. A girl, a short coat and a beret, Holding a pistol firmly in her hand, A girl with a face as soft as velvet Guards the enemy's caravan. She aimed, fired and found her mark With her little pistol, A truck full of ammunition She stopped with one shot. At dawn, creeping out of the woods With snow garlands clinging to her hair, She was encouraged with her tiny victory For our new, free generation.

---

This song tells the story of two partisans who blew up a German military transport on the outskirts of Vila in 1942. The two partisans engaged in this act were Itzik Matskevitsch and Vitke Kempner. It is interesting to note the poet's use of three words, shpayer, nagan, pistoyl, to denote the same object, and automatic pistol. A former resident of the Vilno ghetto gave this explanation for the poet's license:

"Shpayer was common in the Vilno region; nagan was the Russian word; pistoyl was the German term. The use of all three within one song demonstrated the presence of Jews from all over Europe, often herded together by the German occupationists within one ghetto, one concentration or death camp."

(Source: Voices of a People: The Story of Yiddish Folksong, Ruth Rubin, 1979)

JRO^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Wolfgang
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 05:36 AM

Joe, a very powerful song using so few words to evoke a mountain of feelings. I knew it but thanks a lot for reminding me of it.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,Fedele in the library
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 05:53 AM

Try to find the thread I started some months ago - "Yiddish workers songs" (click). There are some links and a good one to Hatikvah Music Shop. I strongly recommend you take "In love and in struggle - The musical legacy of the Jewish Labor Bund" in that shop. The guy is very kind.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 02:04 AM

Fedele, good to hear from you again, my friend...After all these threads on Yiddish songs, I JUST remembered that an old friend of my parents translated a large number of Gilbert and Sullivan songs into Yiddish. In fact, I believe he may have staged some of the operettas in Yiddish in Philadelphia some time ago. My music and book collections are rather farblunzhed at the moment, but I will try to find and post some of the songs. (And Joe, I know we've been through this before, but you're QUITE sure you're not even a little bit Jewish?!)

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,Fedele
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 03:50 AM

I won't be content till all the world got that CD. It's like playing Risk: it's my Secret Goal.... ;-)
Sorry for not showing that I'm alive for a while: busy with studying, and also because I still got to pay for being on-line

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Stewart
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 06:29 PM

I just got a great new Yiddish songbook, "Songs of Generations" by Eleanor and Joseph Mlotek (1997)from The Yiddish Voice Store. It has about 130 songs with lyrics in Hebrew Yiddish, Yiddish transliteration, and English translation, music and chords (what more could you ask for!). There are also two earlier volumes in this series: "Mir Trogn a Gezang" and "Pearls of Yiddish Song."

Also, you might check out my music web page Click Here. I have 3 songs posted - Papirosn, A Yor Nokh Mayn Khasene, and Shtil di Nakht - with lyrics, music, sound clips, and background info. I will post more as I learn them.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: BH
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 06:55 PM

As to Lebidoff----find his Romania, Romania. What a classic, and the best version yet. Leo Fuld has an album of "greatest hits"---not that great except for Yidishe Mama (A staple in the Borscht Belt until the 60s---guaranteed to bring a tear to the left eyeball), Dona Dona---and a similar title but different song--Doyna Doyna.

And for some great comedy material never forget Joel Gray's dad---Mickey Katz. Oy vier gehen essen---essen gehen vier---remember that oldie?

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: artbrooks
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 08:43 PM

That much maligned reference "Rise Up Singing" has several Yiddish songs, including Donna Donna and Tumbalalyka.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Troll
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 10:13 PM

www.tara.com Tara publications is a good place to look. They are a publisher that specializes in Jewish music of all kinds. ZEMRL (click) is also excellent.

troll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,Abraham Diner
Date: 10 Oct 04 - 06:02 AM

You find Yiddish songs in the most unexpected artists.
For example, HERB ALPERT ( HERB ALPERT and the TIJUANA BRASS)
recorded two yiddish songs (instrumentals) with him playing
trumpet: BELZ ( My little town)
         IF I WERE A RICH MAN
Herb Alpert is jewish, but his recordings have a "mexican" sound.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,Abraham Diner
Date: 10 Oct 04 - 06:10 AM

