The Yiddish language has a thousand-year history. However, the Yiddish song is relatively young, developing roughly from the eighteenth century through the first five decades of the twentieth century. It encompasses lullabies and children's songs, love and marriage, humor and satire, dance songs and chasidic melodies, songs of migration, and songs of literary origin, from the concert and art song stage, as well as songs of World War II, written and sung in the camps and ghettos. As aptly put by Alan Lomax, the cultural anthropologist and folk song collector, "As a people live, so do they sing."

This language served many different purposes. On the simplest level, it was used by Jews as a means of communication, whether to speak to each other or for "just getting around" heavily Jewishly-populated areas. Yiddish also was a way for Jews to identify as Jews, both personally and intellectually - almost like a badge of honor. For new immigrants with few material possessions, but a strong sense of ethnicity, speaking Yiddish reinforced that identity and even, for some their self-esteem. Once established in America, continuing to speak Yiddish was a sign of taking pride in one's ancestry and in the Jewish community, both past and present. Additionally, the Yiddish language was a tool of unity for those American Jews who shared similar social problems.

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ROZHINKES MIT MANDLEN (Raisons And Almonds)

A woman, who's a widow, sits alone in the corner of a "house of study" on a wooden bench (that was the usual convenience for students) ... it is a forlorn picture where all she can do is dream of a better life for her baby that she is cradling. So she sings him a lullaby where even her dream is subdued; that her child should grow up to be a peddler of raisins and almonds. What a sad sight this is if you just picture the loneliness of this woman. The song was always a favorite of mine; and you'll note the translation below is slightly different from what I describe above. Think of the song with my emphasis above to appreciate a certain pathos here.

This line is repeated many times with different rhythms and melodies, and is a bedrock of the Jewish people: Behold how good and comforting it is for us to live together in unity.

This was a theme song of the Israeli pioneers when they brought the land back to cultivation with the hope of rebuilding the land of Israel.

1. Bashana haba-a neshev al hamirpeset
   Venispor tziporim nodedot
   Yeladim bekhufsha yesakhaku tofeset
   Beyn habait leveyn hasadot

   Refrain

   Od tir'e od tir'e
   Kama tov yihie bashana haba-a

2. Anavin adumim yavshilu ad haerev
   Iugshu tzonenim lashulkhan
   Yerukhot redumim yiesu al em haderekh
   Itonim yeshanim veanan

   Refrain

3. Bashana habaa nifros kapot yedayim
   Mul haor hanigar halavan
   Anafa levana tifros baor knafayim
   Mul hashemesh tizrakh betokhan

   Refrain

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   ELI ELI (Oh L-rd My L-ord)

   Chanah Senesh was a Hungarian Jew who was a member of the Resistance during WWII. Upon parachuting into Hungary from then Palestine on a reconnaissance mission for the Resistance, she was arrested by the Nazis. She wrote this poem, "Eli Eli" (it was a poem first) while in prison. Also while in prison, she taught other inmates to read. She never betrayed any of her fellow freedom fighters, even under torture. She was executed after the orders were given not to execute any more POW's. It has become a solemn prayer in the Jewish liturgy.

   Eli, Eli She lo yigamer leolam Hakhol ve hayam Rishrush et ha mayim Verak hashamayim T'filat ha'adam

   Oh L-rd my L-rd I pray that these things never end The sand and the sea The rush of the waters The crash of the heavens The prayer of man.

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   HOB IKH MIR A MANTL (I Had A Little Mantle)

   Nothing was wasted in the Jewish shteitl (small village), or even here when we came to this country. A coat would become a vest, which became a pocket, which became a button. And from the button, he made a nothing, and what did he make from this nothing? He made the song which we have below ... that was creative "recycling" in those days.

