JOIING THE MARINE (PARK) CORE1

Joining the Marine [Park] Core!

INTERVIEW: Mr. Marvin B. Simchah, shlit”a , Composes a New Purim Song/ That Surely Can Be Sung the Entire Year Long!

Rabbi Hillel L. Yarmove

Everyone remembers, I am sure, my interview with the celebrated Mr. Simchah Guy, which appeared in my previous column. But if you think that there is just one individual in the whole wide world who can “make it or break it” on Purim, you are assuredly wrong. Mr. Marvin B. Simchah is a point in fact! And Mr. Simchah is the subject of today’s column!

During my recent trip to Eretz Yisrael during the month of Adar Rishon, I learned that many in Yerushalmim recognize the tune to ‘Mishehnichnas Adar” that was originally composed either as an ethnic work song about 150 years ago—or as an imitation thereof. And by now, most American Jews have heard the so-called “original words” to that melody:  “Me and my partner, we pick a bale of cotton;/ Me and my partner, we pick a bale a day.”

Well, Mr. Marvin B. Simchah, resident and perpetual funnyman of Ho-ho-Kus, New Jersey (where else? ho, ho, ho!), has composed words to this famous tune which can be sung all year round. Not only that, but he has also authored a Hebrew rendition so that his Israeli friends can sing along with us Americans as we all begin our Pesach preparations. After all, the heilige Rashi has told us (see Ta’anis 29a, Rashi there) that “mishehnichnas Adar, marbin b’simchah” applies to Pesach as well as to Purim, since both are miraculous occasions.

The interview below is short but sweet: it will give you a glimpse into the mind of a man bent on the joyousness of this marvelous season—and, indeed, on  the ecstasy encapsulated within life itself.

By the way, I’m sure that Mr. Simchah would agree with me that all young newlywed couples—especially those getting married during Adar Rishon, Adar Sheini, or Nisan—should experience a special kind of joy at their weddings, owing to the character of this season.

And that means you, my beloved granddaughter Sora Miriam and your chosson, Binyamin Yehuda, whose chasuna is scheduled, b’ezras Hashem, to take place on Zayin Adar!  MAZAL TOV! MAZAL TOV! MAZAL TOV TO YOU BOTH! (Love, Zeidy)

For many years now I’ve heard of one Marvin B. Simcha

Whose name and whose fame were the focus

Of those who were sad, ‘cause he’d make them feel glad

That he once was the mayor of Ho-ho-Kus!

When I finally met Marvin, I told him to come to my home

For an interview for this fine paper.

With a grin on his face, he was all over the place

As he said how he’d just love this caper!

When he came through my doorway, he almost slipped on my floor: hey!,

Marvin was just slightly near-sighted.

But taking one look at him, so dapper and slim,

And I was glad he could come, I decided.

“Let’s get right down to business” (so said His Dizziness),

“What’s going to be with joy after Purim is over?

“Are we going back to sadness—instead of all that gladness?

“No, after Purim we should have something to show for!”

“All that being true, and since I’m a good Jew,

“I’ve  decided to compose a new song.

“I’ll use an old ‘folk tune’ that I had learned as a kid late one June.

“Let me teach you to sing along!”

Marvin then began, with a wave of his hand,

To sing the original lyrics:

“ME AND MY PARTNER, WE PICK A BALE OF COTTON. / ME AND MY PARTNER, WE PICK A BALE A DAY!/ Ai, Ai, Ai: PICK A BALE OF COTTON;/ Ai, Ai, Ai: PICK A BALE A DAY!”

He smiled triumphantly, but his victory was pyrrhic [oh brother!].

“Now listen to the new words; they’re not for the birds,

“They’ll be sung at any time of year, whenever you feel melancholy:

“When your car doesn’t start or you received only part

“Of your favorite meal, which is broccoli [oh brother!].”

So here are his words (in English); {I’m going to wing it!):

ME AND MY CHAVRUSA, WE STUDY BAVA KAMMA./ ME AND MY CHAVRUSA, WE DO A DAF A DAY!/

Ai, Ai, Ai: STUDY BAVA KAMMA;/Ai, Ai, Ai: DO A DAF A DAY!”

Now , my readers, go out and sing it!

With a tear in his eye, Marvin said his goodbye

After our interview had already finished.

He told me the locus: he was going back to Ho-ho-kus

To eat his favorite supper—which is spinach [oh brother!].

But he left me a thank-you gift for this interview—

A sheet of paper in his very own writing.

Why, they’re the words to his song in Hebrew; yes, it affected me, too.

(Need I add that I found them exciting?)

So glance at my pictures of Marvin’s fine visit

To my home for an hour or more.

(How exquisite!)

And try his song to acquire, while to Pesach cleaning you aspire—

Then even post-Purim your spirits will soar.

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A really happy kosher Pesach, dear readers! {hillyarm@yeshivanet.com}