Researching Yiddish penny songs (tenement song broadsides of theater and variety show songs, 1895-1925)
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The commercial sheet music, published in 1914 under the spelling Tzurik kein Zion, credits Joseph Rumshinsky with the words and music for this song and a Mr. Freed for singing it. There are two verses.

The song sheet, which has four verses and is undated, credits a Mr. I. Yonathanzon [??], whether with the words or music or both is unclear. There are four verses.

The singer on this recording is Jakov M. Medvedieff, about whom I know nothing. He has a number of recordings on the Library of Congress National Jukebox and he also recorded in Russian.


My brother Yisrolik! I often tell you
You haven't often encountered your God
Because you're lazy, always sleeping,
You dream sweet dreams!

end of first verse on penny songsheet:
You dream you are much loved,
A great marksman, a worldly big shot,
It doesn't suit you to be in the fields with a plow
You'll only creep about in important places!

end of first verse on commercial sheet music:
You don't look for your home, the great place
Where your name and your honor are kept
The place of holy miracles, of wondrous figures,
You just creep about in important places.

Only there, only there, back to Zion,
There must you strive,
Only there is your freedom, your equality
There you will not be an enemy or a Shylock
There you will receive your inheritance, there you'll have your portion!

My brother Yisrolik! One sees your defects
Your memory is too short and too weak
You've forgotten the pitiless years
When you were contained and driven
Now, see Hamans in the lands
Who violate clean honor and rob you of your name
Who call to destroy you through libels and pogroms
So that no trace of you will remain!

You don't seek your home, your old place,
Where your honor resides, your name is upheld
From holy miracles, wondrous figures,
From leaders, prophets and heroes!
You cry out while praying, how does one get to Zion?
Maybe you'd run there, maybe fly?
It's barely important to you to try,
Do you want to uphold your name?

Stop your wandering in all distant places
Stop seeking your happiness in money,
And saying: "We await the redemption."
Through miracles that you see in dreams!
Wake up from your slumber, from sweet dreams
Enough enjoying the kindness of strangers,
Go to Zion to get your own portion,
And live in peace!
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For sheet music and/or performances contact me: jane@mappamundi.com

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Labels: anti-semitism, history, zion, zionism