Young Widow Polka - Polish to English

[Wisconsin's Concertina Kid]

Wondering if Joe Rogers is out there and can help with the lyrics for
the Young Widow Polka - the one The Sounds recorded on their last Live
CD, from Polish to English if at all possible to sing in English if
the translation works out.

Feel free to post here or send me an e-mail directly with these when
you have a moment.

Thank you,
Gary Brueggen
"WI's Concertina Kid"

[jrodg]

On Jun 1, 9:31 am, "Wisconsin's Concertina Kid"

Hi, Gary--I posted an English translation of the Polish text of the
Young Widow Polka on Troy G's Facebook page ( because I got his F-book
message about that ) . I don't have the Sounds recording ( and the
only vocal rendition I see of this number on You Tube is in Czech ,
under the Czech title Ja Jsem Mlada Vdova: I think this was
originally a Czech number and someone eventually translated it into
Polish , where it became popular in Poland). The original Polish text,
which is very good and funny, can be found i.a. on the Polish lyrics
site, Teksty,org by Googling the Polish title, Jestem Mloda Wdowa.
This is a very different and funny number, as you can see from the
English translation. I did that translation ( of just two of the 8
verses on the Teksty site, both of which are to the chorus melody :
Those are the best known--I don't know if you'd like to have the
verses with the other melody, as well, and I'm not sure if they'd make
the song better or just "drag it down" more --Those other, longer
verses might work better simply as an instrumental ride, or whatever.
I did the translation sort of quickly late last night , without
thinking of making it rhyme or "work" for band use , since Troy just
asked re the translation, but actually, by the second verse I was ,
more or less instinctively "rhyming" ( and I think the words that end
in "man" work well). I actually have to run out to a gig right now ,
but , since you're interested I'll "tweak" the translation to make it
fit the rhythm, rhyme, etc. asap when I get back. I can post it here
( or send it 2 U privately, if you prefer ) ---and if anyone else
wants to submit other versions , change whatever I may post , or
whatever, feel free. "Talk to you" soon.

[jrodg]

Here's my take on it ( a more or less free translation based
on the Polish original on Teksty.org ) --NB: Words/ notes that are
stressed in the melody are written in capital letters :

First verse ( "Staccato" melody that serves as an intro to the more
famous , smoother-flowing "chorus" verses below):

I have a neighbor, she's a widow--I often see her thru the window --
and I hear her SAYING to people that she's SEEING:
For three months now I've been single , so it's TIME for me to
mingle--so if you know a GUY who's decent send him by!

CHORUS # 1 ( The "famous" part most sung by Polish and Czech people) :
I'm a sweet young widow sitting by the window.
Now once again I'm VERY ready to re-marry..
Because my heart is LONELY : It keeps sayin' one thing only : Please
do anything you can -- To find me another man !

CHORUS # 2 : I have HAD eight hubbies, and each one was a buddy--And
I loved each one dearly, but they all died too early.
So now I need another: Tell your neighbors , friends and brother: :
They may know the one, you see:
Have them send him here to me!

( optional CHORUS # 3 --Just "loosely" based on the original, while
the verses above were pretty close rhyming translations) :

Please tell Mike, and John and Freddy that once again I'm ready --
Let every Tom and Dick and Harry know THAT I'm here to marry.
And tell Stan and Frank and Walter-- to come meet me at the altar---
And I promise I'll treat him fine --When I walk down the aisle with
number nine.
( And/or alternate or last line: And tell 'em to get in line^---
because soon I'll be pickin'number nine !!!

[Polka person]

===============================================================================

Joe,
Your are truly amazing. To take the time to do this is just going above and beyond what most people would do. I hope the rest of the people who frequent this newsgroup appreciate what you add to the newsgroup.
This has been one of our favorite songs, ever since Jimmy Weber recorded it on his Reunion CD, and now thanks to you, I and everyone else has not only the Polish words to the song, but the English translation.
Thank you.
John Pavlovcak

[CanadianPolkaGuy]

The Naturals recorded this song with English vocals on their album
Live It Up & Sock It To Me.

[jrodg]

On Jun 4, 11:19 am, CanadianPolkaGuy <p1...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> The Naturals recorded this song with English vocals on their album
> Live It Up & Sock It To Me.