A GEM!!! JEWISH WEDDING SONG ( TRINKT L'CHAIM)
sung by Julie Andrews in the original soundtrack from
THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. It is actually a medley of
two yiddish songs ( TRINKT L'CHAIM) which Julie Andrews
sings in yiddish, and then a klezmer dance done by
hassid jews to the tune of LOMIR ZICH UBERBEITEN,
then Julie Andrews reprises with TRINKT L'CHAIM.
I Believe this movie was released on DVD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,abraham diner
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 12:06 PM

Friends: I need your help.
Please go to the website : www.esther-ofarim.de
and in the opening page click song of the week.
Where it says the song you prefer for the following
week press OYFN PRIPITCHOK. ( The other 2 are hebrew songs)
I am urgently looking to download this song, which is
possible to do from this website. Esther Ofarim is
a very talented singer. She sings this song in Yiddish.
I am counting with your help. Please HURRY.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs - Ich Vil Zoch Spillen
From: GUEST,Robin Greenstein
Date: 08 Jan 07 - 12:58 AM

I learned a fragment of a song which is Yiddish and English mixed together humorously.

it goes like this:

Ich vil zoch shpillen, I long to be
Mit zinge boyes, Who fall for me
Ich vil zoch shpillen, That's all I do
If you want to live, you must ba shpillen too.

I went to see a Doctor,
He said it was my nerves
He looked me over carefully
He listened to my heart but kept
looking at my curves
And suddenly the doctor said to me


Ich vil zoch shpillen
My lovely wench
Ich bin a Doctor, but oy cha mensch
Ich vil zoch shpillen
Come kiss me quick,
If you refuse me, it is I who will be sick

Does anyone know where this is from, and what the rest of the lyrics are, if any?

many thanks.

Robin Greenstein
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,GUEST Antonius
Date: 04 May 07 - 06:53 PM

And I need lyrics for the song 'Rivkele Die Shabbasdike', the version sung by Chava Alberstein. Susan A-R seemed to promise dig it up if required.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 04 May 07 - 07:19 PM

There is a version of Rivkele Die Shabbasdike here on Zemerl

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: DADGBE
Date: 04 May 07 - 11:50 PM

Hi Mark and all,

Gilbert and Sulivan in Yiddish is some of the most hilarious stuff I've ever heard. I don't know about your translations, Mark, but when I was a kid I heard a version of Little Buttercup sung in Yiddish. I laughed for days over -

Zey ruft mir claner putter shissel,
Claner, shaner puter shissel...

Which translates roughly as -

They call me little tub o' butter,
Pretty, little tub o' butter.

Yikes!

Best to all,
Ray

Subject: ADD: Rivkele di shabesdike
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 May 07 - 02:07 AM

Rivkele di Shabesdike (the Sabbath-Widow)

Rivkele di shabesdike Arbet in fabrik, Dreyt a fodim tsu a fodim, Flecht tsunoyf a shtrik. Oy de geto fintstere, Doyert shoyn tsu lang, Un dos harts azoy farklemt Tut ir azoy bang. Ir getroyer Hershele Iz avek, nito, Zint fun yenem shabes on, Zint fun yener sho. Iz fartroyert Rivkele Yomert tog un nacht, Un atsind baym redele, Zitst zi un zi tracht. Vu iz er, mayn libinker, Lebt er noch chotsh vu? Tsi in kontsentratsie-lager Arbet shver on ru? Oy, vi fintster iz im dort, Biter iz mir do - Zint fun yenem shabes on, Zint fun yenem sho.

Rivkele the shabesdike Works in the factory, Twists a thread to a thread, And so braids a string. Oh the dark ghetto, Is lasting too long And her heart is so depressed And beats so hard. Her betrothed Hershele Is gone, not here, Since a certain Sabbath Since a certain hour. Rachel is saddened, Lamenting day and night And now by the little wheel, She sits and she thinks. Where is he, my beloved, Is he still alive? Or is he in the concentration camp Working hard without rest? Oh, how dark it is for him there, I am bitter here - Since that certain Sabbath Since that certain hour.

Text - P. Kaplan
On a Saturday (Sabbath) in the Bialestok ghetto the women were separated from their men who were all killed. These women were referred to as the 'Shabesdike". P. Kaplan, the author of this song, was a well-known writer and editor of the Bialestok publication The New Life. He perished in the Bialistok ghetto.

