[HANASHIR:2692] Re: song lyrics sought

[Judy Caplan Ginsburgh <jerd...>]

Sherrill,

I found the song Zog Nit Keyn Mol (Never Say) in three different songbooks I
own.  Each had a different translation and two of them gave some history about
the author.  I will share it with all of you because I feel it is extremely
important to know a song inside and out before performing or sharing it.  I
hope this "lesson" will be of use to some of you.

Source #1:  The Yiddish Songbook, compiled by Jerry Silverman, 1983
"When the April 1943 round up of Jews began, the Vilna-born poet, Hirsch Glik
escaped and joined the Partisans.  At the time of the heroic uprising in the
Warsaw ghetto, Glik was inspired to write this song.  It soon became the
official hymn of the Jewish Partisans.  When the Vilna ghetto was liquidated,
Glik was captured and sent to a camp in Estonia.  He escaped only to be killed
fighting the Germans in a nearby woods.  He was twenty four years old."

Zog nit keyn-mol as-du geyst dem lets-tn veg.
Never say that you are on your final road

Chotsh him-len blay-e-ne far-shte-ln bloye teg
Though overhead dark skies of lead may death forbode

Vayl kumen vet noch undzer oys-ge-benkt-te sho
The long awaited hour's surely drawing near

Es vet a poyk ton undzer trot:  mir zaynen do!
When with a roar our steps will thunder: we are here!

(There are two other verses)

Source #2:  Yes, We Sang by Shoshana Kalisch, 1985  (excellent book with lots
of historical info about each song)

Hirsch Glick began writing poetry at thirteen.  At 16, he co-founded a group of
young poets called Yungvald (Young Forest).  His first poems were written in
Hebrew and later, he began writing in Yiddish.  The poem he wrote titled Zog
Nit Keyn Mol was set to the a familiar Russian melody.

Yiddish is the same.  English translation is as follows:
Never say you've come to the end of the way
Though leaden skies blot out the light of the day
The hour we all long for will surely appear
Our steps will thunder with the words: We are here!

(There are 3 other verses listed in this version)

Source #3:  Joy of Jewish Memories by Sol Zim, 1984
He has written his own English words to this melody

Again, hope this has been helpful.  I hope to meet many of you this summer at
Hava Nashira.

Judy : )

Judy Caplan Ginsburgh, Award-winning Singer/Music Specialist
       http://www.jewishentertainment.net/judy
Director:  Jewish Entertainment Resources
       http://www.jewishentertainment.net
Cantorial Soloist, Touro Synagogue, New Orleans, LA
1999 Louisiana Professional Artist of the Year!!
Past Conference Chair:  23rd Conference on Alternatives in Jewish Education


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