| Gordon Lightfoot – Pride of Man Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| I think you'll find that while Lightfoot did record a version of this song, he didn't write it. Pride of Man was written by Hamilton Camp. Also, while Lightfoot's version isn't bad, the best recording of this song was by the Quicksilver Messenger Service in their debut album in 1968. | |
| Weird Al Yankovic – Pretty Fly For A Rabbi Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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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. |
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