The Ruth Rubin Legacy
Archive of Yiddish Folksongs

Browse by Tape Name

Tape 72 - Songs about Soldiers and Wars

Title

Tape 72 - Songs about Soldiers and Wars

Rights

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Tape 72 Track log.jpg

Plogt aykh, shtelerlekh

Title

Plogt aykh, shtelerlekh

Date

1956

Description

[Spoken comments in Yiddish by informant before and after song.] Talks about the hardships of having to serve in the armies of the various lands Jews lived in. For Hasidic young men it was a tragedy: they had to eat non-kosher food, shave their beards and sidecurls - they would fast, go to the study house and say psalms. Sometimes the doctor would dismiss them, etc.

Rights

YIVO owns the compilation of content that is posted on this website, which consists of text, images, and/or audio, and video. However, YIVO does not necessarily own each component of the compilation. Some content is in the public domain and some content is protected by third party rights. It is the user's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in YIVO websites.

The materials on this web site may be used for personal, research and educational purposes only. Publication (including posting on the Internet and online exhibitions) or any other use without prior authorization is prohibited. Please visit https://www.yivo.org/Rights-Reproductions for more information about use of materials from this website.

YIVO has employed due diligence in seeking to identify copyright holders of the materials in this compilation. We invite any copyright owners who are not properly identified to contact us at yivomail@yivo.cjh.org.

Citation

“Plogt aykh, shtelerlekh,” YIVO Online Exhibitions, accessed December 11, 2024, https://exhibitions.yivo.org/items/show/2085.
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Forn forstu fun mir avek

Title

Forn forstu fun mir avek

Date

1956

Description

A young woman mourns that her beloved must enlist; begs G-d to disqualify all the recruits and release them from the ruler’s hand... She is crying rivers of tears.

Rights

YIVO owns the compilation of content that is posted on this website, which consists of text, images, and/or audio, and video. However, YIVO does not necessarily own each component of the compilation. Some content is in the public domain and some content is protected by third party rights. It is the user's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in YIVO websites.

The materials on this web site may be used for personal, research and educational purposes only. Publication (including posting on the Internet and online exhibitions) or any other use without prior authorization is prohibited. Please visit https://www.yivo.org/Rights-Reproductions for more information about use of materials from this website.

YIVO has employed due diligence in seeking to identify copyright holders of the materials in this compilation. We invite any copyright owners who are not properly identified to contact us at yivomail@yivo.cjh.org.

Citation

“Forn forstu fun mir avek,” YIVO Online Exhibitions, accessed December 11, 2024, https://exhibitions.yivo.org/items/show/2086.
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Nayntsn-zeks

Title

Nayntsn-zeks

Date

1956

Description

[Note in typewritten tape of inside box:] Mr. Miller said he wrote this. [Handwritten note in same log:] 1906-1956!

He was carrying Shalokh mones (gifts of food exchanged at Purim), he’d gotten married, but Nicholas marred his happiness by taking him as a soldier. His wife remained with her father, he had a huge backpack, he had to leave his old home... He’s no writer or poet, but wanted to leave his “story.” (audience laughs)

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The materials on this web site may be used for personal, research and educational purposes only. Publication (including posting on the Internet and online exhibitions) or any other use without prior authorization is prohibited. Please visit https://www.yivo.org/Rights-Reproductions for more information about use of materials from this website.

YIVO has employed due diligence in seeking to identify copyright holders of the materials in this compilation. We invite any copyright owners who are not properly identified to contact us at yivomail@yivo.cjh.org.

Citation

“Nayntsn-zeks,” YIVO Online Exhibitions, accessed December 11, 2024, https://exhibitions.yivo.org/items/show/2087.
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Azoy vi der rov iz arayngekumen

Title

Azoy vi der rov iz arayngekumen

Date

1950

Rights

YIVO owns the compilation of content that is posted on this website, which consists of text, images, and/or audio, and video. However, YIVO does not necessarily own each component of the compilation. Some content is in the public domain and some content is protected by third party rights. It is the user's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in YIVO websites.