   Hob ikh mir a mantl fun fartsaytikn shtof
   Tra la la la la
   Hot es nit in zikh kay gantsenem shtokh
   Tra la la la la
   Darum, hob ikh zikh fartrakht
   Un fun dem mantl a rekl gemakht
   Tra la la la

   I had a little
   1) mantl
   2) coat
   3) vest
   4) hat
   5) pocket
   6) button

   that I made long ago It had so many patches there was no place to sew,

   Then I thought and I prayed. And from that
   1) coat a little jacket I made
   2) jacket a little vest I made
   3) vest a little hat I made
   4) hat a little pocket I made
   5) pocket a little button I made
   6) button nothing could be made
   7. Now I had a little nothing

   that I made long ago. It hasn't any patches, there is nothing to sew. From that nothing this little song I made

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   SHALOM CHAVERIM (Goodbye Dear Friends)
   This is a child's song and is very effective when sung as a round.

   Shalom chavarim Shalom chavarim Shalom, Shalom Lehitraot,lehitraot Shalom, Shalom (continues with morah, imma, abba, etc.)

   Goodbye dear friends Goodbye dear friends Goodbye, Goodbye Till we meet again, till we meet again Goodbye, Goodbye (continues with teacher, mother, father, etc.)

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   A BRIVELE DER MAMEN (A Letter To Your Mother)

   Her son leaves for America and she is left in the "old country" and her heart is with her son. So she sends a "brivele" (pronounced breeveleh, one of those words that sounds like what it is) a small letter, reminding him not to forget to return a brivele putting her heart at ease.

   A brivele der mamen Zolstu nit farzamen Shrayb geshvind, mein libbe kind Shenk ir di nekhome. Di mame vet dayn brivele lezn Un zi vet genezn Heylst ir shmerts, ir biter harts Derkvikst ir di neshome.

   A letter to your mother Don't delay Write soon, my beloved child, And give her solace. Your mother will read your letter And she will be comforted You'll heal her pain and her aching heart And revive her spirits.

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   ALLE BRIDER (All Brothers)

   Un mir zainen ale brider, Oi, oi, ale brider, Un mir zingen freileche lider, Oi, oi, oi. Un mir haltn zich in einem Oi, oi, zich in einem, Azelches iz nito bai keinem, Oi, oi, oi. Un mir zainen ale einik Oi, oi, ale einik Tzi mir zainen fil tzi veinik, Oi, oi, oi.

   Un mir libn zich doch ale, Oi, oi zich doch ale, Vi a chosn mit a kale Oi, oi, oi. Un mir zainen freilach munter, Oi, oi, freilach munter, Zingen lider tantsn unter Oi, oi, oi. Un mir zainen ale shvester, Oi, oi, ale shvester, Azoi vi Rochl, Ruth, un Ester Oi, oi, oi.

   We are all brothers And sing happy songs We stick together Like nobody else does. We are all united Whether we are many or few And we love each other Like bride and groom. We're happy and cheerful Singing songs, tapping our feet And we are all sisters Like Rachel, Ruth, and Esther.

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   DI GRINE KUZINE (The Greenhorn Cousin)

   Tsu mir iz gekumen a kusine Sheyn vi gold iz zi geven, di grine Bekelach vi royte pomerantsn Fiselach vos betn zich tsum tantsn. Herelach vi zaydn-veb gelokte Tseyndelech vi perelach getokte Eygelach vi himl-bloy in friling Lipelech vi karshelech a tsviling. Nisht gegangen iz zi, nor geshprungen Nisht geret hot zi, nor gezungen Lebedik un freylech yede mine - Ot aza geven iz mayn kuzine. Un azoy ariber tseyner yorn Fun mayn kuzine iz a tel gevorn "Peides" hot zi vochenlang geklibn Biz fun ir iz gornisht nit geblibn. Haynt az ich bagegen mayn kuzine Un ich freg ir: S'machtsu epes, Grine? Ziftst zi op, un ch'leyen in ir mine: Brenen zol Colombus'es medine. >

