Researching Yiddish penny songs (tenement song broadsides of theater and variety show songs, 1895-1925)
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Here's another song from the Lider magazin housed at YIVO in New York. Each issue is half lyrics from a Yiddish operetta that was popular at the time, and half other Yiddish songs, including parodies of American pop music of the time.

The melody specified by the parodist here, David Meyerowitz, is "She May Have Seen Better Days," published in 1894. James Thornton was the composer and lyricist. You can hear his song on youtube as sung by George Gaskin back in the day, and a generation later by Beatrice Kay, who made a career singing songs of the "Gay 90s."

This blog includes many David Meyerowitz songs. He was born in 1867 in Latvia to poor parents. His father left for America and David supported the family working in a match factory and singing on the side. When he was 13 he joined his father in America and they worked in the rag trade. He continued singing and writing songs and gradually found his place in the world of Yiddish theater, though, it's said, he couldn't read or write (but he taught himself English and Yiddish). The Meyerowitz lyrics we find in Lider magazin are from his early period, they are often rather awkward.

Jim Baird plays bass and Ken Bloom plays guitar on this living room recording we made recently.



Translation and transliteration after the jump.




How does one recapture the days of yore?

A young lady wants to get married quickly, she'll behappy that way.
She grabbed at it, not thinking what her destiny will be.
Before long a match is made.
A year flies by quickly, she has a child,
She's not the girl she was.
When she puts the baby to sleep, you should see her.
She sings the same song?

How can I recapture the days of yore (when I was a maiden)?
How can I recapture the days of yore (when I hadn't see you yet, my child)?
Sisters, it isn't good - you shouldn't marry.
The heart is unquiet because youth has flown away.
How does one recapture the days of yore?

A young lady is so lovely, so full of charm,
She has zillions of suitors.
But she's haughty, she doesn't choose
Because she wants one that's more lovely than she is.
But when she's old, her figure is quite changed.
To be as pretty as before, she must color her hair.
And coloring it, she sings this song:

How does one recapture the days of yore? She shouts: Gevald! I'm dying!
How does one recapture the days of yore, when I didn't need hair dye?
I had handsome, good suitors, and now nobody wants me.
I shone everywhere, just like a doll!
How does one recapture the days of yore?

Sort of by accident a love affair played out, and the couple was happy.
Certainly everybody knows that when one marries, the love is not as ardent as before.
One has to think about the rent, and there's not a penny,
And also, work makes you tired.
When there's no money for bread people beat each other to death
And while hitting, she sings this song:

How does one recapture the days of yore (when I didn't know about these blows)?
How does one recapture the days of yore (when we hugged and kissed)?
Then everyone yearns, the eyes are full of tears.
When youth flies away, one yearns terribly.
How does one recapture the days of yore?

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

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