DER YIDDISH-VINKL June 13, 2003

Al Grand is well known to many readers for his Yiddish translation of the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. Grand’s works have been performed around the country by a troupe of which he is a chorus member. His attachment to the Savoyards, as Gilbert and Sullivan are often called, is so deep that his e-mail address is “Savoyid.”

But, to our surprise, we recently received his Yiddish version of Judy Garland’s most famous number in “The Wizard of Oz”; namely, “Over the Rainbow.” To protect himself against Yiddish writers and performers who might want to use this charming piece, Grand has asked that such parties be informed that this piece is copyrighted and may not be used without his permission.

Over the Rainbow

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high

There’s a land that I heard of once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue

And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.

Someday I’ll wish upon a star

And wake up where the clouds are far behind me,

Where troubles melt like lemon drops away above the chimney tops,

That’s where you’ll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly

Birds fly over the rainbow

Why then oh why can’t I?

If all those little bluebirds fly

Beyond the rainbow why, oh why, can’t I?

Iber a Sheynem Regnboygn

Iber sheyn’ regnboygn hoykh un vayt,

Ligt a land, a ganeydn, shoyn fun a langer tsayt,

Iber a sheynem regnboygn alts geyt fayn,

Un di zise khaloymes ven dort mekoyem zayn.

Amol vel ikh oyfkhapn zikh un ale volkns veln farshvundn vern,

Un ale mayne tsores veln flien fun mir vayt avek — un mer nit trern!

Iber a sheynm regnboygn a foygl flit,

Feygl flien in freydn,

Ay, farvos ken ikh nit?

Oyb feygl flien hoykh un fray

Vel ikh oykh mit zey flien — halevay!

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