So many messages following the Passover and in reflection of the times we live. I often speak of translation and change, and as a result, I will often reflect on ‘translation’ which appears to be more in the realm of ‘interpretation’ — and by that, we can easily see that ‘translation’ is all too often a mere reflection of its time, which then, ever-so-quickly morphs into ‘commentary’ — or should I say . . . ‘somebody’s truth.’
Some consider ‘commentary’ to be the truth, others more generously see ‘commentary’ or should I say, the many commentaries, as ornaments which appear to beautify and accentuate the inherent beauty of the tree. As we have come to understand it, works of art, sitting or placed side by side (think Barnes Museum or really any example of art placed side by side) become ‘acquainted’ by their mere placement and all too often ‘speak to each other’ and to ‘us’ and therefore (they) influence each other and then, in turn, (they) influence us.
Translation and placement (along with their ornaments will often do that). More truthfully, they always will.
Here below is an original version of “This Land is Your Land” which was written in Yiddish by Woodie Gutherie on February 23, 1940 as a response to the popularity of Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America,” Woody Guthrie’s Yiddish version was considered so radical for the time, it subsequently was retranslated and ‘sanitized’ for a wider American audience (in order) to relate to (it), as opposed to what was considered as his more radical Jewish agenda . . . . indeed.
Please enjoy the Yiddish version, rarely if ever heard and only now re ‘performed’ and re ‘presented’ for our post Passover listening pleasure.
Please join us this Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM EDT for our Lerhaus Newshul gathering in which we will take a second look at the internal ‘retranslation’ and re ‘treatment’ (read commentary) of the time period between the two festivals, the ‘Counting of the Omer” and begin to think through the experience of our good friend Ruth and her forerunner Tamar, again.
Hope everyone will join us, it’ll be a real ‘eye opener.’
Final note: We’re back to our more regular schedule and I hope that the Pesach (Passover) was a good experience for everyone, each of us in our own time, each in our own way.
Omer tov, so to speak . . .
Seth
Here below is Woodie’s version written in response to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America”
This video and music was produced, directed and edited by Daniel Kahn and Presented by the Yiddish newspaper, The Forverts
“Dos Land iz Dayn Land” Woody Guthrie’s
This Land is Your Land”
Yiddish Translation by Linda Gritz & Daniel Kahn
with Harry Bochner, Michael Alpert, & Josh Waletzky
This Land is Your Land © Copyright 1956 (renewed), 1958 (renewed), 1970 and 1972 by Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc. & TRO-Ludlow Music, Inc. (BMI)
Transliterated Lyrics:
Kh’hob mir gevandert in a land a frayen
Aroys fun midber, vi mi-mitsrayem,
Gezukht a nayem Yerushalayem,
Dos iz a land far mir un dir.
(REFREN:)
Dos land iz dayn land, dos land iz mayn land
Fun Kalifornye biz Elis Ayland,
Fun di groyse oz’res biz di breyte yamen,
Dos iz a land far mir un dir. I
kh gey ariber di berg un teler,
Arumgeringlt fun zise keler.
Di ritshkes murmlen, di feygl zingen:
Dos iz a land far mir un dir.
Kh’ze a groysn moyer mit a shild vos vornt:
Vil men araynet, shteyt az me tor nit
Nor af yener zayt, shteyt dortn gornit
Ot iz di zayt far mir un dir.
Gey ikh mir voglen, di zun fun oybn,
Nor beyze vintn tseblozn shtoybn,
Durkh di tumanen, her ikh gezangen:
Dos iz a land far mir un dir.
Af nase gasn, in tife shotns,
Ze ikh vi mentshn betn nedoves
Bay aza dales, darf ikh zikh klern
Tsi dos iz a land far mir un dir.
Es ken shoyn keyner undz nit farshtern,
Di fraye vegn undz nit farvern.
Nito keyn tsamen, ven nor tsuzamen.
Dos iz a land far mir un dir.
1940, דאָס לאַנד איז דײַן לאַנד פֿון װוּדי גאָטרי
פֿאַרטײַטשט פֿון ליבע גריץ און דניאל קאַהן
מיט חײם באָכנער, מײשקע אַלפּערט, און דזשאַש װאַלעצקי
כ’האָב מיר געװאַנדערט, אין אַ לאַנד אַ פֿרײַען
אַרױס פֿון מידבר, װי ממצרים
געזוכט אַ נײַעם ירושלים
דאָס איז אַ לאַנד פֿאַר מיר און דיר
רעפֿרען: דאָס לאַנד איז דײַן לאַנד
דאָס לאַנד איז מײַן לאַנד
פֿון קאַליפֿאָרניע ביז עליס אײַלאַנד
פֿון די גרױסע אָזערעס ביז די ברײטע ימען
דאָס איז אַ לאַנד פֿאַר מיר און דיר
איך גײ אַריבער די בערג און טעלער
אַרומגערינגעלט פֿון זיסע קעלער
די ריטשקעס מורמלען, די פֿײגל זינגען
דאָס איז אַ לאַנד פֿאַר מיר און דיר
Literal translation of the Yiddish:
I wandered into a free country Out of the desert,
as though from Egypt, Looking for a new Jerusalem,
This is a country for me and you.
This is your country,
This is my country,
From California to Ellis Island,
From the Great Lakes to the wide seas,
This is a country for me and you.
I walk over mountains and valleys
Surrounded by sweet voices.
The streams murmur, the birds sing:
This is a country for me and you.
I see a big wall with a sign that warns:
If you want to enter, it says it’s forbidden
But on the other side, it says nothing,
That is the side for you and me.
I go wandering, the sun above,
But evil winds are blowing dust,
Through the haze, I hear singing:
This is a country for me and you.
On wet streets, in deep shadows,
I see people begging for change.
To see such poverty,
I wonder If this is a country for me and you.
There’s no one who can stop us,
Or forbid us the paths of freedom.
There are no barriers, if we are united.
This is a country for me and you.
