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A VU BISTU GEVEN? 
A VU BISTU GEVEYN? 
"A vu bistu geven?
A vu bistu geven?
Tokhter mayne getraye?"
"Geven in a k'vutze,
Gevorn a khalutza,
Mame, s'iz gevezn a mekhaye!"

"Un vos hostu gegesn?
Vos hostu gegesn?
Tokhter mayne getraye?"
"Gegesn hob ikh kasha,
Gekokht hot es Mashe,
Mame, s'iz gevezn a mekhaye!"

"Un vos hostu geton?
Vos hostu geton?
Tokhter mayne getraye?"
"Getasket hob ikh shteyner,
Getrasket mayne beyner,
Mame, s'iz gevezn a mekhaye!"

"Un vu bistu geshlofn?
Un vu bistu geshlofn?
Tokhter mayne getraye?"
"Oyf a boydem hey
Mit khalutzim tzvey
Mame, s'iz gevezn a mekhaye!"
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? 
WHERE WERE YOU? 
"Where have you been?
Where have you been?
My devoted daughter?"
"I've been in a kibbutz,
And became a pioneer.
Mama, it was such a delight!"

"And what have you eaten?
What have you eaten?
My devoted daughter?"
"I've been eating kasha,
Cooked by Mashe,
Mama, it was such a delight!"

"And what did you do?
What did you do?
My devoted daughter?"
"I dragged stones
And broke my bones,
Mama, it was such a delight!"

"And where did you sleep?
Where did you sleep?
My devoted daughter?"
"In a haybale,
With two (male) pioneers,
Mama, it was such a delight!"



Yiddish words
Hebrew (rhyming) words
German words

Hebrew (rhyming)    English (from Hebrew)    German   

Note:
This song is a "khaluztim-lied," or one of the many Yiddish folk songs sung by early pioneers in Israel before Modern Hebrew became the standard language.

It's a humorous back-and-forth between a mother and her daughter, who has made aliyah and is spinning the awful life of the first pioneers as "a mekhaye".

It was popular until the 30s, long after most other Yiddish songs went out of style in Eretz Yisroel. It's sung to the tune of the popular anti-Hasidic tune "Un Az Der Rebbe."

There are alternate versions of the lyrics.
One has a different response in the first verse -

"Geven in Palestina,
Di guldene medina.
Mame, s'iz gevezn a mekhaye!"

"I've been in Palestine [the British Mandate name for the territory]
The golden land.
Mama, it was such a delight!"

This version is not as common anymore because of the unfortunate political connotations of the old British name.

LYRICS
Unknown
MUSIC
To The Tune Of "un Az Der Rebbe"
SINGER
Anne Shnayder
Janice Rubin And Friends
SONGBOOKS
Yiddish Folksongs from the Ruth Rubin Archive
SHEET MUSIC
Avu Bistu Geven?
CD
Janice Rubin & Friends Feels Like Family Track 2

Words transliterated and translated by Isaac Mayer of San Diego, Ca, United States.
Hebrew (rhyming) translation by Isaac Mayer of San Diego, Ca, United States.
English (from Hebrew) translation by Isaac Mayer of San Diego, Ca, United States.
German translation by Isaac Mayer of San Diego, Ca, United States.
Where do I buy this song online?
For all other CDs, DVDs, Books, Gifts and products click on the Jewish Australia Online Shop
Contact the publisher of Hebrew Songs.com
Hebrew (rhyming)
 
EYFO AT HAYIT?
"Eyfo at hayit?
Eyfo at hayit?
Higidi li, biti hay'karah!"
"Bamakhane hayiti,
Khayim tovim asiti,
V'tov hayah li, ima hay'karah!"

"Umah sham akhalt?
Umah sham akhalt?
Higidi li, biti hay'karah!"
"Lekhem im sabon,
Basar im kinamon,
V'tov hayah li, ima hay'karah!"

"Umah sham asit?
Umah sham asit?
Higidi li, biti hay'karah!"
"D'galim sakhavti,
Anavim pilakhti,
V'tov hayah li, ima hay'karah!"

"V'eyfo sham yashant?
V'eyfo sham yashant?
Higidi li, biti hay'karah!"
"Yashanti bamatben
Im po'al ekhad zaken,
V'tov hayah li, ima hay'karah!"
English (from Hebrew)
 
WHERE WERE YOU
"Where were you?
Where were you?
Tell me, dear daughter mine!"
"I was in a camp,
And life was good.
And I had a good time, dear mother!"

"And what did you eat there?
And what did you eat there?
Tell me, dear daughter mine!"
"Bread with soap,
Meat with cinnamon,
And I had a good time, dear mother!"

"And what did you do there?
And what did you do there?
Tell me, dear daughter mine!"
"I dragged flags,
I sliced grapes,
And I had a good time, dear mother!"

"And where did you sleep there?
And where did you sleep there?
Tell me, dear daughter mine!"
"I slept in a hayloft
With a (male) old worker,
And I had a good time, dear mother!"

German
 
WO BIST DU GEWESEN
Wo bist du gewesen, Tochter meine liebe ?
Gewesen in Kibbuz, geworden ein Pionier,
Mutter, es ist gewesen eine Freude.

Und was hast du gegessen, Tochter meine liebe ?
Gegessen hab´ ich Kashe, gekocht hat es Moysche,
Mutter, es ist gewesen eine Freude.

Und was hast du getan, Tochter meine liebe ?
Geschleppt hab´ ich Steine, gebrochen meine Beine,
Mutter, es ist eine Freude gewesen.

Und wo hast du geschlafen, Tochter meine liebe ?
Auf einem Heuboden, mit zwei Pionieren,
Mutter, es ist gewesen eine Freude.

Und was war am Ende, Tochter meine liebe ?
Ich werde schreiben einen Ehevertrag, wir gehen zu einem Notar,
Mutter, es wird sein eine Freude.
 
 

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