Jewish Life: The Old Country

When Eastern European Jews immigrated en masse to the United States in the 1880s and ’90s fleeing Czarist oppression and poverty, they brought with them a body of secular folk songs. Sung in Yiddish by men and women who came here from five villages (with English translations and explanations), this recording archives a lost way of life.

RELATED LESSON PLAN
"Israeli Song and Dance for Middle or High School Ensembles"

Track Listing

101	Am Kodoysh	A Man born in Glina, Galicia	00:28
102	A-A Lyu Lyu	A woman, born in Zhitomir, Russia, to a baby	00:44
103	In a Shtetele Pityepoy	A woman born in Warsaw	00:38
104	Cheder-boy's Taunts - Taunts from Galicia	A man born in Galicia	00:38
105	Vi azoy s'iz nisht git tsu geyn	A woman born in Czernowitz, Bessarabia	01:53
106	Henich's vayb / Of azoy neyt a Shnayder - This Is How a Tailor Sews	A second woman born in Czernowitz, Bessarabia	00:44
107	Hob ich mir a Shpan - I Have a Coach	A woman born in Ivia, Lithuania	02:02
108	A Redele iz di gore Velt	A man, born in Bershad, Ukraine	01:46
109	A Shadchen darf men Kenen Zayn - A Matchmaker's Trade Is a Special Skill	A woman born in Tomashpil	01:30
110	Vos vilsti Mutter hobn? - What Do You Want from Me Mother?	Ruth Rubin	01:22
111	Indroysn iz Fintster - It Is Dark Outdoors	A man born in Grodno, Lithuania	01:50
112	Fun groys dasad - In Great Pain	A women born in Lithuania	01:34
113	Ich lig unter Grattes - I Lie Behind Bars	A man born in Grodno, Lithuania	02:05
114	Kadril - Quadrille	A woman born in Grodno, Lithuania	01:28
115	Betler Lid - Beggar Song	A man born in Poland	01:15
201	Chassidic Tune	A man born in Poland	02:20
202	Husiatiner Melody	A man born in Lodz, Poland	00:42
203	Chassidic Hopke	A man born in Poland	01:12
204	Az Moshi - ach vet kumen - When the Messiah Comes	Ruth Rubin	03:14
205	Zog mir mein Shvester - Tell Me My Sister	A woman born in Chotin, Bessarabia	01:06
206	Vos shloft ir, ir Shlefer? - Why Do You Slumber, You Sleepers?	A woman born in Lithuania	01:11
207	Di Mashines klapn - The Machines Are Clattering	Ruth Rubin	00:47
208	Ver es hot in Blat gelezn - Oh Have You Read in the Newspapers?	A man born in Vilna, Lithuania	02:35
209	Fraytik Inderfri - Friday Morning	A woman born in Czernowitz, Bessarabia	00:43
210	Zayt mir gezint, Chovertes ole - Farewell, All My Friends - The Bride's Farewell	A woman born in Chotin, Bessarabia	01:56
211	Forn forstu fun mir avek - You Are Leaving Me	Ruth Rubin	01:39
212	Five Wedding Tunes on a Fiddle	A "badchen" (wedding entertainer) from Galicia	02:25
213	Shlof mayn Kind mayn Treyst mayn Sheyner - Sleep My Child My Lovely Comfort (Words by Sholem Aleichem)	A woman born in White Russia	03:02