Source: Songs Never Silenced a songbook by Velvel Pasternak (Tar Publications, 2003)

This is pretty close to what Albestein sings, although she starts and ends with a lamenting wail, and she repeats the first verse at the end.

Another very good transcription of the song is here (click)

---

The Yiddish version at Zemerl is a bit sloppy, but the English translation is taken direct from the Chava Alberstein Yiddish Songs CD:

Rivkele Di Shabesdike

Music:	Pesakh KAPLAN
Lyrics:	Pesakh KAPLAN

rivkele di shabesdike arbet in fabrik, zi shpint a fodem nokh a fodeml, flekht tsunoyf di shtrik. oy di geto, di fintstere, doyert azoy lang, 'vert mayn harts farumet, tut mir azoy bank.' zifst zikh rivkele fun benkshaft, oy oy oy farshmakht, vegn ir tayer hershele shtendik nor zi trakht. 'oy vi biter iz im dort, fintster iz mir do, zint fun yenem shabes, zint fun yener sho.' zitst zikh rivkele un treyst ir eyn-un-eyntsik kind, 'kumen vet der tate, kumen vet geshvind. brengen vet er esn, gor a sakh broyt.' nit gevust hot rivkele az hershele iz toyt.

Rivkale, "De Shabbatdike", works in factory, spins yarn and plaits rope. "Oh this dark and cursed ghetto has been lasting for too long". Her heart is pained and sad. Her darling Hershele has disappeared and gone. Since that Sabbath day, since that time, Rivkale sits and weeps at her spinning loom day and night. "Where is my love? Is he still alive? Is he in a concentration camp? In a labor camp? Oh, how black is it for him there and how bitter here for me. Since that Sabbath, since that time."

Zemerl - www.zemerl.com

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,Antonius
Date: 13 May 07 - 07:01 PM

Thank you, Joe for the Albersten's version, thanks to Bob for reference to zemerl. I've already found the text before on zemerl but it was not so suitable for singing with the music like the one that performed by Ch. Alberstein.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: dozy rozy
Date: 14 May 07 - 06:05 PM

I was in the Nook at Holmfirth festival of Folk this weekend, and a lady sang "jump down turn around pick a bale of cotton"in Yiddish.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,Klezdrummer57
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 11:31 AM

Does anyone have all of hte Yiddish wrods for Romania, Romanis?"
a groysen dank!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Bill H //\\
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 04:22 PM

There is a new album out---The Jewish SOngbook. It has some wonderful songs on it as performed by some people you might not have expected---Richard Belzer/Paul shaffer do Joe & Paul, Adam Sandler does Hine Ma Tov and more.

I have featured it on my Sunday Simcha program on WFDU (air time Sundays 10-11 AM and streaming on the web on wfdu.fm).

You can check it out on shoutfactorystore.com

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 04:30 PM

Hi, klezdrummer - is it "Romania, Romanis," or "Romania, Romania"? I have an extensive collection of Yiddish songbooks, and didn't find it. Can you tell us more about it?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Stringsinger
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 07:38 PM

Nova Prof,

Here's a wonderful Lebedev song (that I've been threatening to learn). Zing ge-zunt!

1. Keyn Amerike tsu kumen,
Hob ikh keyn mi geshport.
Hob ikh gedenkt a rov tsu vern Un far-
Lo-an zikh a bord, Kh'hob ge-
Hat tsvey sheyne peyes, Vi
Yeder frumer Yid-tsum
sof, on shtot di bord ho-bikh di
pe-yes oy-khet nit. Vet
Ir mir fre-gn: styatsh? Vi en dos Zayn? Der
Te-rets der-fun iz li-be fraynt der bay:
(Chorus:)
Vos
Ken du macht es iz Amerike?   A
S'iz A-mer-i-ke, un vos ken du makh?
Vos ken du macht es iz Amerike?   A
fil-le der Yid hot der po-nim mit'n goy.

2. Az do in Amerike iz alts-ding far-kert, Di
Me-ner zey shey-vn zikh, By di
Vuay-ber shprot-sn berd,
Vos ken du macht es iz Amerike?'
S'iz Amerike, un "Bol-she nit she-vo!"

