Re: Woody Guthrie's Jewish songs

[Lori Cahan-Simon <l_cahan...>]

Maybe Arlo remembers the tunes. Anybody game to ask? Anybody have his 
address?

Robert Cohen wrote:

> Lori Cahan-Simon wrote (a while ago):
>
>> To make it even more relevant, Woody Guthrie was married to the 
>> daughter of Yiddish poet and songwriter Aliza Greenblatt.
>
>
> Indeed he was (Arlo apparently had a gevalt bar mitzvah with the 
> Weavers in attendance), and in an earnest and, I gather, rather sweet 
> attempt to relate to her heritage, he engrossed himself in some 
> Jewish-related reading and wrote a bunch of songs with a Jewish 
> hook--most of them that I know relating (loosely!) to Chanukah, and 
> with titles like "Hanukah Bell" ("Dinga lingle lingle, I ring your 
> bell [doorbell--though, given Woody, might have other meanings ...] 
> ... The week of Hanuka now is here, And you must be sad no more"), 
> "Hanukah Dance," "Hannuka's Flame," "Hanuka Gelt," "Hanuka Time," 
> "Hanukah Tree" (Ouch!), "Holy Hanukah," "Happy Joyous Hanukah," and a 
> "counting" song called "How Many Nights for Hanukah?"
>
> I don't believe anyone knows the intended music for most of these (for 
> most of them Woody evidently composed original music), but we do for 
> one of them. To the tune of "Crawdad" (which you probably all know: 
> "You get a line and I'll get a pole, honey; You get a line and I'll 
> get a pole, babe"):
>
> "How many latkes can you eat? It's Hanuka!
> How many latkes can you eat? It's Hanuka!
> How many latkes can I eat? It's ten times three and six times eight! 
> [Huh?] It's Hanuka; Yes, yes, it's Hanuka!"
>
> "How much honey do you like? It's Hanuka!"
>
> "How many fruitcakes can you eat? It's Hanuka!"
>
> "How many pretty girls can you kiss? It's Hanuka!" ...
>
> "How many stories can you tell? It's Hanuka!" ...
>
>
> OK, so this one isn't Shakespeare ...
>
> Woody actually wrote (at least) one quite serious song incorporating 
> sort of an overview of Jewish history (which, btw, "Ma'oz Tsur" is, in 
> its own, limited way): "The Many & the Few." Quite moving, actually, 
> and clearly reflects that he'd immersed himself somewhat in our history.
>
> Too bad he didn't get around (so far as I know) to writing a "This 
> Land Is Your Land" for the Holy Land.
>
> --Robert Cohen
>
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-- 
Lori's new CD, Songs My Bubbe Should Have Taught Me; Vol.1: Passover, is 
available! All Yiddish, all Passover! Great music, fun songs, famous musicians! 
Only $15 & postage. Email me for more info.



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