Re: Moyde ani

[Warschauer <Warschauer...>]

I have the French CD version (Arion ARN 64081) of the Sara Gorby recording
that Bob Weiner refers to.  Here are the lyrics as transliterated for this CD
(with my editorial comments), along with the translation as given.  There is
also a French translation.  The text is credited to M. Schweid.  

Moyde ani, moyde ani, 
Moyde ani lefonekho.  

Got, nit tsorn, (should be "mit tsorn?"  It's unclear to me what she sings
here... sounds like "nit zorgn," but that doesn't seem to make sense.)     
Ze vos fun dayn kind
Iz in der fremd gevorn!  
Shvere yorn, lender file, 
Ikh gedenk mer nit di tfile. (She sings: "Ikh gedenk nit mer di tfile")    

Moyde ani, moyde ani, 
Moyde ani lefonekho.  

Kum antkegn, 
Kh'bin avek dikh zukhn 
Oyf fardreyte vegn, 
Kh'bin nokh yung, unerfarn, (on erfarn(?) as Reyzl suggested?) 
S'kenen fremde mikh farnarn. (She sings: "S'kenen fremde mentshn mikh
farnarn".)   
--------------------------------------------------------
Moyde ani, moyde ani, 
Moyde ani lefonekho.  

God of wrath, 
Look what happened to Thy child
Wandering around in strange lands
Long years of suffering
Made me forget my prayer

Moyde ani, moyde ani, 
Moyde ani lefonekho.  

On crooked roads
I went to search for Thee, 
I am still young and inexperienced, 
Strange people may lead me 
Away from Thee.  

--------------------------------------------------------In appreciation of
Bob's comment about the problems of oral transmission, I'd add that the
transliteration problems in this CD booklet are a good argument for the
inclusion of yidishe oysyes in liner notes!  

And I'd add that I too find the song, and her performance extremely moving.  

The orchestration, credited to Jacques Lasry, includes either electronic
sounds or heavily processed acoustic sounds (or both?).  In my opinion, the
arrangement enhances the song and the performance.  The electronic sounds
create a sense of disorientation which fits the text.  It works for me.  

Jeff Warschauer  

 

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