“Chantshe in America” is
a comedy in four acts, written by Nahum Rakow, music
by Joseph Rumshinsky and words by Isidore Lillian.
I don’t know when and in
what theatre it was first performed, but I do have a
cast list and know what roles each actor played:
Hyman Meisel (Motel Motelzon), Sally Schorr (Zelde
Zlate, his wife), Bessie Thomashefsky (Chantshe,
their daughter), Bernard Shoengold (her fiancé),
Charles Nathanson (Goldhendler, an ‘all-rightnik’,
i.e. an upstart, philistine or parvenu, per
Weinreich), Ida Nathanson (his wife), Pepi Lavitz,
Ida Kessler and Abraham Fishkind (their children),
and Sam Kasten (an elevator boy).
From the Joseph
Rumshinsky Song Book of 1911, here are the words
from the song (which has the same name as the play
title). The transliteration from the Yiddish is as
it appears in the sheet music (i.e. not according to
YIVO standards). It is interesting to see an example
of how song writers would combine English words with
the Yiddish lyrics, which you will see here…. Last
time I checked the National Yiddish Book Center had
the sheet music to the song, or at least to a song
from the show…..
Here is the Yiddish
transliteration, as well as the English translation,
courtesy of
Jane Peppler.
1.
Chantshe is gewen amol a
nomen nor zum shpass,
Men hot gelacht
Un fun ihr choisek gemacht,
Oi! Nit far mir gedacht!
Chantshe is shoin mehr kein Chantshe nit,
Dos sog ich eich, a neue zeit,
Sich fun shklaferei befreit,
Chantshe is a gantzer leit.
Iberall is sie a knackering a gantze,
Un men rukt zih un men shart zich zu der Chantshe.
Far ihr die mener – hert:
Hoben mehr kein werth.
Chantshe is auf’n ferd.
Refrain:
Chantshe is a lady shoin
a gantze,
Oi! Oi! Oi! Chantshe a chvat, a held,
Nit geshpet, plein geredt.
Hoibt die hend far Chantshe.
Chantshe, nor wu a policeman shpant sie
Oi! Oi! Oi! Chantshe, or Chantshe,
Nor Chantse,
Beinheint die gantze welt.
|
|
1.
Khantshe used to be a
name people laughed at and they made fun
of her.
Oy, let it not happen to us!
Khantshe's not the same now, I'm telling
you.
It's new times - she's freed from
slavery,
Khantshe is completely respectable now.
Everywhere she's big shot.
And people push and shove to get to
Khantshe.
Listen: for her men have no worth.
Khantshe is on a horse.
Refrain:
Khantshe is a now quite
the lady.
Oy, she's audacious, a hero,
Not mocked, plain to say.
Lift your hands for Khantshe.
Khantshe, wherever a policeman hitches?
her
Oy, Khantshe, only Khantshe lights up
the world. |
2.
Chantshe gehmt kein blof
nit
Un sie kempft far frauen-recht,
Dos is a plan.
Far a frau un far a man
Sol gleiche rechte sein.
Aruster mit die hoisen, un
Aruster mit dem man – git sie a kwitsh.
Wen sie shteht un halt a speech.
Chantshe is a regule peach.
Meidel, weibel, sie a man! – zushreit sich Chantshe,
Nit dershrek sich far a berdel mit a wontze,
Mir hoben auch recht
Zu shpielen gantze necht
Poiker – es is nit shlecht.
(Refrain)
|
|
2.
You can't catch Khantshe
in a bluff
And she fights for women's rights
That is a plan:
for a woman and her husband to be equal.
Down with trousers and down with the
husband.
She gives a squeak when she stands and
gives a speech.
Khantshe is a regular peach.
"Girls, women, man up!" cries Khantshe,
Don't be afraid of a beard and moustache
"We, too, have the right
To play all night every night
Drummer - this isn't bad!"
(Refrain) |
3.
Wer Fehlt zu a picnic,
zu a ball,
In dancing school wer sucht a treat?
Auf a car, wie Ch’bin a Yid,
Wemen git men ob a seat?
Wer dertapt in butcher shop
Dem butcher’s march-bein?
Unter dem brick
Koift sie ein fish, hert a trick:
Liegt in fartuch finf shtick.
Wer ken machen gehn a watch un chain, nor Chantshe.
In department store a latchente a gantze.
Wer is fun die toffs?
Zunoifgeshtelt fun bloffs?
Rats, handticher un poffs?
(Refrain) |
|
3.
Who goes to a picnic, a
ball,
Goes to find a treat in the dancing
school?
In a car, I swear,
Who gives up her seat?
Who finds in the butcher shop
The butcher's marrow bone?
Under the bridge she sells fish, hear a
trick:
Five pieces are hidden in her apron.
Who can make a watch and chain run? Only
Khantshe
In the department store a total thief.
Who is the tops?
Put together from bluffs?
Rets, handkerchiefs and puffs?
(Refrain) |
|