When it's Rosh Hashana Time in Dixieland
August 6, 2010 8:35 PM Subscribe
Help me identify (and find a recording of?) an old Jewish comedy song: "When it's Rosh Hashana time in Dixieland..." thereby blowing my dad's mind in time for High Holidays.
Every fall, my father likes to sing the snatches he remembers of a comedy song they used to sing in his shul in Long Island: "When it's Rosh Hashana Time in Dixieland." For the first time I've managed to find documentation that someone besides my dad remembers this.
Is there any possible way I can find out more about this song? Like, who wrote it, or the full lyrics, or the music? Or even whether there's some way I could find a recording? That -- as mentioned in the main body of the question -- would blow my dad's mind.
Every fall, my father likes to sing the snatches he remembers of a comedy song they used to sing in his shul in Long Island: "When it's Rosh Hashana Time in Dixieland." For the first time I've managed to find documentation that someone besides my dad remembers this.
Is there any possible way I can find out more about this song? Like, who wrote it, or the full lyrics, or the music? Or even whether there's some way I could find a recording? That -- as mentioned in the main body of the question -- would blow my dad's mind.
Here's a transcription of the lyrics, but no melody.
posted by inturnaround at 9:59 PM on August 6, 2010
posted by inturnaround at 9:59 PM on August 6, 2010
Whoops, didn't click on that link in the original question. I'm sorry.
posted by inturnaround at 10:00 PM on August 6, 2010
posted by inturnaround at 10:00 PM on August 6, 2010
If I were you, I'd e-mail the folks from WFMU's J.M. in the a.m.. "J. M." stands for "Jewish Moments" now, but it used to stand for "Jewish music." Given the show's long and illustrious history, and given WFMU's well-earned reputation for running shows by people with incredibly extensive knowledge of their fields, I think they could be a very useful resource for this.
Here is the web page for the show.
The other thing you might try doing is calling ASCAP. ASCAP represents music publishers (i.e., the people who own the right to license use and performance of scores and song lyrics.) I didn't find the song by title when I searched their database, but it sounds from their website like their clearance representatives my have access to resources that they aren't making available online to the general public. This is the number to use: 1-800-95ASCAP (1-800-952-7227). Since the organization exists in part to makie sure that songwriters are able to connect with people who are obligated to pay them, it seems likely that they might have the information you need.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 10:30 PM on August 6, 2010
Here is the web page for the show.
The other thing you might try doing is calling ASCAP. ASCAP represents music publishers (i.e., the people who own the right to license use and performance of scores and song lyrics.) I didn't find the song by title when I searched their database, but it sounds from their website like their clearance representatives my have access to resources that they aren't making available online to the general public. This is the number to use: 1-800-95ASCAP (1-800-952-7227). Since the organization exists in part to makie sure that songwriters are able to connect with people who are obligated to pay them, it seems likely that they might have the information you need.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 10:30 PM on August 6, 2010
Sounds like something Mickey Katz (Joel Grey's papa) would sing.
posted by Ranucci at 10:39 PM on August 6, 2010
posted by Ranucci at 10:39 PM on August 6, 2010
And, in the same vein, there's Tom Lehrer's "I'm spending Hanukkah in Santa Monica."
posted by exphysicist345 at 11:52 PM on August 6, 2010
posted by exphysicist345 at 11:52 PM on August 6, 2010
are these the lyrics?
