Lyr Add: Yoshke Fort Avek

Subject: Lyr Add: Yoshke Fort Avek
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Oct 06 - 03:22 PM

My friend Mrs. Lev asked me about this song, so I'm looking for versions. I have two or three to post, and I'll transcribe a MIDI. Note that Zemerl has a link to a brief recording clip of the song.
-Joe-

I think I'll start the easy way and post what I found at Zemerl.com:

Yoshke Fort Avek (Yoshke is Leaving)

1. Koyf mir nit keyn lokenes Un makh mir nit sheyn Koyf dir a por shtivelekh Du darfst tsum priziv geyn Yoshke, Yoshke, oy vey Yoshke fort avek Nokh a sho un nokh a sho Der poyezd geyt avek 2. Klog zhe nit un veyn zhe nit S'iz altzding oy blote Ikh vel zayn in militer Der Shenster in der rote Oy oy oy Yoshke fort avek Nokh a kush un nokh a kush Der poyezd geyt avek

1. Do not buy me any lockets Do not make me look pretty Buy yourself a pair of boots Because you are in the army now Yoshke is going away Another hour, just one hour and his train will be off 2. Do not grieve for me Do not cry over me It is nothing When I get to the army I shall be the best soldier in my company oy oy oy Yoshke is going away. Just one more kiss And the train will be off

Zemerl - www.zemerl.com

Subject: Lyr Add: Yoshke Fort Avek
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Oct 06 - 04:21 PM

Yoshke Fort Avek

Bak mir nit kayn bulkelech, Ich vel zey doch nit esn. Ich for avek fonyen dinen, Vest in mir fargesn! Refrain: Oy, Oy, Oy, Oy, Yoshke fort avek. Noch a sho un noch a sho, Der poyezd geyt avek. Koyf mir nit kayn lokenes, Un mach mich nit sheyn. Koyf dir a por shtivelech, Tsum priziv darfstu geyn. Refrain: Oy, oy, oy, oy, Yoshke fort avek. Lomir zich gezegenen, Der poyezd geyt avek. Klog-zhe nit un veyn-zhe nit, S'iz altsding blote! Ich vel zayn bay fonyen, Der shenster in der rote! Refrain: Oy, oy, oy, oy, Yoshke fort avek. Noch a kush un noch a kush, Der poyezd geyt avek. Di ban iz shoyn gekumen Un es chapt mich on a shrek! Oy, vey, mamenyu, Yoshke fort avek. Refrain: Oy, oy, oy, oy, Yoshke fort avek Lomir zich gezegenen, Der poyezd geyt avek.

(He:) Bake no honey buns for me, Forget you ever met me - To the army I must go, Oh darling don't forget me! Refrain: Oh, oh, oh, oh, In an hour or so, Yoshke's going off to war, To the army he must go. (She:) Buy no pretty things for me, What do I need them for? Get yourself some army boots, You're marching off to war - Refrain: Oh, oh, oh, oh, My tears are flowing free, Come back safely, my true love, Oh, darling think of me! (He:) Don't you weep and don't you cry The army's just a ball - In the regiment I'll be, The handsomest of all.... Refrain: Oh, oh, oh, oh, In an hour or so, Come my darling, kiss me now, The train's about to go... (She:) The train is moving out at last, Oh, darling, how I grieve! I cannot bear to see you go, How can I see you leave? Refrain: Oh, oh, oh, oh, Help me mother dear, My true love has gone to war For many a weary year

Source: Ruth Rubin, Jewish Folk Songs in Yiddish and English (Oak Publications, 1965).

Rubin's notes: This song originated in Vilna, Lithuania, and is about an underworld character, "Yoshke," who preyed upon the small merchants in the Jewish quarter there. When the Russo-Japanese War broke out in 1904 and he was drafted, this satirical-humorous song describing an imaginary conversation between Yoshke and his lady-love became popular. With the passage of time, however, folks began to interpret this song differently, with emphasis on the poignancy of separation in wartime. Both forms of interpretation are current.

English lyrics by Ruth Rubin.

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Click to play

Subject: Lyr Add: Yoshke Fort Avek
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Oct 06 - 06:13 PM

One more version:

Yoshke Fort Avek

Koyf mir nit kayn lokenes,
Un mach mich nit sheyn.
Koyf dir a porshtivelech,
Tsum priziv darfstu geyn.
Oy, oy, oy, oy,
Yoshke fort avek.
Noch a sho un noch a sho,
Der poyezd geyt avek.

Zay-zhe mir gezunt,
Mayn tayere kale.
Noch dir vel ich benken
Mer vi noch ale
Oy, oy, oy, oy,
Yoshke fort avek.
Noch a kush un noch a kush,
Der poyezd geyt avek.

Di ban iz shoyn gekumen
Un es chapt mich on a shrek!
Lomir zich gezegenen,
Der poyezd geyt avek.
Oy, oy, oy, oy,
Yoshke fort avek.
Noch a sho un noch a sho,
Der poyezd geyt avek.

Klog-zhe nisht un veyn-zhe nisht,
S'iz altsding blote!
Ich vel zayn bay Fonyen,
Der shenster in der rote!
Oy, oy, oy, oy,
Yoshke fort avek.
Noch a kush un noch a kush,
Der poyezd geyt avek.

Droysn iz a zaveruche,
Drysn iz a shney,
Oy vey, mamele,
Dos kepele tut vey!
Oy, oy, oy, oy,
Yoshke fort avek.
Noch a kush un noch a kush,
Der poyezd geyt avek.


Source: Jerry Silverman, The Yiddish Song Book (1999, Scarborough House)

Only the last verse is significantly different from the versionas above. Here's Silverman's translation:

Outside there's a blizzard blowing
And a deep snow.
My God, Mother,
How my head is filled with woe.

No significant differences in the tune.