ENGLISH CORNER, CON LINDA JIMÉNEZ – This week’s trivia question: What is the song “Bulbes” about? And what words in Yiddish does it teach?
Stahlhammer Klezmer Classic was founded by Semmy Stahlhammer, the only surviving member of the Stahlhammer Orchestra, which was founded in Poland in 1920 by his grandfather and uncles. Based in Sweden, their recently-released album Tshiribim is a collection of Yiddish songs and music, especially arranged for children. Singer and actress Anne Kalmering provides the vocals, and this week she is speaking with us about the Jewish history and community of Sweden, and the record. Following are the English translations of the songs that we’ve included on the program.
BULBES–POTATOES
Sunday – potatoes,
Monday – potatoes,
Tuesday and Wednesday –
potatoes,
Thursday and Friday – potatoes.
Shabes, for a change
– a potato casserole!
Sunday – potatoes again!
Sunday – potatoes again!
Bread with potatoes, meat with
potatoes, dinner and supper
– potatoes, again and again –
potatoes. Once in a while for a
change – a potato casserole!
Sunday – potatoes again!
Sunday – potatoes again!
__________________________
DI FROSH–THE FROG
There once was a frog
in a green velvet dress,
Coak-coak … Coak-coak …
There once was a frog
in a green velvet dress,
With an apron
of white in front.
Coak-coak … Coak-coak …
Her house was made
out of reeds.
The windows of sunbeams,
the door out of water.
The windows of sunbeams,
the door out of water.
Coak-coak … Coak-coak …
From river to shore
and then back again,
From river to shore
and then back again,
Who’s coat was so fine,
who was so rich?
From river to shore
and then back again.
Coak-coak … Coak-coak …
From river to shore
and then back again,
With a song and a leap
– so the days went.
Coak-coak … Coak-coak …
Then a tall stork came strolling by,
Then a tall stork came strolling by,
With legs like two poles,
with a beak sharp as bone.
He invited the frog
in the green velvet dress,
Coak-coak … Coak-coak …
He invited the frog
in the green velvet dress,
To make a feast
with his children and the frog.
There once was a frog
in a green velvet dress,
With an apron of white in front.
Coak-coak … Coak-coak ..