This is interesting --and leads into the interesting subject of
multiple versions of various polka songs ( including many of the
biggest hits, like Apples, Peaches, of which I can think of four
versions offhand ---by Stanky, Louie, EB, and the Jumping Jacks from
Buffalo ( Can anybody remember their "outrageous" version of this
one?)--- and, on the Polish side, Hey Cavalier Polka --- There were at
least three different versions: In addition to the "famous"Lush
version , there was a completely different one , except for the
chorus, by Happy Louie , and a funny English rendition at the time in
Chicago , too; Oj dana polka : Again, at least three different
versions , by EB/Marion Lush, Happy Louie ( Louie and his people had
"alternate" versions of lots of songs : He evidently didn't like
recording words already recorded by others , and another version I
remember by Lil Ronnie from Pa., whose father, Joe Fiedor , had lots
of different Polish lyrics. There were also two "prominent" versions
of Panie Majstrze --Eddie B called it the "Bandleader's Polka", and
quite a few different versions of the "Góral polka" --In fact, it was
pretty common for there to be different lyrics for the same Polish
songs on the East Coast and in the Midwest , respectively. Also, it's
interesting to note ( as anyone who consults European Polish lyrics
sites can see ) that the texts of many well known Polish songs in
their "official", generally accepted Polish versions are often quite
different from the lyrics sung in the American polka field ; i.a ,
because the Polish American versions often leave out many references
to Polish towns and cities---presumably because people here are less
familiar with them, and sometimes , too, because the Polish American
versions are either local variants from the home regions of older
immigrants and/or because people who recorded these songs here
apparently often remembered melodies, but not the words that went with
them ( so some creative individuals --Lil Wally is a good example-- )
created their own lyrics to the old tunes. In Wally's case, too, he
probably used some new lyrics simply because he thought they were more
fun than the original lyrics.
Hopefully you CPG, or someone else, can post the Naturals' lyrics
to "Young Widow" : This would give Gary B, and anyone else
interested , a choice of two English versions , and it would be
interesting to compare them . For now, at least , "my" version,
following Gary's request, has the benefit of being brand new, readily
accessible and free ^.

[Wisconsin's Concertina Kid]

Thank you all for the help with this!! I find it very interesting how
some of these tunes were "cross-over" type tunes. I grew up in an
German/Czech listening house hold and only knew this as an
instrumental, and when I talk to my Polish friends, they grew up with
this song sung in Polish and so on.

Thanks to all once again!!! We are all 1 big Polka Family!!!

[Jim]

In article <8319c7b5-387d-41d1...@m3g2000vbl.googlegroups.com>,

CanadianPolkaGuy <p1...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> The Naturals recorded this song with English vocals on their album
> Live It Up & Sock It To Me.

Bomba recorded an instrumental version that just kicks!

--
Jim

[jrodg]

On Jun 10, 2:27 pm, Jim <jpola...@NOync.net> wrote:
> In article <8319c7b5-387d-41d1-bf6b-f9c28161d...@m3g2000vbl.googlegroups.com>,

>
>  CanadianPolkaGuy <p1...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > The Naturals recorded this song with English vocals on their album
> > Live It Up & Sock It To Me.
>
> Bomba recorded an instrumental version that just kicks!
>
> --
> Jim

http://youtu.be/ogFfENV5cVo

[Jim]

In article
<63bb3db5-3889-4c53...@37g2000yqu.googlegroups.com>,

Sorta on the slow side there Joe.

--
Jim

[rpie...@aol.com]

I 'm looking for a written English translation to Hey Cavalier

[jrodg]

On Saturday, August 24, 2013 12:43:36 PM UTC-4, rpie...@aol.com wrote:
> I 'm looking for a written English translation to Hey Cavalier

There' a translation ( a little sketchy and it doesn't rhyme, but it basically explains it) online: Google "Hey cavalier + English translation" --It's the entry near the top that says "Cryptozoology" (?!?)

[rock...@att.net]

On Saturday, August 24, 2013 12:43:36 PM UTC-4, rpie...@aol.com wrote:

> I 'm looking for a written English translation to Hey Cavalier

I with the help of Joe Oberaitis and Jack Zolnierowski wrote English lyrics and used them for a Cleveland Cavaliers fight song. Let me know if you want me to post them. There were 3 verses and a chorus which I released 5 versions 3 years ago.
Tom Mroczka

[rock...@att.net]

I dug into my library and found the English lyrics that the Naturals did. Here they are:

She’s a gay young widow, all the boys will tell you.
Pretty, smart and able, she is now available.
She loves to go out dancing; she’s eager for romancing.
When she passes by all the boys just seem to pine and sigh.

Tom Mroczka