3. In Europe hob-n kha-se-ne
Yung-ge meyd-lekh gor, Un
Na-kher ho-bn zey-kin der, Ve es
Firt zikh, punkt tsum yor. In A-
Merike iz gor an-dersh, Me
nemt zikh tsayt on shir, M'hot
Kha-se-ne do shpte-ter nor di
Kin-der hot men frier.
Ir mir fre-gn: s'taytsh? vo ken dos zayn? Der
Te-rets der-fun iz li--be franynt der-bay:
(Chorus:)
Vos ken du macht es iz Amerike?
Do ken pa-sirn a-les, zog ikh (?)
Vos ken du macht es iz Amerike! Az do
Aylt men zikh dokh mit a Ye-der raykh. 4. Do
Zukht men tsu sey-vn, Ex-pen-ses, af-ge-vis, Der
Far makht men di kha-se-ne tsu-za-men mit-n
Bris!
Vos ken du macht es iz Amerike? Siz A-
Mer-i-ke, un vos den du macht? Az
Khos-n' ka-le fun der khu-pe a
He-ym nor me geyt, Iz
Shoyn dort'n a vi-ge-le mit a
Kind oykh on-ge-greyt!
(Tag:)
Vos ken du macht es iz Amerike? S'iz A-
Merike, a leyn un dat's all!

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 08:18 PM

This thread started (in 1999) with a request for lyrics to songs by Aaron Lebedeff. It wasn't until 2001 that anyone mentioned Romania, Romania, probably Lebedeff's best-known work, and now there is a request for its lyrics. You can find them at http://zemerl.com/cgi-bin//show.pl?title=Rumanye+Rumanye and at http://shakti.trincoll.edu/~mendele/vol05/vol05.124

The Australian band, Klezmania, do a take-off, Oystralia, on their album of the same name.

The song Frank Hamilton writes out was recorded by early klezmer-revival band Kapelye.

Subject: ADD: Rumania, Rumania [Rumenye, Rumenye]
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 03:33 AM

You'll find a teriffic recording of "Roumania, Roumania," sung by Aaron Lebedeff himself, on a Columbia album called From Avenue A To The Great White Way: Yiddish & American Popular Songs 1914-1950.

I finally did find "Rumania, Rumania" in a songbook - a very unsatisfying transcription can be found in Velvel Pasternak's The Jewish Fake Book (Tara Publications, 1997) page 106. The transcription at Zemerl is far better, so that's the one I'll post:

Rumania, Rumania
[Aaron Lebedeff (1873-1960)]

Ekh, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye,
Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye.
Geven a mol a land a zise, a sheyne.

Ekh, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye,
Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye.
Geven a mol a land a zise, a fayne.

Dort tsu voynen iz a fargenigen.
Vos dos harts glust dir, dos kenstu krign.
A mameligele, a pastramele,
A karnatsele, un a glazele vayn, aha!

In Rumenye iz dokh gut,
fun keyn dayges veyst men nit;
Vayn trinkt men iberal,
me farbayst mit kashtaval.
Hay digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam;
Hay digi digi digi digi digi dam.
Hay digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam;
Hay digi digi digi digi digi dam.

In Rumenye iz dokh gut,
fun keyn zorgn veyst men nit;
Vayn trinkt men iberal,
me farbayst a kastravet.
Hay digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam;
Hay digi digi digi digi digi dam.
Hay digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam;
Hay digi digi digi digi digi dam.

Oy vey g'vald, ikh ver meshige,
kh'lib nor brinze, mamelige,
Kh'tants un frey zikh biz der stelye,
ven ikh es a patlozhele.
Dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidlt ti dam.
Ay, s'iz a mekhaye, beser ken nit zayn,
Ay, a fargenign iz nor Rumenish vayn.

Di Rumener trinken vayn
un esn mamelige
Ver es kusht zayn eygn vayb,
o yener iz meshige.
Dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidlt ti dam.
Ay, s'iz a mekhaye, beser ken nit zayn,
Ay, a fargenign iz nor Rumenish vayn.

A ...
Yokum purkon min shemaye,
shteyt un kusht di kekhne, Khaye,
Ongeton in alte shkrabes,
makht a kugl l'koved Shabes.
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam!

A ...
Yokum purkon min shemaye,
shteyt un kusht di kekhne, Khaye,
Ongeton in alte shkrabes,
makht a kugl l'koved Shabes.
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam!
Ay, s'iz a mekhaye beser ken nit zayn,
Ay, a fargenign iz nor Rumenish vayn.

