Der pedler - in which Eliokum Zunser tells other Jews to go be farmers
I looked around for a vintage recording of this song but I couldn't find one. I bet if there had been one it would have been three times slower than I sang it. I don't have the attention span those old dudes had.
Elyokum Tsunzer (1836-1913) was born poor and made a wretched living as a lace maker until he pulled himself up by his bootstraps and started singing and then, most profitably, being a badkhn. After making a lot of money he found the profession was going down hill and decided to relocate, probably also influenced by the terrible sudden death of his wife and children. He moved to New York where he worked in a printing house. At no time was he ever a farmer. Nobody who ever farmed would call it a "secure" livelihood.
In the American Yiddish Penny Songs collection this song is called "Di lid tsum pedler." Why not "Dos lid tsum pedler" ? I don't know.
Here are the three verses I sang (out of the eight printed in the collection), if you want the rest translated contact me.
Jew, how long will you wander around peddling and being a burden on your neighbors in the land?
It's shouted in the newspapers and it pricks like needles: "The Jew is a beggar, he sticks out his hand."
So what is this peddling? It's just like begging!
A sick old man goes peddling to the Christians,
One takes a pin from his basket, out of curiosity, and so as not to say you're giving him money for nothing.
Jew, what are you looking for, the same work? It disgraces your good name.
Go read this dear sermon in the paper: It's better to be a farmer and take to the land.
Have your own house, a field and a garden -
Sow there, plant there, just like everyone else.
How honorable, how sure your live is there,
And further, you have a chance to get rich after a while.
Who'll sharpen my eyes so I can see from afar,
Oh, who'll give me such a telescope?
So I can see the happy times
When Jews no longer peddle and swindle.
Everywhere I'll see Jews who are farmers
Living together in peace and happiness...
Then my heart will be peaceful and happy
And I'll sing a song to the harvesters.
It's shouted in the newspapers and it pricks like needles: "The Jew is a beggar, he sticks out his hand."
So what is this peddling? It's just like begging!
A sick old man goes peddling to the Christians,
One takes a pin from his basket, out of curiosity, and so as not to say you're giving him money for nothing.
Jew, what are you looking for, the same work? It disgraces your good name.
Go read this dear sermon in the paper: It's better to be a farmer and take to the land.
Have your own house, a field and a garden -
Sow there, plant there, just like everyone else.
How honorable, how sure your live is there,
And further, you have a chance to get rich after a while.
Who'll sharpen my eyes so I can see from afar,
Oh, who'll give me such a telescope?
So I can see the happy times
When Jews no longer peddle and swindle.
Everywhere I'll see Jews who are farmers
Living together in peace and happiness...
Then my heart will be peaceful and happy
And I'll sing a song to the harvesters.
For sheet music and/or performances contact me: jane@mappamundi.com
Labels: anti-semitism, history, nostalgia, workers
by melinama @ 6:33 PM
Yiddish Ragtime
Ikh bin busy
Opgenarte velt
Vos hot men tsu mir
Der East Side fun amol
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