Bublitchki
|
Bublitchki is a diminutive of "bubliki", a very popular baked food. It is widely believed that the making of bibliks started in Smorgon, the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania, now Belarus. From there it spread through Poland, across all area with Jewish population, soon reaching Ukraine, where it got its current form. Bublitchki, which are rather sweet, are made from yeast-leavened wheat dough, milk, butter and egg whites, that has been cooked before baking. In Russia and Ukraine they are usually not treated like bread, but like a type of pastry, as a complement to tea or coffee. Bubliks are featured by professional bakers, not only in their shops, but also at country fairs and regional markets. Usually they are stung on a string by the dozen and at the beginning of the twentieth century, the vendors sold them with loud voice at the railwaystaions. |
The composer of the melody to "Bublitchki" is not known for sure, though some sources do mention Uli Hooves. The author of the lyrics was Yakov Yadov, a Jew from Odessa, Ukraine. Yakov declared that his inspiration for the songtext was a seller of bubliki in his hometown.
Originally the lyrics were written around 1920 in Russian language. In the same year it was translated to Yiddisch and it became the most popular unofficial song of that period. In 1926 Gregory Krasavin debuted the Russian lyrics of this melody.
Originally the lyrics were written around 1920 in Russian language. In the same year it was translated to Yiddisch and it became the most popular unofficial song of that period. In 1926 Gregory Krasavin debuted the Russian lyrics of this melody.
The song and melody became so common in the "New Economical Period"-time in Bolsjewik Russia, that later a different Russian text was added.. The lyrics about a drunken father and a whoring mother are also said to be adapted later to an indecent underground parody song.
Click here to download the score to Bublitchki
Yiddish
Bublichki, Koyft mayne beygelekh, Heysinke bublichki! Nu, koyft... Es kumt bald on di nakht, Ikh shtey zikh tif fartrakht, Zet, mayn eygelekh Zaynen farshvartst. Der frost indroysn brent, Farfroyrn mayne hent, Fun tsores zing ikh mir Mayn troy'rik lid. Nu, koyft zhe bublichki, Heysinke beygelekh, Di letste beygelekh, Nu, koyft, bay mir... Ikh shtey aleyn in gas, Fun regn ver ikh nas, Di letste beygelekh. Nu, koyft bay mir... Di nakht es geyt farbay, Der tog rukt on afsnay, Ikh shtey in gas un trakht, Vos vet dokh zayn? Der veytik iz in hoyz, Fun hunger gey ikh oys, Oy, menchn, hert mayn lid, Fun hunger shvakh... Bublichki, beygelekh, Koyft mayne bublichki... Koyft! |
English
Bagels! Hot Bagels! Come-and-get my bagels Hot bagels, hot rolls Buy now ... It’s almost night now Here I stand deep in thought See, my eyes how dark they are! It’s freezing out here My hands are frozen stiff This sad song comes out of My desperate troubles! So! Come-and-get my bagels! Hot bagels! Hot rolls! My last few bagels So! buy, with me... Here I do stand alone wet because of rain, The last few bagels. So! buy with me ... The night is passing by, The day is coming soon I stay here wet and cold, What’s gonna be? There’s nothing but pain at home I’m so hungry, I’m about to faint Dear folks, hear my song I’m so hungry I’m about to faint Bublichki, bagels, come and buy my bagels ... Buy! |