Veren zol fun dir a blintsa

(How ya doin', Bernie?) Oy vey, oy vey!
(How ya doin', Bernie?) Oy vey, oy vey!
(How ya doin', Bernie?) Oy vey, oy vey!
And all the goyim say I'm pretty fly for a rabbi

Meccha leccha hi, meccha hiney hiney ho

Our temple's had a fair share of rabbis in the past
But most of'em were nudniks and none of'em would last
But our new guy's real kosher, I think he'll do the trick
I tell ya, he's to die for - he really knows his shtick

So how's by you? Have you seen this Jew?
Reads the Torah, does his own accounting too
Workin' like a dog at the synagogue
He's there all day, he's there all day
Just say "Vay iz mir!" and he'll kick into gear
He'll bring you lots of cheer and maybe bagels with some shmeer
Just grab your yarmulka and
Hey! Hey! Do that Hebrew thing!

(How ya doin', Bernie?) Oy vey, oy vey!
(How ya doin', Bernie?) Oy vey, oy vey!
(How ya doin', Bernie?) Oy vey, oy vey!
And all the goyim say I'm pretty fly (for a rabbi)

He shops at discount stores, not just any will suffice
He has to find a bargain 'cause he won't pay retail price
He never acts meshugga and he's hardly a schlemiel
But if you wanna haggle, oy, he'll make you such a deal!

People used to scoff, now they say "Mazel tov!"
He's such a macher 'cause he worked his tuchis off
Yeah, he keeps his cool and teaches shul
What's not to like? What's not to like?
On high holy days, you know he prays and prays
And he never eats pastrami on white break with mayonnaise
Put on your yarmulka and
Hey! Hey! Do that Hebrew thing!

When he's doing a Bar Mitzvah, now that you shouldn't miss
He'll always shlep on down for a wedding or a briss
They say he's got a lot of chutzpah, he's really quite hhhhhip
The parents pay the moyl and he gets to keep the tip!

(How ya doin', Bernie?) Oy vey, oy vey!
(How ya doin', Bernie?) Oy vey, oy vey!
(How ya doin', Bernie?) Oy vey, oy vey!

Meccha leccha hi, meccha meccha cholly ho

He's doin' well, I gotta kvell
The yentas love him, even shicksas think he's swell
Show up at his home, he says, "Shalom!"
And "Have some cake-You want some cake?"
Yeah he calls the shots, we really love him lots
Oy gevalt, I'm so ferklempt that I could plotz!
So grab your yarmulka--
The one you got for Chanukah--
Let's put on our yarmulkas and--
Hey! Hey! Do that Hebrew thing!


Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Pretty Fly For A Rabbi song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    I can translate most of the Yiddish/Hebrew in this song:

    'Oy vey!' - Literally means 'Oh woe!', cry of anguish etc.

    'Goyim' - Literally means 'Nations', referring to non-Jews.

    'Rabbi' - Jewish religious leader, scholar and teacher.

    'Nudnik' - A nagger, a nuisance, a bore, or a generally obnoxious person.

    'Kosher' - Adj. Originally referred to something that has been sanctioned by a Rabbinic authority as meeting Jewish dietary requirements, has come to mean 'proper' in slang.

    'Shtick' - Literally means 'piece', 'bit', or 'lump'. I think the joke here is the play on words between 'knows his shit' and 'knows his shtick'.

    'Torah' - First five books of the Hebrew bible (Bereshit, Shemot, Vayikra, BaMidbar, and Devarim) from which Jewish laws and teachings are enterpreted.

    'Vay iz mir' - Literally means 'Woe is me', used in almost exactly the same context as 'Oy vay'.

    'Bagels' - Hard, circular roll with a hole in the centre and a glazed surface.

    'Shmeer' - V. to spread (cream cheese etc.), N. a spread (such as cream cheese etc.)

    'Yarmulka' - Satin, leather, or knitted skullcap worn by observant Jewish men and boys, and, in some Reform congregations, women.

    'Meshugga' - Adj. Literally means 'crazy'.

    'Schlemiel' - A foolish, clumsy, or generally inept person.

    'Mazel Tov' - Literally means 'Good luck', also is commonly used to mean 'Congratulations'.

    'Macher' - Literally means a 'Maker', used to mean a 'Big shot' or a 'Man with contacts'.

    'Tuchis' - Literally means 'Buttocks'.

    'Shul' - Literally means 'School', also commonly used to mean 'Synagogue'.

    'Bar Mitzvah' - Literally means 'Son of the Commandment', Jewish religious ceremony for a Jewish boy of 13 to celebrate him becoming a man in terms of Jewish religious law.

    'Shlep' - V. to drag or carry something, or ones self.

    'Briss' - Ritual circumcision of Jewish males babies.

    'Chutzpah' - Brazenness, gall, cheek, or audacity.

    'Moyl' - Religious functionary who performs circumcisions.

    'Kvell' - V. Literally to 'Swell up', means to be filled with pride, especially for ones children or family.

    'Yenta' - A gossipy woman.

    'Shiksa' - Non-Jewish girl.

    'Shalom' - Literally means 'Peace' in Hebrew, commonly used to mean 'Hello' or 'Goodbye'.

    'Oy gevalt' - Similar to 'Oy Vey', perhaps a little stronger, often a cry of pain or fear.

    'Ferklempt' - Worked up

    'Plotz' - Literally means 'Burst' as from some overpowering emotion.

    'Chanukah' Jewish holiday celebrated for eight days starting on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev.

    Hope this is helpful.

    MJacobsonon December 20, 2007   Link

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