The materials on this web site may be used for personal, research and educational purposes only. Publication (including posting on the Internet and online exhibitions) or any other use without prior authorization is prohibited. Please visit https://www.yivo.org/Rights-Reproductions for more information about use of materials from this website.

YIVO has employed due diligence in seeking to identify copyright holders of the materials in this compilation. We invite any copyright owners who are not properly identified to contact us at yivomail@yivo.cjh.org.

Citation

“Azoy vi der rov iz arayngekumen,” YIVO Online Exhibitions, accessed December 11, 2024, https://exhibitions.yivo.org/items/show/2088.
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Vos geystu arum, arum

Title

Vos geystu arum, arum

Date

1948

Description

Segal relates in Yiddish that she heard the song 30 years ago in Minsk from seamstresses who sewed in the house.

Her accent sounds American to this listener and she says “di lidl”, which may mean she or her parents speak a Litvish Yiddish (other dialects say “dos lidl”)

Rights

YIVO owns the compilation of content that is posted on this website, which consists of text, images, and/or audio, and video. However, YIVO does not necessarily own each component of the compilation. Some content is in the public domain and some content is protected by third party rights. It is the user's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in YIVO websites.

The materials on this web site may be used for personal, research and educational purposes only. Publication (including posting on the Internet and online exhibitions) or any other use without prior authorization is prohibited. Please visit https://www.yivo.org/Rights-Reproductions for more information about use of materials from this website.

YIVO has employed due diligence in seeking to identify copyright holders of the materials in this compilation. We invite any copyright owners who are not properly identified to contact us at yivomail@yivo.cjh.org.

Citation

“Vos geystu arum, arum,” YIVO Online Exhibitions, accessed December 11, 2024, https://exhibitions.yivo.org/items/show/2089.
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Oy, di fonye gonif

Title

Oy, di fonye gonif

Date

1948

Description

Chorus of a satirical and freylekh song.

Rights

YIVO owns the compilation of content that is posted on this website, which consists of text, images, and/or audio, and video. However, YIVO does not necessarily own each component of the compilation. Some content is in the public domain and some content is protected by third party rights. It is the user's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in YIVO websites.

The materials on this web site may be used for personal, research and educational purposes only. Publication (including posting on the Internet and online exhibitions) or any other use without prior authorization is prohibited. Please visit https://www.yivo.org/Rights-Reproductions for more information about use of materials from this website.

YIVO has employed due diligence in seeking to identify copyright holders of the materials in this compilation. We invite any copyright owners who are not properly identified to contact us at yivomail@yivo.cjh.org.

Citation

“Oy, di fonye gonif,” YIVO Online Exhibitions, accessed December 11, 2024, https://exhibitions.yivo.org/items/show/2090.
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Dortn, nit vayt baym brik

Title

Dortn, nit vayt baym brik

Date

1948

Description

Lobell, in English, states his father was born in Tshernovitz; he heard him sing this song about 1918. Recording quality poor at beginning.

The song is in 6/8 meter. Refrain:
nu, loyf zhe betn far dem oyre (?)
az inz iz haynt a gezeyre
af inz iz haynt a shlekhte tzayt
az yeyder zayn zin muz zayn a soldat
dos miz azoy zayn, es darf azoy zayn
s’iz kayner nisht shuldik az dos is Gots plan

Rights

YIVO owns the compilation of content that is posted on this website, which consists of text, images, and/or audio, and video. However, YIVO does not necessarily own each component of the compilation. Some content is in the public domain and some content is protected by third party rights. It is the user's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in YIVO websites.

The materials on this web site may be used for personal, research and educational purposes only. Publication (including posting on the Internet and online exhibitions) or any other use without prior authorization is prohibited. Please visit https://www.yivo.org/Rights-Reproductions for more information about use of materials from this website.

