We Remember

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Kretchma

Anyone know any Betar alterations th these original words?

Kretchma - Words and music by Gene Raskin

When you hear Russian songs, do you suffer?
Does your heart start to pound in your chest?
If you do then come down to the Kretchma,
It costs plenty, but it's from the best.

And there is singing, and there is dancing,
And the Russian vodka is all right.
Come to the Kretchma, that's where you'll ketchma,
Drinking vodka every night

In the corner is standing a Cossak.
You can see him from way down the block.
And inside the candles are gleaming,
But, except for the candles, it's dark.

And there is singing and there is dancing,
And the borsht and piroshki's all right.
Come to the Kretchma, that's where you'll ketchma,
Drinking vodka every night

In the middle is standing Natasha,
All the men are beginning to pant.
When she's dancing her shoulders they vibrate,
And when she's singing you see that she can't.

And there is singing and there is dancing,
And the Russian baritone's all right.
Come to Kretchma, that's where you'll ketchma,
Making whoopee every night.

4 comments:

  1. I remember Benny Rosen singing this song with his guitar at camp, in the mid 1960s. I think the words were substantially the same, but he may have substituted a few funnier words or phrases of his own. Maybe he could comment? Kretchma: ( in Slovak, it is Krcma) —is a generic description for pub, bar or similar drinking establishment) --Barak Koffler

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    Hi Barak,

    You're pretty much on the mark. We did sing that song around the medurot in Camp Betar. However, I can't claim credit for it.

    I first heard that song during a misspent youth in Washington Square, where Folk Singers used to gather on Sundays.

    You may have been thinking of yet another camp fire song, somewhat similar in genre, it was called "The Red Comrade Blues", more popularly known as "Natasha"

    It was good hearing from you

    Benny

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  2. Kretchma was written by Professor Eugene Raskin, and was a favorite at the Feenjon

    Shach

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  4. And the only change we ever made was in the second stanza about the Cossack. We would sing "and you can smell him from way down the block"

    Shach

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