Shtek arayn (Shtekt arayn) - A Yiddish theater song which is not as dirty as one initially might think

However, turns out it means more like "stick out your hand for a handshake" though in the second verse Sheva opined that perhaps Itzik's friend is suggesting the husband, had he tried a little harder, might not have lost his wife, and perhaps he should be exerting himself currently in order to turn things around.
You can hear Pesach Burstein singing "Shtek arein" - that's how he spelled it - at the Florida Atlantic University Archive. (Click the link to go to the page where you can here Burstein singing the song.)
Here's the version I recorded this afternoon, just me and the electric piano, though the song is crying out for full klezmer band treatment. If you want to sing it yourself, I wrote out the sheet music for you:
My translation after the break.
Sholem aleichem is the greeting given after a long absence. Frayer is a really great word: patsy, chump, nincompoop...
Who doesn't know the whole world's custom
To always give the hand, because it doesn't cost a cent
Right away people are ready to tell you "have a safe journey"
And when you return, this is what you'll hear:
Give it here, don't be a chump. Give it here, it doesn't cost anything.
Everywhere, wherever the road takes you, be ready to give your hand.
"Greetings, brothers, put 'er there." (second time: put out your paw)
My cousin Itzik has a really pretty wife.
His friend comes into the house, something unfortunate happens (let it not happen to us):
She runs away with the guy! And Itzik, depressed, doesn't know how...
His friend meets up with him in the street and says jokingly:
Put 'er there, don't be a chump. Put 'er there, it doesn't cost anything
Don't be lazy for my sake, we can share her!
Greetings, Itzik, put 'er there.
Put 'er there, don't be a chump. Put 'er there, it doesn't cost anything.
She can wash and cook for both of us - you on the Sabbath, me during the week.
Greetings, Itzik, put 'er there.
I went to the theater with my wife the other night.
A pretty woman walked by, she flirted, she laughed near me.
She says just a word, already my wife is grumbling,
She looks down her nose at me and asks: what's going on?
I say: come on, don't be a chump. Come on, it doesn't cost anything
Don't blow a gasket, there's no point, because she wants to get to know you
Greetings! Stick out your paw!
To always give the hand, because it doesn't cost a cent
Right away people are ready to tell you "have a safe journey"
And when you return, this is what you'll hear:
Give it here, don't be a chump. Give it here, it doesn't cost anything.
Everywhere, wherever the road takes you, be ready to give your hand.
"Greetings, brothers, put 'er there." (second time: put out your paw)
My cousin Itzik has a really pretty wife.
His friend comes into the house, something unfortunate happens (let it not happen to us):
She runs away with the guy! And Itzik, depressed, doesn't know how...
His friend meets up with him in the street and says jokingly:
Put 'er there, don't be a chump. Put 'er there, it doesn't cost anything
Don't be lazy for my sake, we can share her!
Greetings, Itzik, put 'er there.
Put 'er there, don't be a chump. Put 'er there, it doesn't cost anything.
She can wash and cook for both of us - you on the Sabbath, me during the week.
Greetings, Itzik, put 'er there.
I went to the theater with my wife the other night.
A pretty woman walked by, she flirted, she laughed near me.
She says just a word, already my wife is grumbling,
She looks down her nose at me and asks: what's going on?
I say: come on, don't be a chump. Come on, it doesn't cost anything
Don't blow a gasket, there's no point, because she wants to get to know you
Greetings! Stick out your paw!
Labels: battle between the sexes, fun, humor & satire, klezmer, love, nostalgia
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