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Matus Radzivilover

from My Yiddish Swing by The Jews Brothers Band

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lyrics

1. He was born in Radzivil in Poland where his father dealt in matches
But Papa died in a train crash and so Tante Basya brought up klaine Mateus
He could have gone to med school but his heart was set on something rather risky
And he became apprenticed to he famous cantor Moishe Koussevitsky

2. In 1939 he fled from Warsaw to evade the Nazi order
And with a group of refugees escaped on foot across the Russian border
And in a little Russian town he fell in love with Channa and he married her
And as the fighting threatened to engulf them they took refuge in Siberia

Matus Radzivilover
In his Polish pullover
Matus Radzi-vilo-vilo-vilover
Chazen Radzivilover
Countless blessings to confer
Matus Radzi-vilo-vilo-vilover!

3. And when the war had ended back to Poland with his wife and daughter came
But his family home was ruined and not one of his own relatives remained
They sailed to New York City and he found some work in shtiebelach on the Lower East Side
And living ‘neath a synagogue once saved the torah from a raging fire

4. A second girl was born and he became the cantor of the famous Slonimer Schul
And to the congregation there his singing was a bright and precious jewel
He sang across America in synagogues from L.A to the Catskills
In T’ronto, Buenos Aires, a long, long way from the Polish town of Radzivil

5. And if you went to Matus’ house he’d offer you plum brandy and blue vodka
And after Channa’s tasty food a special treat, the fiery hot Persovka
Then after dinner we’d all get to singing with on top his gorgeous tenor
With Channa singing harmonies, it was a time I always will remember

credits

from My Yiddish Swing, released January 1, 2000

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The Jews Brothers Band Auckland, New Zealand

Twenty years ago, inspired by a klezmer tune playing on an Auckland café’s stereo, Hershal Herscher picked up his accordion and started playing the music his grandfather Harry had brought to New York from the Ukraine.

The rhythm he was pumping out acted like a magnet on three musician friends who were in the caf that day. From that nucleus The Jews Brothers Band was born. ... more

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