Bei Mir Bistu Shein

, "you could live, but they won't let you") in 1932 that closed after one season. Secunda sold the publishing rights to the song for a mere US$30.

The original Yiddish version of the song (in C minor) is really a dialogue between two lovers who share lines of the song.

The song became famous with English lyrics but retaining the Yiddish title "Bei Mir Bist Du Schein."

In 1937, Sammy Cahn heard a performance of the song, sung in Yiddish by African American performers Johnnie and George at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. On seeing the response, Cahn got his employer to buy the rights so he (together with Saul Chaplin) could rewrite the song with English language lyrics and rhythms more typical of swing music. He then convinced the still unknown Andrews Sisters to perform the song (recorded November 24, 1937). It became their first major hit, earning them a Gold Record, the first ever to a female vocal group.

A parody of this song, "The Bear Missed the Train", was written by the Smith Street Society Jazz Band in 1964 and became a favorite on Jean Shepherd's radio narratives. [Eugene B. Bergmann, "Excelsior, You Fathead!: The Art and Enigma of Jean Shepherd", 2005, ISBN 1557836000, p. 203]

A common mondegreen of the title is "My Dear Mister Shane".

Recorded versions

*The Andrews Sisters
*Ray Anthony
*Belle Baker
*The Barry Sisters
*Dan Barrett
*Acker Bilk
*Al Bowlly
*Teresa Brewer
*Sammy Cahn
*June Christy
*The Clark Sisters
*Buddy Clark
*Billy Cotton & His Band
*The Crew-Cuts
*Tom Cunningham
*Dukes of Dixieland
*Booker Ervin
*Giora Feidman
*Ella Fitzgerald
*Slim Gaillard
*Judy Garland
*Terry Gibbs
*Benny Goodman
*Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra
*Dick Hyman
*Gordon Jenkins
*Leroy Jones
*Greta Keller
*Klezmer Conservatory Band
*Steve Lawrence
*Zarah Leander
*Ramsey Lewis
*Listen Up!
*Guy Lombardo
*Shelly Manne
*Glenn Miller
*Moreno
*Arthur Murray Orchestra
*Louis Prima
*Adrian Rollini & His Novelty Trio & Quintet
*Janis Siegel
*Willie "The Lion" Smith
*Jack Teagarden
*Martha Tilton
*Leonid Utesov
*The Village Stompers
*Bob Wilber
*Garland Wilson
*Teddy Wilson
*The Puppini Sisters
*The Red Elvises
*Waldeck
*Quadro Nuevo
*Nina Hagen (2006)
*Robin Mckelle
*Charlie and his Orchestra
*Thomas Nöla et Son Orchestre
*Mayane Delem
*Natasza Urbańska
*The Puppini Sisters
*Rivers
*Southern Backtones (1998/Los Tormentos De Amor)

Notes

External links

*Page on the song at [http://www.yiddishradioproject.org/exhibits/ymis/ymis.php3?pg=2 Yiddish Radio Project] site
* [http://www.dvrbs.com/swing/SholomSecunda-BeiMirBistDuSchoen.htm Sholom Secunda - The Story of Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen]
* [http://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/beimirbi.htm Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen - Sholem Secunda, Jacob Jacobs, Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin (Lyrics and Chords)]
* [http://www.benzion.ru/main.php?topic=yiddish&page=txt_bay_mir_bistu_sheyn Bay Mir Bist Du Sheyn] Original lyrics in Yiddish