Ay, ay, ay!

Subject: ADDE Version: Rumania, Rumania
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 03:42 AM

This page (click) has a transcription and translation by Fred Jacobowitz of the Machaya Klezmer Band in the Washington DC/Baltimore area.
Another source said that Lebedeff recorded the song in the 1940's.


Rumania, Rumania
(Aaron Lebedeff)

Ekh, Rumania, Rumania,...(6x) Geven amol a land a zise a sheyne. Ekh, Rumania, Rumania...(6x) Geven amol a land a zise a fayne. Dort tzu voynen is a fargenign. Vos dos hartz glust dir, dos kenstu krign. A mammeligele, a pastramele, a karnatsele, un a glezele vayn, aha! (FASTER) In Rumania iz dokh git, Funken dayges veyst men nit; Vayn trinkt men iberal, me farbayst mit kashtaval. (chorus) Hay, digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam; Hay, digi digi dam, digi digi dam. In Rumania iz dokh git, Funken zorgn veyst men nit; Vayn trinkt men iberal, me farbayst a kastravet. (chorus) Hay, digi digi dam,....etc. (FASTER) Oy vey g'vald, ikh ver meshige, 'kh lib nor brinze, mamelige, 'kh tantz un frey zikh biz der stelye, ven ikh es a patlozhele. Dzing-ma, tay tidl di dam, (4x) Ay, s'iz a mekhaye, besser ken nit zayn, ay, a fargenign iz Rumenish vayn. Di Rumener trinken vayn un esn mamalige. Ver es kusht zayb eygn vayb, o yenner iz meshuge. Dzing-ma, tay tidl di dam, (4x) Ay, s'iz a mekhaye,....etc. (FASTER) Yokum purkon min shemaye, shteyt un kusht di kekhne, Khaye, ongeton in alte shkrabes, makht a kugl l'koved Shabbes Zetz, tay tdl di da, (4x) Ay, s'iz a mekhaye,..... etc. Zis es iz tzu kush a moid, ven zi iz nokh zekhtzn. Ober, ven du kisht an alte moid, heybt zi on tzu krekhtzn! Zetz, tay tdl di da, (4x) Ay, s'iz a mekhaye,..... etc.

Oh, Romania.... It was a sweet, beautiful land Oh, Romania... It was a sweet, fine land To live there is a joy. What your heart desires, you can have. A mammelige (cornmeal porridge), a pastrami, a spiced meatball, and a glass of wine, aha! In Romania it's good, Noone has any --??-- ; People drink wine everywhere, Dessert is roasted chestnuts. (chorus) Hay, digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam; Hay, digi digi dam, digi digi dam. In Romania it's good, Noone has any worries; People dring wine everywhere, Dessert is --??--. (chorus) Hay, digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam; Hay, digi digi dam, digi digi dam. Oy, vey, catastrophe, I'm going nuts, I only like --??--, mamaligas, I dance and cavort until dawn, when I eat an eggplant. Ah, it is a pleasure, it can't be better than this. ah, what a joy Romanian wine is. The Romanians drink wine and eat mameligas. He who kisses his own wife is crazy. Yokum the bashful tinker stands and kisses the cook, Khaya, from old scrapings, she makes a Sabbath pudding. [inspired by this] sweet to kiss a girl when she is just sixteen. But when you kiss an old woman she starts to moan (complain).

On Sat, 13 Apr 1996, Cantor Neil Schwartz wrote:

> > Oh Romania, Romania, Romania Romania.....
> >
> > Im looking for the YIDDISH words for this song..
> >
> > Email me? -- Nu?
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Jonathan
> >
> > \\__o<
>
> You need to obtain a wonderful book called "Great Songs of the Yiddish
> Theater"
> ed. by Norman Warembud in 1975 for the Quadrangle / New York Times Book Co.
>
> "Rumania, Rumania" by Aaron Lebedeff is found on pp. 175-181, in the original
> arrangement (but modern typography).
>
> This valuable book is available thru Tara Publications   1-800-TARA-400
> http://www.jewishmusic.com/tara/
>
> --
> Cantor Neil Schwartz

---

There's a video with a good recording of this song here (click).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Bill H //\\
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 04:22 PM

There is also a wonderful version of Romania/Romania done by The Limeliters---sidesplittingly funny as it parodies the piece.

