Shabes nukh dem kigel /Sabbath, after the kugel [potato pudding]
Sung by Malka/Molly Lubelski, recorded by Abraham Lubelski, Bronx 1967
COMMENTARY BY ITZIK GOTTESMAN
A love song from the 19th century apparently in the repertoire of the Broder zingers, itinerant singers and actors who often performed in taverns and wine cellars. A different version of this song can be found in the collection Broder zinger (1960) by Shlomo Pryzament (scan attached), with text and music. The singer Masha Benya recorded this Pryzament version which is sung from the man’s point of view. Here is the link to Benya’s recording from her LP record Jewish Song Treasury, Volume 2.
Molly Lubelski’s version differs significantly textually and is sung from the girl’s point of view. Her referring to her “Madam” implies that the singer works for her in some capacity or the Madam is her landlady, or perhaps it’s an ironic way to refer to her mother. There is another song from the Yiddish theater entitled “Shabes nokhn kugl” , which is a completely different song and has been recorded several times. The words and music to that theater song can be found in Jane Peppler’s Yiddish Songs from Warsaw 1929-193: The Itzik Zhelonek Collection.
For biographical information on Malka Lubelski see the previous post “Vi iz dus gesele”.
Shabes nukh dem kigl
sung by Molly Lubelski
Shabes nukh dem kigl
geyt mayn madam tsu gest.
Es kumt tsu mir mayn khusn
un drikt un kisht mikh fest.
Sabbath after the kugel,
my madam goes out to visit.
So my future husband then comes to me
and squeezes and kisses me strongly.
Tsvay upgeglantste shtivl,
dus hitl in a zayt
er iz an oysgedinter,
fardint un iz a layt.
With two shiny boots
and his cap worn to the side,
he has served in the military,
and earns a reasonable living.
Bald nokh dem esn
geyen mir paze taykh.
Es zenen undz mekane
say urem un say raykh.
Right after eating,
we walk along the river.
Everyone envies us,
the poor and the rich.
Ikh trug a nay klaydl,
tsvay oysgekemte tsep.
Ikh bin a shayn maydl
un ikh fardray di kep.
I’m wearing a new dress,
and have combed my braids.
I am a pretty girl
and heads turn when I pass.
Nor im lib ikh
un er hot dus der vert.
Er iz der shenster bukher
der shenster oyf der erd.
But he is the one I love,
and he is worth it.
He is the handsomest man,
the best looking in the world
Er zugt er vet mikh nemen
un shteln a khupe oykh.
O, klezmer veln shpiln,
oy, az s’vet geyn a roykh.
He says he will take me
and marry me.
O, klezmers will play so well
oy, that smoke will rise.
Un mayn madam vet shenken
tsvey kishn un a klayd.
Oy, vet zayn a simkhe,
oy, vet zayn a frayd.
And my madam will give as gifts –
two pillows and a dress.
Oy, there will be a celebration
oy, there will be joy.
un mashke vet men trinken
vifl s’vet arayn,
un shabes nukh deym kigl
kumt mayn madam tsu geyn.
We’ll drink whiskey
as much as we can.
Sabbath after the kugel
my madam goes out to visit.
שבת נאָך דעם קוגל
געזונגען פֿון מלכּה (מאַלע) לובעלסקי
שבת נאָך דעם קוגל
.גייט מײַן מאַדאַם צו געסט
עס קומט צו מיר מײַן חתן
.און דריקט און קושט מיך פֿעסט
,צוויי אָפּגעגלאַנצטע שטיוול
,דאָס היטל אין אַ זײַט
,ער איז אַן אויסגעדינטער
.פֿאַרדינט און איז אַ לײַט
באַלד נאָך דעם עסן
.גייען מיר פּאַזע טײַך
עס זענען אונדז מקנא
.סײַ אָרעם און סײַ רײַך
,איך טראָג אַ נײַ קליידל,
.צוויי אויסגעקעמטע צעפּ
איך בין אַ שיין מיידל
.און איך פֿאַרדריי די קעפּ
נאָר אים ליב איך
.און ער האָט דאָס ווערט
,ער איז דער שענסטער בחור
.דער שענסטער אויף דער ערד
ער זאָגט ער וועט מיך נעמען
.און שטעלן אַ חופּה אויך
,אָ, קלעזמער וועלן שפּילן
.אוי, אַז ס’וועט גיין אַ רויך
און מײַן מאַדאַם וועט שענקען
.צוויי קישן און אַ קלייד
אוי, וועט זײַן אַ שׂימחה
.אוי, וועט זײַן אַ פֿרייד
מאַשקע וועט מען טרינקען
.וויפֿל ס’וועט אַרײַן
און שבת נאָך דעם קוגל
.קומט מײַן מאַדאַם צו גיין
From Broder zinger (1960) by Shlomo Pryzament, p. 86-87:
Itzik Manger in his Chernovitz days, 1920s
Beyle and Itzik Gottesman looking over Yiddish field recordings, 1970s.
Yiddish Song of the Week 