Diaspora Hymn
Isabel Frey imagines new Yiddish Bundist lyrics to Hatikva, the national anthem of Israel.
Hearing “Goles-himen,” which set Yiddish lyrics to the tune used by “Hatikva” (the Israeli national anthem) on the recent album “Lider Mit Palestine” brought to mind the “Little Red Songbook” that was first produced by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) in 1909. Very astutely, the IWW, also known as the Wobblies, had both devised and collected new lyrics for popular songs of the day, and were offering these new versions for use by Wobbly activists to help them develop a sense of community, both within the union and among the workers they supported.
My favourite, “Christians at War,” sets some wonderfully creative anti-war lyrics to the popular Salvation Army hymn, “Onward Christian Soldiers.” I’d bought the “Little Red Songbook” at the Freedom bookshop in Whitechapel, London, in 1970, and still get immense joy from singing “Christians at War,” particularly with others.
What if there was a “Goles-himen” song sheet with Yiddish lyrics to the music of Hatikva, I wondered? Might people sing it on some of the many gatherings around the world that brings together those who want to stop the genocide of Palestinian people?
I asked one of the songwriters, Isabel Frey, if I might produce a song sheet; she gave her permission. The musical typesetting was done by a friend, here in Wellington, who is a composer; I then put together the text from the CD’s slick, devised the typography for the song sheet, and designed it.
Please download the song sheet, linked below, and share it far and wide.