It is on their LP--TOnight In Person

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Stringsinger
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 05:31 PM

Judy Breslin recorded Rumania with the New England Conservatory Klezmers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,allan s.
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 07:12 PM

Has anyone heard of a yiddish song with the words Yossel Bear????
I remember it back in the 1950's played on station WELI in the New Haven , CT area   by a man who went by the name Berril Howard. his actual name was Bernard Horowitz
the choris went [Yossel Yossel Bear, gayt in die Militair]
"Yossel bear goes in the Military"
I suspect the reference could have refered to WW-2

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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,Tom
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 07:33 AM

Has anyone had a listen here http://aaronlebedeff.free.fr/anglais/codage/roumania.htm

Does anyone have an English translation?

---

See my translation a few messages above.
-Joe Offer, Forum Moderator-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 04:02 PM

So, did you ever find the lyrics to Essen - vier gehen essen? If so, please send to [e-mail]. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 10 - 06:57 AM

I am looking for lyrics in Yiddish of songs about the holocaust, and would sincerely appreciate your forwarding available material for
presentation (reading) at a program in Haifa commemorating the 'sho'ah', to be held on Saturday the 17th of April.
Your assistance will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Leah Krikun
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: GUEST,malkele
Date: 20 Jun 10 - 03:13 PM

Can someone please post the english to ich hob dich tzu far lieb- please forgive spelling

Subject: ADD: Ikh hob dikh tsufil lib/I Love You Much Too M
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Jun 10 - 05:38 PM

Hi, Malkele -
could it be "Ich Hob Dich Tzufil Lieb" (I love you too much) by Alexander Olshanetzky and Chaim Towber (1934)? That one was recorded by Neil Sedaka on his Brighton Beach Memories CD. The Barry Sisters recorded it, under the title "Ich Chob Dich Zifeel Lieb." Can you give some Yiddish words so we're sure we're talking about the right song?
-Joe-

---

I found a YouTube recording of the Barry Sisters, with these Yiddish words:

Ikh hob dikh tsufil lib

Ikh hob dikh tsufil lib,
ikh trog oyf dir kayn khas,
ikh hob dikh tsufil lib,
zu sajn oyf dir in kas.

Ikh hob dich tsufil lib,
tsu zayn oyf dir gor beyz,
a nar ikh heyz, ikh veyz,
ikh hob dikh tsufil lib.

Ikh volt mayn lebn avekgegebn,
mayn harts, mayn neshome,
ikh bin krank, nor mayn gedank,
trakht nit fun nekome.

Ikh hob dikh tsufil lib,
tsu zayn oyf dir gor beyz,
a nar ikh heyz, ikh veyz,
ikh hob dikh tsufil lib.

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Here are the lyrics, as sung by The Andrews Sisters, in English:

I LOVE YOU MUCH TOO MUCH
(Alexander Olshanetsky / Don Raye / Chaim Towber)

Also recorded by:
The Ames Brothers, Pat Boone, Alma Cogan, Irving Fields, Helen Forrest, Connie Francis, Dizzy Gillespie, Larry Hambro Quartet, Dick Haymes, Joni James, Gene Krupa, Dean Martin, Santana, Jerry Vale, Luis Varona, his piano and Orchestra, Bobby Vinton.



I love you much too much
I’ve known it from the start
But yet my love is such
I can’t control my heart

I love you much too much
I ask myself what for
Then, darling, when we touch
Mmmm, I love you more

Perhaps I hold your heart too tightly
But who am I to say
If I should hold it lightly
It might slip away

I love you much too much
You’ve never really known
I love you oh so much
I’m yours alone.

I love you much too much, I love you much too much
I’ve known it from the start, right from the start
But yet my love is such,
I can’t control my heart

I love you much too much
I love you too much oh my dear
I’ve known it from the start
But, but, but my love is such
I can’t control my heart

Perhaps I hold your heart too tightly
But who am I to say
If I should hold it lightly
It might slip away

(Musical Break)

I love you much too much
You’ve never really known
Oh no, oh no you’ve never known
I love you oh so much, so much
I’m yours alone, alone.


(Contributed by Bill Huntley - March 2007)

---

and hey, how 'bout a YouTube recording by Dean Martin (click)?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yiddish songs
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 01:34 PM

Google Books has several books in the subject heading "Songs, Yiddish"