When I was little, my mom tried to teach me the German language. Being a kid, I found some German words to sound funny then, but I still remember the rhyme she taught me.
While playing in the yard, we often recited counting-out rhymes in Polish. My favorite one is perhaps the one in which words have no meaning in this language besides the word "tabaka" ("snuff"). However, the word is used here to give rhyme only, not to make any sense at all.
"En-ten-tino, Sa-ca-ra-ca-tino, Sa-ca-ra-ca i ta-ba-ka, en-ten-to. Ranibusek, ranibusek, en-ten-to."
On the words "ranibusek, ranibusek" [pronounced: rahneebooseck], the kid who was counting out stopped doing that, and with their hand, made two "air circles" in front of their belly. Then, continued counting out again.
Whilst reading the book "Krasna Amerika"* (Beautiful America), I came across this counting-out rhyme in Czech which words are more or less meaningless as well. I quite like it.
šlaka = slag štaple= staples flek = stain The words "angle" and "pangle" seem familiar in English, however, are pronounced differently [a:ngleh, pa:ngleh].
Can you remember any rhymes from your childhood?
Photo: Historic school in Kashubia, Poland.
*"Krasna Amerika: A Study of the Texas Czechs, 1851-1939" by Clinton Machann, James W. Mendl, Eakin Press, Austin, Texas, 1983"
A lady said to me not long ago: "You speak Polish and English, but you sing in German. I don't understand." I replied: "What don't you understand? If I had an opportunity to practice the other language which I learned at school, I would."
Well, I have done it before. Meaning signing in a foreign language not only to myself but in public as well.
The first time was in primary school when I was 14. Not that I volunteered to do that, oh no. I was part of the school choir then. Our music teacher, who was also the choir director, and the teacher of Russian, chose me to sing a song in Russian during a school assembly.
Poland was part of the Soviet block at that time, and every year, schools and bigger workplaces observed "the days of Soviet culture and science". The observance was mandatory and some state events related to those "days" were always reported on TV.
Anyhow, the song which I sang solo at that assembly was done to mark the above-mentioned observance in the school papers/report. Its lyrics were nothing political, though. The text (children appropriate) was about Cinderella and the ball she attended at the Prince's castle. The tune was nice, but the refrain part was full of high notes and difficult to sing. Luckily, the music teacher arranged it in a way that the school choir supported me in that. Being shy, I did not enjoy standing in front of the entire school and doing my solo part, but I did like the song.
The song was originally sang by Russian artist Ludmila Senchina, its
title was "Хоть поверьте хоть проверьте"/"Believe it or check it out."
A few years earlier, my first unofficial solo presentation took place. One day, an unexpected visitation occurred in our local youth club. Neighborhood kids (including myself) spent their after-school time in the club, doing various activities and playing games under the supervision of the club instructor. Quite out of the blue, a group of ladies, delegates from Siberia appeared in the club. My guess is that they had probably been sent there by some city officials. Certainly, it was not an accidental matter.
Anyway, the club instructor was told to entertain the ladies with the kids' performance. Since we had not worked on any program like that, it was quite a desperate situation. The counselor asked us (kids) whether anybody would want to/dare to sing/dance or do whatever proper in front of the visitors. I was one of very few who agreed. Well, I just felt how helpless the situation was. What I did - I sang some notes of a popular Russian song about gingerbread cookies. However, I knew only a few Russian words of the song, the rest was la, la, la. I also played one melody on the xylophone (I was part of the club xylophone group then). Since it was all without prior practice, to my horror, I happened to play out of tune as well.
To my surprise, my performance made a positive impression on the visitors. One lady asked me about my name and address as she wanted a Polish pen pal for her daughter, who was about my age. The girl's name was Lena and we later exchanged letters for some time.
Decades later, I was part of an international EU educational program. Then, we learned the traditional songs of all the project partners (in their native tongues). The languages were, English, German, Czech,
Tancuj, Tancuj = Dance, Dance
Slovenian,
Pobelelo Pole = The Field Turned White (with sheep)
Bulgarian,
Italian (Sardinian song),
and Cypriot.
The most important side of singing in a foreign language is the correct pronunciation of the song words. Naturally, understanding the text adds more sense to it as well. During the project, both the prior and the latter were provided by the project partners.
In quite a different program, we cooperated with an Israeli school. From time to time, the teacher and her class sent us some videos and we made some too. I taught my students an old song in Yiddish (of Polish or Russian roots). No, I do not know the language. Just found the song lyrics and their English translation. The rest meaning pronunciation came "by ear". The kids enjoyed singing the song and making the video.
Of course, it is not the video we made.
All in all, singing in German in Texas is not such a big deal. However, I admit it may be found very unexpected. Anyhow, I did learn some German in Poland. Nevertheless, a few years ago, I did not have the faintest idea I would sing in the language here. Mysterious are the ways...
Decades ago, when I was trying to learn German, if someone had told me I would find that knowledge/language useful in Texas, I would have laughed, thinking the person was joking. Neither did I expect to be in Texas anytime in the future, nor have the faintest idea I would sing there in German. Mysterious are the ways indeed.
My mom tried to teach me German when I was little. She told me the German words for "a doll" (die Puppe) and "doll pram" (Puppenwagen), and that was the end of my learning in those days. The two German words sound similar to the Polish words that mean totally something else - "pupa" ("bottom" in Polish) and "waga" (="scales"/"to weigh"). Then, being a few years old, I found it very
funny, and I just could not stop laughing. Needless to say, mom got very discouraged regarding her teaching efforts.
Well, I am glad much later, when I was also much older, I did learn the language to a degree
that makes me able to be part of the local choir. I do enjoy it a lot.
Last week the town celebrated the 40th Oktoberfest, German language, culture, and heritage.
Sometimes I wake up in the night with a song on my mind. Usually,
the song gets stuck to me for some time until I hear it sung by a singer. Recently, it has been the song which starts with "Jedno życie masz..."/"One life you have...". I
learned it at primary school, and I sang it then with the school choir.
Most of the lyrics I had forgotten, that was only
that one verse:
"Jedno życie masz, komu dasz ten kwiat, nie idź za rzekę zginiesz tam"/
"One life you have, who will you give that flower to, do not go across the river, you will perish there."
I remembered that the original version in English was sung by Joan Baez, so I looked for a video on youtube.
Interestingly, looking for the Polish version of "Dona, Dona", I also learned that it is
actually a traditional Jewish song with lyrics in Yiddish.
Well, there is always something new to learn. I like the red dress by the way.
The Polish lyrics were not about cows going to slaughter, though. It was more like an anti-war song.
Finally, it is, I found the words I had learned at school.
"Jedno życie masz,
komu dasz ten kwiat?
Nie idź za rzekę zginiesz
tam.
Komu dasz ten kwiat?
Życia swego kwiat?
Kiedy zza rzeki padnie
strzał?
Ludzie, ludzie nie gińcie,
Wy ocalicie świat.
Ludzie, ludzie szkoda
was.
To wojna zginąć ma.
Dona Dona Don..."
Which is
"One life you have,
Who will you give that flower to? Don't go across the river,
You will perish there.
One life you have,
Who will you give that flower to? The flower of your life?
When the shot from across the river will be fired.
People, people do not perish,
You will save the world. People, people do not perish,
The war is that one to die.
Dona Dona Don..."
I did not manage to find any live version of the song sung in Polish (with the particular lyrics mentioned above), so the song is still here Dona Dona Dona Dona...