YIVO has employed due diligence in seeking to identify copyright holders of the materials in this compilation. We invite any copyright owners who are not properly identified to contact us at yivomail@yivo.cjh.org.

Citation

“Dortn, nit vayt baym brik,” YIVO Online Exhibitions, accessed December 11, 2024, https://exhibitions.yivo.org/items/show/2091.
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Ikh tu dir a brivele shraybn

Title

Ikh tu dir a brivele shraybn

Date

1962

Description

A solider writes to his mother about his health. Slow and sad song.

a hant hot men mir aropgenumen
un af mayn oygn bin ikh mamenu blind

Rights

YIVO owns the compilation of content that is posted on this website, which consists of text, images, and/or audio, and video. However, YIVO does not necessarily own each component of the compilation. Some content is in the public domain and some content is protected by third party rights. It is the user's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in YIVO websites.

The materials on this web site may be used for personal, research and educational purposes only. Publication (including posting on the Internet and online exhibitions) or any other use without prior authorization is prohibited. Please visit https://www.yivo.org/Rights-Reproductions for more information about use of materials from this website.

YIVO has employed due diligence in seeking to identify copyright holders of the materials in this compilation. We invite any copyright owners who are not properly identified to contact us at yivomail@yivo.cjh.org.

Citation

“Ikh tu dir a brivele shraybn,” YIVO Online Exhibitions, accessed December 11, 2024, https://exhibitions.yivo.org/items/show/2092.
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Oyf di grine felder velder

Title

Oyf di grine felder velder

Date

1962

Description

...Who will say kadish over the dead solider who lies in the field? His trusted horse accompanies him to his funeral...

Rights

YIVO owns the compilation of content that is posted on this website, which consists of text, images, and/or audio, and video. However, YIVO does not necessarily own each component of the compilation. Some content is in the public domain and some content is protected by third party rights. It is the user's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in YIVO websites.

The materials on this web site may be used for personal, research and educational purposes only. Publication (including posting on the Internet and online exhibitions) or any other use without prior authorization is prohibited. Please visit https://www.yivo.org/Rights-Reproductions for more information about use of materials from this website.

YIVO has employed due diligence in seeking to identify copyright holders of the materials in this compilation. We invite any copyright owners who are not properly identified to contact us at yivomail@yivo.cjh.org.

Citation

“Oyf di grine felder velder,” YIVO Online Exhibitions, accessed December 11, 2024, https://exhibitions.yivo.org/items/show/2093.
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A leyterl tsum himl vel ikh shteln

Title

A leyterl tsum himl vel ikh shteln

Date

1967

Description

Narrator: I will lay a ladder to heaven, crawl up and ask G-d why her beloved has to become a soldier. Beloved answers, you don’t have a ladder to heaven, I will after all have to become a soldier... You don’t need to wait for me. She states that she’ll wait for him for two years, even four, she’ll send money and [?] and suffer by sewing for a living.

Rights

YIVO owns the compilation of content that is posted on this website, which consists of text, images, and/or audio, and video. However, YIVO does not necessarily own each component of the compilation. Some content is in the public domain and some content is protected by third party rights. It is the user's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in YIVO websites.

The materials on this web site may be used for personal, research and educational purposes only. Publication (including posting on the Internet and online exhibitions) or any other use without prior authorization is prohibited. Please visit https://www.yivo.org/Rights-Reproductions for more information about use of materials from this website.

YIVO has employed due diligence in seeking to identify copyright holders of the materials in this compilation. We invite any copyright owners who are not properly identified to contact us at yivomail@yivo.cjh.org.

Citation

“A leyterl tsum himl vel ikh shteln,” YIVO Online Exhibitions, accessed December 11, 2024, https://exhibitions.yivo.org/items/show/2094.
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Kh’bin oysgeforn velder un felder, oy vey

Title

Kh’bin oysgeforn velder un felder, oy vey

Date

1947

Description

Narrator comes across a murdered soldier, oy vey, his body is torn and blood spurts out. Three brothers are running away from him... Who will say kaddish over me, light candles...Who will come to my funeral? My trusted horse. Black birds come flying, rest on my grave. Black birds fly quickly to my mother to tell her of my health. Mame, mame, eat and forget my death.

