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Translated Songs
Vaudeville
Work
Yiddish Theater
Original language
Title
Composer
Lyricist
Original lyrics
Az der Rebe Elimelech Iz gevoren zer freylach Iz gevoren zer freylach, Elimelech, Hot er oysgeton di tfilen Un hot ongeton di brilen Un hot geshikt noch di fidlers di tsvey. Un az di fideldike fidlers hobn fideldik gefidelt Hobn fideldik gefidelt hobn zey. Un az der Rebe Elimelech Iz gevoren noch mer freylach Iz gevoren noch mer freylach, Elimelech Hot er oysgeton dem hitl Un hot ongeton dem kitl Un hot geshikt noch di tsimblers di tsvey. Un az di tsimbeldike tsimblers..... Un az der Rebe Elimelech Iz gevoren gor gor freylach Iz gevoren gor gor freylach, Elimelech Hot er zich gemacht havdole Un hot geshikt rifn dem shames Naftole Un hot geshikt noch di payklers di tsvey. Un az di paykeldike payklers.....
Translated lyrics
As the Rabbi Elimelech felt a happy mood upon him, He took off his philacteries and put on his glasses And sent for his two fiddlers. And the fiddling fiddlers fiddled in a fiddling way. As the Rabbi Elimelech felt happier still, He took off his mantle and put on his cap And sent for the two cymbalon players. And the cymbalon players..... And as the Rabbi Elimelech felt very happy indeed, He made Havdole called for the beadle, Naftole, And called for the two drummers. And the drummers.....
Notes
We always sang this song at school for Purim. I am fairly sure that feeling "happy" is euphimistic for getting drunk. The song can get fairly raucous in klezmer style. Also, the parallel to traditional nursery rhyme, "Old King Cole" is unmistakeable, but I don't know how they are related.
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