Researching Yiddish penny songs (tenement song broadsides of theater and variety show songs, 1895-1925)
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UPDATE! Over a year ago I posted the translation of this song and thought I would never find the melody - but the Mayrent Collection has a recording of Kol Mikadesh (from around 1914) sung by Morris Goldstein and shared it with me, so I was able to make you a video.

Morris Goldstein was a Yiddish theater star with a great voice, who has left us quite a few recordings. Today he seems to be completely unknown.

Goldstein, whom I assume wrote this delightful satire, sings only three of the verses; he ends by assuring his wife he's already got her all taken care of when it comes to her death. Listen to him here:


Shalom Goldman wrote me: "The song is a riff -- a parody of the sabbath hymn 'Kol mekadesh' -- and phrases from that hymn are interwoven into the song, from the opening to the last words tshuas olamim."

Here's the original: Kol M'Kadesh Shvi'i.

Here's the translation of Goldstein's parody:

"One who keeps the Sabbath properly, who welcomes the bride"
According to the rules, rules, rules
How long, my dear wife Tsipke,
Will you stand between the two paths
And not believe that you have a man full of Torah, wisdom - and with a lot of charm
As fine a man as God sent you
I know well, my dear wife Tsipke,
You don't really deserve him
You can believe me, not every husband is this great
So children, sing with me: "The descendants of Israel, each man in his camp and under his flag."

See, from that time to the present day
The dowry from our wedding, Tsipke dear, has disappeared with the wind
But now I've grabbed a fine, profitable occupation
Since that happened, my dear Tsipke, we live like royalty.
You should be bursting with pleasure and pride without limit
"Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people on the Sabbath."

Since I myself am the administrator (beadle, sexton, warden) at the big synagogue
You should understand, Tsipke dear, that I direct what happens
[Without my say-so] nobody stands on the elevated platform before the congregation
Who is called for an aliye and who is not?
Who has as much influence/authority as I do, or as He does?
For me it is fulfilled as in Scripture: "We will be happy on the Sabbath."

Oy, who can change places with you?
You, my dear Tsipke, sit at the prestigious eastern wall
Although your father promised me a thousand rubles
And didn't give a cent
And when I went and asked him for it, he said nothing
His response concerning the dowry was, "I don't give a d-mn,
All the children of Israel do it."

Everyone in town respects me
In the street, within the religious community, even (pardon the comparison) in the bathhouse
This is the way it is, good fortune turns like a wheel,
One can receive honor in the synagogue and also (pardon the comparison) in the bathhouse
Where everybody rushes to make me happy by beating me with the birch twigs
Ah, Tsipke my dear, "the streams of pleasure..."

And in other places I haven't mentioned yet
I'm quite important in the Burial Society
When it comes to the Burial Society, it costs, even for the pious and good,
In order to get the paperwork for a proper interment
But you, my dear Tsipke, are all taken care of already, no money required,
You're all set to have it good in the afterlife
"The Lord of Israel is the salvation of the worlds."

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For sheet music and/or performances contact me: jane@mappamundi.com

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Labels: battle between the sexes, humor, male chauvinism, religion, sabbath, sarcasm