Rights

YIVO owns the compilation of content that is posted on this website, which consists of text, images, and/or audio, and video. However, YIVO does not necessarily own each component of the compilation. Some content is in the public domain and some content is protected by third party rights. It is the user's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in YIVO websites.

The materials on this web site may be used for personal, research and educational purposes only. Publication (including posting on the Internet and online exhibitions) or any other use without prior authorization is prohibited. Please visit https://www.yivo.org/Rights-Reproductions for more information about use of materials from this website.

YIVO has employed due diligence in seeking to identify copyright holders of the materials in this compilation. We invite any copyright owners who are not properly identified to contact us at yivomail@yivo.cjh.org.

Citation

“Kh’bin oysgeforn velder un felder, oy vey,” YIVO Online Exhibitions, accessed December 11, 2024, https://exhibitions.yivo.org/items/show/2095.
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A blinde nakht un a reygn

Title

A blinde nakht un a reygn

Date

1962

Description

[Note on typewritten tape log inside box:] Fragment. In 3/4 meter.

Rights

YIVO owns the compilation of content that is posted on this website, which consists of text, images, and/or audio, and video. However, YIVO does not necessarily own each component of the compilation. Some content is in the public domain and some content is protected by third party rights. It is the user's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in YIVO websites.

The materials on this web site may be used for personal, research and educational purposes only. Publication (including posting on the Internet and online exhibitions) or any other use without prior authorization is prohibited. Please visit https://www.yivo.org/Rights-Reproductions for more information about use of materials from this website.

YIVO has employed due diligence in seeking to identify copyright holders of the materials in this compilation. We invite any copyright owners who are not properly identified to contact us at yivomail@yivo.cjh.org.

Citation

“A blinde nakht un a reygn,” YIVO Online Exhibitions, accessed December 11, 2024, https://exhibitions.yivo.org/items/show/2096.
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A bokher fun 21 yor

Title

A bokher fun 21 yor

Date

1961

Description

[Note on typewritten tape log inside box:] Fragment. From Alan Warshawsky's tape

Rights

YIVO owns the compilation of content that is posted on this website, which consists of text, images, and/or audio, and video. However, YIVO does not necessarily own each component of the compilation. Some content is in the public domain and some content is protected by third party rights. It is the user's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in YIVO websites.

The materials on this web site may be used for personal, research and educational purposes only. Publication (including posting on the Internet and online exhibitions) or any other use without prior authorization is prohibited. Please visit https://www.yivo.org/Rights-Reproductions for more information about use of materials from this website.

YIVO has employed due diligence in seeking to identify copyright holders of the materials in this compilation. We invite any copyright owners who are not properly identified to contact us at yivomail@yivo.cjh.org.

Citation

“A bokher fun 21 yor,” YIVO Online Exhibitions, accessed December 11, 2024, https://exhibitions.yivo.org/items/show/2097.
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Veyn nit dushinke

Title

Veyn nit dushinke

Date

1961

Description

[Note on typewritten tape log inside box:] From Alan Warshawsky's tape

Rights

YIVO owns the compilation of content that is posted on this website, which consists of text, images, and/or audio, and video. However, YIVO does not necessarily own each component of the compilation. Some content is in the public domain and some content is protected by third party rights. It is the user's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in YIVO websites.

The materials on this web site may be used for personal, research and educational purposes only. Publication (including posting on the Internet and online exhibitions) or any other use without prior authorization is prohibited. Please visit https://www.yivo.org/Rights-Reproductions for more information about use of materials from this website.

YIVO has employed due diligence in seeking to identify copyright holders of the materials in this compilation. We invite any copyright owners who are not properly identified to contact us at yivomail@yivo.cjh.org.

