Folk song published by M. Kipnis in 1925, where he notes that this is sung by the mekhuteneste at a wedding. The last chorus he writes “is sung and danced slowly.” The folklorist Ruth Rubin gives an additional explanation: “A wedding guest keeps tipping the band till his legs can no longer move so fast.”
Change this twenty-fiver for me
take off three big ones*;
and play for me, musicians,
a lovely song.
Yam-tshe-ram-tsham…
Change this twenty-fiver for me
take off four big ones;
and play for me, musicians,
the same tune, right away.
Yam-tshe-ram-tsham…
Change this twenty-fiver for me
take off ten big ones;
and play for me, musicians,
the same tune, but better.
Yam-tshe-ram-tsham…
Change this twenty-fiver for me
take off a gold coin
and I implore you, musicians,
not to play it so fast.
Yam-tshe-ram-tsham…
*samerodne — humorous for “the genuine article”
Bayt zhe mir oys a finfuntsvantsiker
Oyf samerodne drayer;
Un shpilt zhe mir, klezmorimlekh,
A lidele, a tayer.
Yam-tshe-ram-tsham. . .
Bayt zhe mir oys a finfuntsvantsiker
Oyf samerodne firer;
Un shpilt zhe mir, klezmorimlekh,
Dos zelbike, vos frier.
Yam-tshe-ram-tsham. . .
Bayt zhe mir oys a finfuntsvantsiker,
Oyf samerodne tsener;
Un shpilt zhe mir, klezmorimlekh,
Dos zelbike, nor shener. . .
Yam-tshe-ram-tsham. . .
Bayt zhe mir oys a finfuntsvantsiker
Oyf same imperyaln;
lkh vel betn di klezmorimlekh,
Zey zoln zikh nit ayln.
Yam-tshe-ram-tsham. . .
בײַט זשע מיר אױס אַ פֿינפֿאונצװאַנציקער,
אױף סאַמעראָדנע דרײַער;
און שפּילט זשע מיר, כּלי-זמרימלעך,
אַ לידעלע, אַ טײַער.
יאַם–טשע-ראָם-טשאַם. . .
בײַט זשע מיר אױס אַ פֿינפֿאונצװאַנציקער,
אױף סאַמעראָדנע פֿירער;
און שפּילט זשע מיר, כּלי-זמריטלעך,
דאָס זעלביקע װאָס פֿריִער.
יאַם-טשע-ראַם-טשאַם. . .
בײַט זשע מיר אױס אַ פֿינפֿאונצװאַנציקער,
אױף סאַמעראָדנע צענער;
און שפּילט זשע מיר, כּלי–זמרימלעך,
דאָס זעלביקע, נאַר שענער.
יאַם-טשע–ראַם-טשאַם. . .
בײַט זשע מיר אױס אַ פֿינפֿאונצװאַנציקער,
אױף סאַמע אימפּעריאַלן;
איך װעל בעטן די כּלי–זמרימלעך,
זײ זאָלן זיך ניט אײַלן.
יאַם-טשע-ראַם–טשאַם. . .
Song Title: Bayt Zhe Mir Oys A Finfuntsvantsiker
First published in 1972, Mir Trogn A Gezang: Favorite Yiddish Songs was reprinted six more times (in 1977, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000) due to popular demand. The songs in this anthology represent a sampling of beloved folk and well-known Yiddish songs, many of which are scattered in various song collections; some appear in very rare and inaccessible collections; and some were never before published. Folk songs comprise about a third of this volume and were selected mainly on the basis of popularity and sometimes for their historic significance. Needless to say, they are only representative of the vast, rich treasure of Yiddish folk material. The selection was made not only on the basis of personal preference, but in the knowledge they are favorites of many who sing these songs. Most of the songs represent the repertoire that was sung at Yiddish summer camps, May 1st demonstrations and at social gatherings. Many songs were introduced to American Jewry by Jewish immigrants who came to the United States after World War II, for whom these songs had been favorites in Poland and other East European communities destroyed by the Nazis.