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[ceruleancat]

I wonder how non-Israelis would view this one. I'm very amused. May have to do with this being part of my childhood.

Yiddishe Piraten (This is the Israel Navy Band; clip from 1969)

"להקת חיל הים - יידישע פיראטען" (Watch on YouTube)

Lyrics, Yoram Teharlev, Dani Litani
Music Drora Havkin

(Hebrew lyrics below, my translation, for content, not style, although trying for a bit of rhythm)

From Białystok to Wołyń, Lithuania to Poland, all the nation will speak of our deeds
What a great gang, Jewish pirates, may we have many more like them x2

We set out on a voyage, and we set the compass
to take us directly to the shores of Cush and of Tarshish
Our packs were filled with goodies, fasolia and some kreplach,
a cask of cholent, a cask of borscht, a barrel of gefilte fish
From Białystok to Wołyń...

We got to the Baltic, and I fell in the water,
and I yelled out Oh my Lord please help
I called out from the depths there, but no pirate came to save me
except for one, Dov-Ber
Captain Reb Gedalia gave him a medal, and everyone said you're Samson the great
Dob-Ber said OK, I'm a hero, but which one is the bastard who pushed me from behind
From Białystok to Wołyń...

When we got to Naples, we saw some goyish ladies,
God was putting us to the test
One stretched her hand towards me, and only God stood by me,
also Zalman, who pulled me by the collar back
We then sailed to Messina, and got to Palestina;
we went down to Jaffa, just to have a look
We never found our way out, we were all conscripted,
and were sent directly to the Rabbinate choir.

From Białystok to Wołyń, Lithuania to Poland, all the nation will speak of our deeds
What a great gang, Jewish pirates, may we have many more like them x2

מביאליסטוק עד ווהלין מליטא ועד פולין כל העם כבודנו ימלל איזה חברה יאטן יידישע פיראטען שירבו כמותם בישראל!
אל המסע יצאנו את המצפן כיוונו שנפליג ישר אל ארץ כוש ואל תרשיש מילאנו את הפעקלאך פסוליה וגם קרעפלאך פח של צ'ולנט, פח של בורשט, חבית גפילטע פיש.
מביאליסטוק עד ווהלין מליטא ועד פולין כל העם כבודנו ימלל איזה חברה יאטן יידישע פיראטען שירבו כמותם בישראל!
הגענו אל הבלטי אני לים נפלתי רק צעקתי: שמע ישרואל וי צי מיר געוואלד! ממעמקים קראתי אך איש מן הפירטים לא קפץ להצילני, רק דב-בר לבד. הרב חובל רב גדליה נתן לו אז מדליה וכולם אמרו אתה הוא שימשן הגיבור ענה דב-בר אני הוא גיבור גדול אך מיהו זה הפסקודניאק אשר דחפני מאחור?
מביאליסטוק עד ווהלין מליטא ועד פולין כל העם כבודנו ימלל איזה חברה יאטן יידישע פיראטען שירבו כמותם בישראל!
בנפולי היינו ושיקסעס שם ראינו אלוהים ניסה אותנו איזה ניסיון אחת הושיטה יד לי אז רק האל עמד לי וגם זלמן שתפס אותי בצווארון.
הגענו למסינה משם לפלסטינה ונרד ביפו לסייר בסקרנות משם כבר לא יצאנו גייסו שם את כולנו ועשו אותנו מקהלת הרבנות.
מביאליסטוק עד ווהלין...

Baronjanus, I need your help for a better translation
Also, how come there's no wiki for the Navy band, but there is for the Airforce band and the IDF orchestra?

Edit to improve lyrics

Comments

[baronjanus]

Navy Band on wiki, using google translate but it's much better than it used to be. Except "Derech Beam" which. They got most of the others okay, at least.

[ceruleancat]

Thanks. I didn't think to link from Hebrew wiki. I was just puzzled that of all the military bands, only one has English.

joint work

[baronjanus]

From Białystok to Volhynia, from Lithuania to Poland,
The nation will speak of our greatness
What a bunch! Yiddishe piratten,
May we have many more!

We set out on the voyage, set the compass
for a direct journey to the Land of Kush and to Tarshish
Filled our packs with bean stew and kreplach,
a cask of cholent, a cask of borscht, and a barrel of gefilte fish

We got to the Baltic and I fell into the sea
I yelled "Shema Yisrael! Woe is me, give me strength!"
I have called from the deep but none of the pirates jumped in after me,
only Dov-Bear, he alone saved me!

The Captain Reb Gedalyah
then gave him a medal
and everyone said
"You're Samson the Great!"
Said Dov-Bear, "Yes I'm a big hero,
but which one of ya's the asshole who pushed me?"

We were in Naples and saw the shiksas
God was testing us, Lord what a trial
One gave me her hand, only God gave me hard resolve,
and Zalman also helped when he caught me by the neck

We reached Messina, from there to Palestine,
we boarded in Jaffa for a curious tour
We never left there, we were all conscripted
Turned us into the Rabbinate Choir

From Białystok to Volhynia, from Lithuania to Poland,
The nation will speak of our greatness
What a bunch! Yiddishe piratten,
May we have many more!

[baronjanus]

you know what we were never fucking taught in school?


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_pirates

[ceruleancat]

Awesome! Thanks for this.
So anti-Rome and then anti-Spain and it's inquisition.

Of course we didn't learn about this. First, I don't think they paid attention to that period, aside for the mention of the year of expulsion and the existence of the inquisition. Not like you were actually given any details. Also, it would interfere with the narrative of woe and sheep to the slaughter. People who set up the curriculum probably don't know about this at all.

[baronjanus]

We were given plenty details about boringer things

but yeah, it was probably about a history of shiny brave adventure that they didn't want us looking into