WHEN IT'S ROSH HASHONAH TIME IN DIXIE LAND
HEY HEY
SEE THE ZAIDAS SAY THEIR PRAYERS
MAKING EYES AT THE BUBBAS UPSTAIRS
WHEN IT'S ROSH HASHONAH TIME IN DIXIELAND
YOU CAN HAVE YOUR SUCCOS UP IN MAINE
OR YOUR PESACH IN SUNNY SPAIN
BUT I'LL TAKE MINE IN THE LAND OF COTTON
WHERE ERLICHER MENSCHEN ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
LOOK AWAY LOOK AWAY LOOK AWAY DIXIELAND
posted by Mesach at 7:15 AM on August 7, 2010
WHEN IT'S ROSH HASHONAH TIME IN DIXIE LAND
HEY HEY
SEE THE ZAIDAS SAY THEIR PRAYERS
MAKING EYES AT THE BUBBAS UPSTAIRS
WHEN IT'S ROSH HASHONAH TIME IN DIXIELAND
YOU CAN HAVE YOUR SUCCOS UP IN MAINE
OR YOUR PESACH IN SUNNY SPAIN
BUT I'LL TAKE MINE IN THE LAND OF COTTON
WHERE ERLICHER MENSCHEN ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
LOOK AWAY LOOK AWAY LOOK AWAY DIXIELAND
posted by Mesach at 7:15 AM on August 7, 2010
Ranucci beat me to to the Mickey Katz reference.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 7:19 AM on August 7, 2010
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 7:19 AM on August 7, 2010
Response by poster: By the way, the lyrics the way my dad sings it start "When it's Rosh Hashana time in Dixieland.. you'll find Parson Ginsberg in command" but I'm sure it's the same song.
posted by escabeche at 7:49 AM on August 7, 2010
posted by escabeche at 7:49 AM on August 7, 2010
The string "Parson Ginsberg" gets nothing in Google. That sounds awfully specific.
Is it to the tune of Dixie? It does have the "look away / look away" part of the refrain, but I'm having trouble seeing how the other lyrics map onto the tune. I'm not a singer or musician though.
I suspect this is a folkloric song along the lines of the "Batman" versions of Jingle Bells or "There's a place in France". I'm wondering if you can use the zemerl link as the basis for reconstructing your own customized version.
Also: if your Dad has more memories of the lyrics please post them here, and some future person will find them and add to them.
posted by artlung at 8:09 AM on August 7, 2010
Is it to the tune of Dixie? It does have the "look away / look away" part of the refrain, but I'm having trouble seeing how the other lyrics map onto the tune. I'm not a singer or musician though.
I suspect this is a folkloric song along the lines of the "Batman" versions of Jingle Bells or "There's a place in France". I'm wondering if you can use the zemerl link as the basis for reconstructing your own customized version.
Also: if your Dad has more memories of the lyrics please post them here, and some future person will find them and add to them.
posted by artlung at 8:09 AM on August 7, 2010
Harvey and Sheila to the tune of the Hava Nagila is another one I bet your dad remembers!
posted by 6:1 at 11:36 AM on August 7, 2010
posted by 6:1 at 11:36 AM on August 7, 2010
Googling around, I also found references to "Pesach Time in Dixieland".
This, and the variability of the reported lyrics, lead me to wonder whether, back in the day, the song wasn't some kind of common send-up of another song-- possibly "It's Julep Time in Dixieland", which seems to have come out at about the right time.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 12:18 PM on August 7, 2010
This, and the variability of the reported lyrics, lead me to wonder whether, back in the day, the song wasn't some kind of common send-up of another song-- possibly "It's Julep Time in Dixieland", which seems to have come out at about the right time.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 12:18 PM on August 7, 2010
Response by poster: It's not to the tune of Dixie, at least not the way may dad sings it. I'll ask him if he remembers any other lyrics, and if the ones at the Zemerl link sound familiar to him. If not, artlung may be right that it's something passed orally from 50s synagogue youth group to 50s synagogue youth group without ever being formalized.
posted by escabeche at 12:20 PM on August 7, 2010
posted by escabeche at 12:20 PM on August 7, 2010
So, it's a parody, but of what? Possible candidates:
It was Summer time in Dixieland, 1904.
Night Time in Dixieland, Irving Berlin, 1914.
Melon Time in Dixieland, 1921: a, b. (Gah. This is probably another parody.)