Citation

“Veyn nit dushinke,” YIVO Online Exhibitions, accessed December 11, 2024, https://exhibitions.yivo.org/items/show/2098.
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General Makarov

Title

General Makarov

Date

1962

Description

[Spoken introduction in English by informant before song] Reinstein narrates in English that the Kishinev pogrom coincided with the defeats the Russians suffered at the hands of the Japanese in the Russian-Japanese war. The Jews expressed this in a song; he only remembers a fragment of it.

General Makarov hot gehat a shvartzn sof
vayl er hot geheysn yidishe kinder koyln
far Keshenyover blit [blut]
batzolt yo Ponye git
Yah Ponye shlugt Fonye
in dem grestn helt

Rights

YIVO owns the compilation of content that is posted on this website, which consists of text, images, and/or audio, and video. However, YIVO does not necessarily own each component of the compilation. Some content is in the public domain and some content is protected by third party rights. It is the user's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in YIVO websites.

The materials on this web site may be used for personal, research and educational purposes only. Publication (including posting on the Internet and online exhibitions) or any other use without prior authorization is prohibited. Please visit https://www.yivo.org/Rights-Reproductions for more information about use of materials from this website.

YIVO has employed due diligence in seeking to identify copyright holders of the materials in this compilation. We invite any copyright owners who are not properly identified to contact us at yivomail@yivo.cjh.org.

Citation

“General Makarov,” YIVO Online Exhibitions, accessed December 11, 2024, https://exhibitions.yivo.org/items/show/2099.
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Zay-zhe mir gezunt, mayn tayere kale

Title

Zay-zhe mir gezunt, mayn tayere kale

Date

1962

Description

[Comments by informants in middle of song, followed by reprisal of chorus]
in 3/4 meter.

Chorus:
Zay-zhe mir gezint, mayn tayere kale
nokh dir vel ikh benkn oy mer vi nokh ale
zay mir gezint, un bet far mir G-t
men zol mir nisht naznatshet kayn Dalnivostok

Rights

YIVO owns the compilation of content that is posted on this website, which consists of text, images, and/or audio, and video. However, YIVO does not necessarily own each component of the compilation. Some content is in the public domain and some content is protected by third party rights. It is the user's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in YIVO websites.

The materials on this web site may be used for personal, research and educational purposes only. Publication (including posting on the Internet and online exhibitions) or any other use without prior authorization is prohibited. Please visit https://www.yivo.org/Rights-Reproductions for more information about use of materials from this website.

YIVO has employed due diligence in seeking to identify copyright holders of the materials in this compilation. We invite any copyright owners who are not properly identified to contact us at yivomail@yivo.cjh.org.

Citation

“Zay-zhe mir gezunt, mayn tayere kale,” YIVO Online Exhibitions, accessed December 11, 2024, https://exhibitions.yivo.org/items/show/2100.
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Krugom, arum un arum

Title

Krugom, arum un arum

Date

1967

Description

lots of laughing from audience and a bit from the singer. Russian vocabulary pepper the Yiddish lyrics.

Rights

YIVO owns the compilation of content that is posted on this website, which consists of text, images, and/or audio, and video. However, YIVO does not necessarily own each component of the compilation. Some content is in the public domain and some content is protected by third party rights. It is the user's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in YIVO websites.

The materials on this web site may be used for personal, research and educational purposes only. Publication (including posting on the Internet and online exhibitions) or any other use without prior authorization is prohibited. Please visit https://www.yivo.org/Rights-Reproductions for more information about use of materials from this website.

YIVO has employed due diligence in seeking to identify copyright holders of the materials in this compilation. We invite any copyright owners who are not properly identified to contact us at yivomail@yivo.cjh.org.

Citation

“Krugom, arum un arum,” YIVO Online Exhibitions, accessed December 11, 2024, https://exhibitions.yivo.org/items/show/2101.
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Tape Names