Re: At the Kretchma

[Robert A. Rothstein <rar...>]

 From Theodore Bikel, _Folksongs and Footnotes_ (Cleveland & New York: 
Meridian Books, 1964), pp. 217-18:

Kretchma - Words and music by Gene Raskin
 
When you hear Russian songs, do you suffer?
Does your heart start to pound in your chest?
If you do then come down to the Kretchma,
It costs plenty, but it's from the best.
 
    And there is singing, and there is dancing,
    And the Russian vodka is all right.
    Come to the Kretchma, that's where you'll ketchma,
    Drinking vodka every night
 
In the corner is standing a Cossak.
You can see him from way down the block.
And inside the candles are gleaming,
But, except for the candles, it's dark.
 
    And there is singing and there is dancing,
    And the borsht and piroshki's all right.
    Come to the Kretchma, that's where you'll ketchma,
    Drinking vodka every night

In the middle is standing Natasha,
All the men are beginning to pant.
When she's dancing her shoulders they vibrate,
And when she's singing you see that she can't.
 
    And there is singing and there is dancing,
    And the Russian baritone's all right.
    Come to Kretchma, that's where you'll ketchma,
    Making whoopee every night.

[punctuation as in the original; Russian accent to be added ad libitum]

    Bob Rothstein


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