Theodore Bikel — Kretchma (קרעטשמע)

http://nakaryak.livejournal.com/19106...

Kretchma
Words 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.

(From "Folksongs and Footnotes by Theodore Bikel" (Cleveland & New York:
Meridian Books, 1964), pp. 217-18)

***

Дарби О'гилл исполнил менее цензурную версию о Наташе:

In the doorway there is standing a Cossack
His beard snowy white upon his chest
He is waiting for the lovely Natasha
She costs plenty, but she is the best

On the stairway there is standing Natasha
Her hips they keep time to the chants
When she sings her shoulders they vibrate
And when she does that, then you'll discover that she can't... sing.

The Hollywood Palace with host Gene Barry and guests Theodore Bikel, Jack E. Leonard, Burns and Schreiber and Mort Sahl (5/6/1967)
Video from:    • Gene Barry hosts Hollywood Palace wit...   (59 min.)