7:40, Sem Sorok, is one of the most famous Jewish dance tunes to come out of Odessa, a freylekhs that the whole former Soviet world can hum. Its name comes from a train, and over the years the melody became a symbol of Odessa's Jewish life, of leaving home, and of longing for it.
In this version, with Olga Anikina's Russian words, a man is leaving his shtetl. He says goodbye to his little porch and to pretty Riva, carries a bundle so light it weighs nothing, trusts a God who lives over a world that is big and beautiful, and watches the light of Odessa rise toward him like a rainbow on colored rails.
A dance tune travels on its rhythm alone, but the story inside 7:40, the leaving and the love and the hope, only opens up when you understand the words. Carrying it into Russian and English is how Jewish Songs for All gives a beloved melody its story back for everyone.
Russian (Olga Anikina)English, line by line
В семь сорок он приедетAt seven forty he will arrive
В семь сорок он подъедетAt seven forty he will pull in
Дым коромыслом железные бокаSmoke billowing, iron sides
Везёт с собой вагоныHe brings the wagons with him
Каждый четыре тонныEach one four tons
Будет стоять он до третьего свисткаHe will stand until the third whistle
Мне надо так немногоI need so little
Ищу жилище БогаI am looking for the dwelling of God
А кто не ищет значит он не еврейAnd whoever does not look is no Jew
Эй машинист давай ка трогай скорейHey driver, come on, pull away faster
Кондуктор дай проститься у дверейConductor, let me say goodbye at the door
Прощай моё местечкоFarewell my shtetl
Прощай моё крылечкоFarewell my little porch
Я уезжаю кричу тебе пока покаI am leaving, I call to you, bye bye
С котомкою заплечнойWith a bundle on my back
Нет той котомки легчеThere is no lighter bundle than that
Пусть и дорога окажется легкаMay the road too turn out light
Цветёт за домом сливаBehind the house a plum tree blooms
Прощай красотка РиваFarewell, pretty Riva
Теперь нескоро мы увидимся с тобойNow it will be long before we meet again
Над миром Бог живётOver the world God lives
А мир такой большойAnd the world is so big
А мир такой прекрасный Боже ж мойAnd the world is so beautiful, oh my God
Махни платочкомWave your handkerchief
Не надо горьких слёзNo need for bitter tears
Живи себе счастливойLive on happily
И вспоминай наш агицын паровозAnd remember our clattering steam engine
Я выйду из вагонаI will step off the wagon
И прямо с небосклонаAnd straight down from the sky
Цветными рельсами к нам радуга сойдётAlong colored rails a rainbow will come down to us
В моих глазах зелёных на восходIn my green eyes, toward the sunrise
Одессы свет покажется вот вотThe light of Odessa will appear any moment now
Russian lyrics by Olga Anikina. The English is a literal, line by line rendering for meaning, prepared for review, not a singing version.
JewishSong.org