   A girl cousin arrived, a greenhorn, Beautiful as gold she was Cheeks red as oranges Tiny feet, just made for dancing. Her hair was as a silk web Her teeth as pearls on a string Her eyes, blue as skies in spring Her lips, just like twin cherries. She did not walk, she leapt She did not talk, she sang. Her every feature joyful and gay Such a one was my cousin. But, as the years passed by My cousin went downhill From working hard week after week Nothing remained but a wreck. Today, as I meet her in the street And I ask: How goes it, Greenhorn? She just sighs and I read in her eye: To hell with Columbus' paradise.

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   SHEYN VI DI LEVONE (Beautiful Like The Moon)

   Sheyn vi di levone (Beautiful like the moon) Lichtik vi di shtern (Shining like the stars) Fun hi-ml a matone (A gift from heaven ) Bis tu mir tsugeshicht. (You were sent to me) Mayn glik hob ich gevinen (I gained my fortune) Ven ich hob dich gefinen (When I found you) Shaynst vi toyzent zinen (You shine like thousand suns) Host mayn harts bagelicht. (You've brought happiness to my heart) Dayne tseyndelech, vayse perelech (Your teeth like white pearls) Mit... dayne sheyne oygn (Your beautiful eyes,) Dayne kleydelech, dayne herelech (Your dresses, your hair,) Host mir tsugetsoygn (Have drawn me to you.) Sheyn vi di levone (Beautiful like the moon) Lichtik vi di shtern (Shining like the stars) Fun hi-ml a matone (A gift from heaven) Bis tu mir tsugeshicht. (You were sent to me.)

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   HA-TIKVAH (The Hope)

   The Jewish people never gave up hope that we would someday return to our home in Israel. That hope is expressed in the song Ha-Tikvah (The Hope), the anthem of the Zionist movement and the state of Israel.

   Kol od baleivav p'nima Nefesh Y'hudi homiya Ul'fa-atey mizrach kadima Ayin L'Tziyon tzofiya Od lo avda tikvateynu Hatikva bat sh'not alpayim Lih'yot am chofshi b'artzenu Eretz Tziyon v'yirushalayim. Lih'yot am chofshi b'artzenu Eretz Tziyon v'yirushalayim.>

   As long as deep within the heart The Jewish soul is warm And toward the edges of the east An eye to Zion looks Our hope is not yet lost, The hope of two thousand years To be a free people in our own land In the land of Zion and Jerusalem. To be a free people in our own land In the land of Zion and Jerusalem.

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   American Jews were very active in music in the first half of the twentieth century. According to a study of American musicians published in 1933, at a time when Jews comprised less than 4% of the total United States population (and the holocaust was in the making in Europe), 36% of the players in American "amusement orchestras" were Jews. And in the string sections, the numbers were twice as high. In the world of arts and entertainment, superior talent sometimes overcame racial prejudice.

   Consider the following list, which highlights some of the songs by the great Jewish American composers and lyricists:

