| "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön" was originally a Yiddish song written by Jacob Jacobs, music by Sholom Secunda. It was discovered by Sammy Canh who heard it being belted out at the Apollo Theater. Cahn became so excited about the number that he persuaded The Andrews Sisters to record it - even though they had no idea what the words meant. It was only when the record company insisted on an English lyric that Cahn and partner Saul Chaplin batted out the lines now commonly known.
English version by Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin, as performed by the Andrews Sisters:
Of all the boys I've known, and I've known some
Until I first met you I was lonesome
And when you came in sight, dear, my heart grew light
And this old world seemed new to me
You're really swell, I have to admit, you
Deserve expressions that really fit you
And so I've wracked my brain, hoping to explain
All the things that you do to me
Bei mir bist du schoen, please let me explain
Bei mir bist du schoen means you're grand
Bei mir bist du schoen, again I'll explain
It means you're the fairest in the land
I could say bella, bella, even say wunderbar
Each language only helps me tell you how grand you are
I've tried to explain, bei mir bist du schoen
So kiss me, and say you understand
Bei mir bist du schoen
You've heard it all before, but let me try to explain
Bei mir bist du schoen means that you're grand
Bei mir bist du schoen
Is such an old refrain, and yet I should explain
It means I am begging for your hand
I could say bella, bella, even say wunderbar
Each language only helps me tell you how grand you are
{Instrumental interlude}
I could say bella, bella, even say wunderbar
Each language only helps me tell you how grand you are
I've tried to explain, bei mir bist du schoen
So kiss me, and say that you will understand
And a German version Sylvar sent my way:
(Thanks to http://home.t-online.de/home/westrupp/pumpe/seiten/archiv/seiten_archiv/texte/bei_mir.htm)
Bei mir bist Du schön, für 1 Mark und 10
Für eine Mark und 8 die ganze Nacht
Und wenn Du 18 bist, dann wirst Du heiss geküsst
Doch wenn Du 80 bist, dann wirst Du ange.....
Und wenn Du braunhaarig bist, dann wirst heiss gedrückt
doch wenn du blonde Haare bist, dann wirst du nicht ange...
Und wenn Du lange Beine hast, dann wirst du heiss umworben
Doch wenn Du kurze Beine hast, dann wirst du abge...
Und wenn du großbusig bist, dann will Dich jeder küssen
Und wenn du flachbrüstig bist, dann wirst du ange...
English rendition of above, courtesy of Babelfish:
Am I nuts? This seems to be assessing a girl's monetary worth. Prostitution? And the Andrews Sisters' version is supposedly a female talking to a male, whereas this is quite obviously the opposite.*
With me you are beautiful, for 1 Mark and 10
For a Mark and 8, the whole night
And if you are 18, then you hot kissed
Nevertheless, if you 80 are, then you become ange.....
And if you are braunhaarig, then hot pressed
Nevertheless, if you blond hair are, then you do not become ange...
And if you have long legs, then you become hot umworben
Nevertheless if you short legs have, then you become abge...
And if you are grossbusig, then everyone wants to kiss you
And if you are flachbruestig, then you become ange...
We are still searching for the original Yiddish lyrics, they will be added when found.
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/6179/bei_mir.html
http://gunther.simplenet.com/v/data/beimirbi.htm
http://home.t-online.de/home/westrupp/pumpe/seiten/archiv/seiten_archiv/texte/bei_mir.htm
* Apparently there are some words babelfish does not recognize, I put them into italics. I am thinking that 'ange....' is actually just the beginning of a word that they left off in middle of and the word may be 'angefuckt' or something equally ridiculous, linguistically speaking. If you know better, /msg sab
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