A gute vokh fun der alter heym - a sentimental remembrance of the Sabbath's end in the old country

You can buy the track (or the whole Nervez! cd) - or listen to the whole album - by clicking below:


So I started cranking out videos, and now I'm going back to the Zhelonek cds and making videos for those songs.
I've learned a lot in the two-four years since we made the four Warsaw cds. I was told once by a member of presiding Yiddish royalty that I make too many mistakes to be qualified to do this work. There was a time in my life I would have let that stop me completely - I would have abandoned this project about 200 songs ago.
But I said to myself, mistakes or not, I'm doing something that's worthwhile, and hopefully somebody more qualified will come along afterwards and do a better job recording these songs than I did. Nothing would make me happier - and if you DO record any of them please let me know! I'll add links to these blogs.
The lovely traditions signaling the end of the Sabbath are a bit sad. Few welcome the return of the work week with its responsibilities and worries.
Another song reflecting that bittersweet moment when the Sabbath ends: Bobenyu (zol nokh zayn shabes).
English translation:
There's an image before me, from my old hometown, an image so good, so well preserved, from when I was sitting at grandfather's feast. Who can forget the table songs? Grandfather used to sing with his beautiful voice and we would help him:
"When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy..."
And when it would grow dark, grandmother, in a corner, would sit alone and pray, lamenting:
"God from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, protect your people Israel from all that's evil. The holy Sabbath is passing. Blessings and success for us and all Jewish children, with health and livelihood, Amen..."
Then uncle would make havdole and there was wine and spices for everyone alike. And uncle would taste the egg and all the Jews would cry out:
"He who divides between the holy and the profane, may He forgive our sins,
May He multiply our seed and coins as the sand and as the stars at night.
A good week, now and always, send us, God, happiness and blessings for your people Israel, a good week!"
"When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy..."
And when it would grow dark, grandmother, in a corner, would sit alone and pray, lamenting:
"God from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, protect your people Israel from all that's evil. The holy Sabbath is passing. Blessings and success for us and all Jewish children, with health and livelihood, Amen..."
Then uncle would make havdole and there was wine and spices for everyone alike. And uncle would taste the egg and all the Jews would cry out:
"He who divides between the holy and the profane, may He forgive our sins,
May He multiply our seed and coins as the sand and as the stars at night.
A good week, now and always, send us, God, happiness and blessings for your people Israel, a good week!"
Labels: home, klezmer, mother, nostalgia, religion, songs for sale
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