Julep time in Dixieland, 1934.
posted by zamboni at 1:56 PM on August 7, 2010
It was Summer time in Dixieland, 1904.
Night Time in Dixieland, Irving Berlin, 1914.
Melon Time in Dixieland, 1921: a, b. (Gah. This is probably another parody.)
Julep time in Dixieland, 1934.
posted by zamboni at 1:56 PM on August 7, 2010
Lyrics for "Summer time…"
Sheet music for "Night time…"
Sheet music for "Melon time…"
Can't find sheet music for "Julep Time", but if anyone wants to swing by the UCLA Performing Arts Special Collection, they have a copy.
They also note that the song is from the 1937 movie "Can This Be Dixie?".
posted by zamboni at 5:11 PM on August 7, 2010
Sheet music for "Night time…"
Sheet music for "Melon time…"
Can't find sheet music for "Julep Time", but if anyone wants to swing by the UCLA Performing Arts Special Collection, they have a copy.
They also note that the song is from the 1937 movie "Can This Be Dixie?".
posted by zamboni at 5:11 PM on August 7, 2010
OK, let's look at the first verse and the "In Dixieland" refrain.
Rosh Hashanah:
HEY HEY
SEE THE ZAIDAS SAY THEIR PRAYERS
MAKING EYES AT THE BUBBAS UPSTAIRS
WHEN IT'S ROSH HASHONAH TIME IN DIXIELAND
Pesach:
I received my matzohs today;
They came a long, long, very long way.
They came from Holgate to Honolulu,
Aboard the "Henry Clay".
…
It's Pesach time in Dixieland!
Summer:
Nightingales were singing love songs down in Dixieland,
When I shisper'd soft and low that story old,
To a little Southern lassie who had grown to understand
That I loved her, loved her with a love untold;
…
It was summer-time in Dix, Dixie land.
Night:
Talk about your arabian nights
I must admit they're grand
But if you long for wonderful night
Come down to Dixieland
…
Down in Dixieland
Melon:
Dancin' Sammy jazzin' away,
____ strumming banjos all day,
everyone's syncopatin',
It just seems that the whole south,
is celebratin'
…
It's Melon time in Dixieland
Unless Julep Time is a better fit, I suspect that Melon Time is the source material for at least Pesach Time.
posted by zamboni at 5:46 PM on August 7, 2010
Rosh Hashanah:
HEY HEY
SEE THE ZAIDAS SAY THEIR PRAYERS
MAKING EYES AT THE BUBBAS UPSTAIRS
WHEN IT'S ROSH HASHONAH TIME IN DIXIELAND
Pesach:
I received my matzohs today;
They came a long, long, very long way.
They came from Holgate to Honolulu,
Aboard the "Henry Clay".
…
It's Pesach time in Dixieland!
Summer:
Nightingales were singing love songs down in Dixieland,
When I shisper'd soft and low that story old,
To a little Southern lassie who had grown to understand
That I loved her, loved her with a love untold;
…
It was summer-time in Dix, Dixie land.
Night:
Talk about your arabian nights
I must admit they're grand
But if you long for wonderful night
Come down to Dixieland
…
Down in Dixieland
Melon:
Dancin' Sammy jazzin' away,
____ strumming banjos all day,
everyone's syncopatin',
It just seems that the whole south,
is celebratin'
…
It's Melon time in Dixieland
Unless Julep Time is a better fit, I suspect that Melon Time is the source material for at least Pesach Time.
posted by zamboni at 5:46 PM on August 7, 2010
Response by poster: Update: My dad says that the lyrics on Zemerl are NOT familiar to him, and don't work with the tune he knows. Now I'm thoroughly confused. Two completely different songs called "When it's Rosh Hashana time in Dixieland?"
posted by escabeche at 7:44 AM on August 8, 2010
posted by escabeche at 7:44 AM on August 8, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by artlung at 8:49 PM on August 6, 2010