   • 1823 John Payne (son of Sarah Isaacs) (lyricist), "Home Sweet Home."
   • 1840 Henry Russell, "The Old Arm Chair"
   • 1892 Charles K. Harris, "After the Ball is Over"
   • 1900 Harry von Tilzer, "A Bird in a Gilded Cage"
   • 1908 Albert Von Tilzer, "Take Me out to the Ball Game"
   • 1908 Nora Bayes, "Shine on Harvest Moon" (assisted by her husband Jack Norworth)
   • 1909 Gus Edwards, "By the Light of the Silvery Moon"
   • 1911 Harry von Tilzer, "I Want a Girl Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad"
   • 1911 Irving Berlin, "Alexander's Ragtime Band"
   • 1918 Irving Berlin, "Oh How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning" (from Yip Yip Yaphank)
   • 1919 George Gershwin, "Swanee"
   • 1922 Gus Kahn (lyricist), "Yes Sir That's My Baby"
   • 1924 George Gershwin, "Fascinatin' Rhythm," (from Lady Be Good)
   • 1924 George Gershwin, "The Man I Love" (from Lady Be Good)
   • 1925 Gus Kahn (lyricist), "Nothing Could be Finer Than to Be in Carolina in the Morning"
   • 1927 George Gershwin, Strike Up the Band
   • 1927 Jerome Kern, "Old Man River" from Showboat
   • 1930 George Gershwin, "Embraceable You" (from Girl Crazy)
   • 1930 George Gershwin, "I Got Rhythm" (from Girl Crazy)
   • 1935 George Gershwin, "It Ain't Necessarily So" from Porgy and Bess
   • 1935 George Gershwin, "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess
   • 1937 Mark Blitzstein, The Cradle Will Rock
   • 1938 Harold Arlen with lyricist Yip Harburg, "Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz
   • 1938 Irving Berlin, "Easter Parade"
   • 1938 Irving Berlin, "God Bless America"
   • 1940 Lorenz Hart, "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" from Pal Joey
   • 1942 Irving Berlin "White Xmas"
   • 1942 Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" from Oklahoma
   • 1943 Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne, "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow"
   • 1946 Mel Torme, "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
   • 1949 Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, "Some Enchanted Evening" from South Pacific
   • 1949 Johnny Marks, "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"
   • 1950 Frank Loesser, "Luck Be a Lady" (from Guys and Dolls)
   • 1950 Livingston and Evans, "Silver Bells"
   • 1951 Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, "Getting to Know You" from The King and I
   • 1953 Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, "Hound Dog"
   • 1954 Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, State Fair
   • 1954 Sammy Cahn, "Three Coins in the Fountain"
   • 1956 Frederick Loewe, "I Could Have danced All Night" from My Fair Lady
   • 1957 Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, "Searchin'"
   • 1958 Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, "Yackety Yak"
   • 1959 Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, "Teenager in Love"
   • 1959 Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, "Charlie Brown"
   • 1959 Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, "Love Potion Number Nine"
   • 1959 Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, The Sound of Music
   • 1960 Carole King, "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow"
   • 1960 Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, "Spanish Harlem"
   • 1961 Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, "Stand By Me"
   • 1962 Carole King, "The Locomotion"
   • 1962 Neil Sedaka, "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do"
   • 1963 Carole King, "Go Away Little Girl"
   • 1963 Peter Yarrow, "Puff the Magic Dragon" (Peter, Paul & Mary)
   • 1963, Bob Dylan, "Blowin' in the Wind"
   • 1964 Barry Mann and Cynthia Weill, "You've Lost that Lovin Feelin"
   • 1964 Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich, "Leader of the Pack" (The Shangri-Las)
   • 1965 Bob Dylan, "Mr. Tambourine Man"
   • 1965 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkle, "Sounds of Silence"
   • 1967 Carole King, "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman"
   • 1968 Paul Simon and Garfunkel, "Mrs. Robinson"

   Notice how many of the famous American Christmas songs were written by Jews!

   • "White Christmas" by Irving Berlin
   • "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" by Johnny Marks
   • "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne
   • "Silver Bells" by Livingston and Evans
   • "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) by Mel Torme

   Some Jewish musicians changed their names to have an American career:

   • Hyman Arluck became Harold Arlen
   • Izzy Baline became Irving Berlin
   • Asa Yoelson became Al Jolson
   • Avrohom Arshawsky - became Artie Shaw
   • David Kaminsky became Danny Kaye
   • Jacob Gershwine - became George Gershwin

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   Art is art only if it helps your soul fly on eagles' wings,
   If music is not uplifting to the human soul, then it just isn't music.
   It should allow you to see and feel where otherwise you couldn't see and feel.

   So another look at the ... Menu ... maybe another song?
   Had enough singing for today? ... Navigator ... takes you to other sections.