Listen to Fran
About Fran
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Listen to Fran
On this page are a few audio clips from the CD. What better way to help you decide whether to buy the CD/cassette, Fran Kleiner -- The Fire Glows: Yiddish Songs, Live at The Mermaid Inn.
Also included on the CD are many songs rarely sung by Fran. There are 19 selections
and 60 minutes of music on the CD.
You must have Real Player to listen
to the audio. It is available as a free download by clicking on the link
below. We hope to have the audio available for Windows Media Player and iTunes
shortly.
The selections are prefaced with her explanation of the historical significance of the song and the English words. The entire selection is not included.
Oyfn Pripetshik (On the Hearth)
"Oyfyn Pripetshik" had such wide popularity that it was assumed to be a folk song. Its composer was Mark Warshawsky, who himself was discovered by Sholem Aleichem. It is such a great favorite, it can be considered an anthem, and was used in Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List." The
translation is by Max Rosenfeld.
On the hearth, a little fire glows
Sending out its rays.
And the rebbe teaches little children
The Alef-Beys. (alphabet)
Study children, remember little ones,
Say it every day.
Say it once again, and yet another time,
Gimel, daled, hey.
Listen children, pay attention,
That's what I advise.
And whichever of you learns to read the best
That one gets a prize.
Children, you yourselves will learn to
understand in the coming years,
How much joy and laughters in these letters
And how many tears.
Der Yid, Der Shmid (Song of the Jewish Blacksmith)
This song says 'let's create our own song about a blacksmith that is working in his smithy, and while he works, he sings a Yiddish song -- one, two, three.' Words by Wolf Younin; Music by Vladimir Heifetz. Published in 1952.
The Fisher Lid (Song of the Fisherman)
Words and music by Aliza Greenblatt. The song was popular in the 1930s in Europe and the U.S. Greenblatt was called the only Jewish woman troubador, travelling throughout the country giving recitals, a lot like her son-in-law, Woody Guthrie, and her grandson, Arlo.
A fisherman goes out to sea and hopes to catch fish. The waves murmur softly; the sea is driven. Maybe it is like me, also in love. I walk along the shore and spin my dream. Perhaps I will find my lover. The fisherman returns sadly; he didn't catch any fish. I become fearful that my dream is lost.
May There Always Be Sunshine
I once heard Pete Seeger sing this Russian song. The English translation is his; the Yiddish is mine. It is a Russian child's view of what peace means to him.
May there always be sunshine
May there always be blue skies
May there always be mama
May there always be me
May there always be sunshine
May there always be blue skies
May there always be papa
May there always be me.
About Fran
Bio/Resume