Researching Yiddish penny songs (tenement song broadsides of theater and variety show songs, 1895-1925)
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UPDATE: I found another recording of this as Ohn a Weib at the FSA site, sung by William Ziegenlaub in 1916.

This song is hiding on the FAU website under the name Un a Weib. I have the song, with somewhat different verses and choruses, on two separate broadsides. One of the songsheets says: Words and music by J. Shargel (Jacob Joseph aka Jack Shargel, pictured), sung with great success by the beloved comic J. Frenk (Steve Lasky thinks that's Jacob Frank, father of actress Betty Frank).

The recording I have is by the wonderful Joe Feldman, pictured here. He was evidently not willing to sing about bigamy (the punch line of my version) - his lyrics differ from both the versions I have.



Here's a translation of the three verses I put on the video:

Adam in the Garden of Eden would have been completely alone - without a wife
King Solomon would never have been king - without a wife
The landlord would never get the rent - without a wife
The milkman would never get his couple of pennies - without a wife
I never would have known any boarders - without a wife

Without a wife one suffers endlessly
Without a wife one is naked. With a wife, there's no money in the pocket.
How can one live without a wife?

My landlord died, poor thing, completely alone, without a wife.
They put him into the earth with honor, without a wife.
Everybody has to die, it's so bitter,
But when the Angel of Death knocks on my door,
I'll say, Mr. Angel of Death, I'm not going with you without a wife!

In the summer I love to sleep on the roof - without a wife.
It's the best thing, going swimming at Coney Island without a wife.
One guy doesn't want to get married, it's too much trouble,
Matches with tons of dowry were proposed to him,
Last night he was arrested for bigamy - without a wife!

Click for larger view.

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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, marriage, morality, sarcasm