Lot of talk on another thread about Jewish Money Lenders. As I was born in the heart of Little Jerusalem I know first hand how the Jewish community were major contributors to the local economy, by providing many jobs for youngsters and adults alike,
I'll never forget the lucrative job I had as a chiseler, believe it or not in common with Elvis Presley and other well knowns.
The job was known to the Jewish people "Shabbos Goy" whereby every Saturday I would carry out simple tasks for several Jewish residents such as turning on or off a light, lighting the fire or opening mail and lighting the gas stove, for which my palm was crossed with silver.
No paper rounds for me in the wind and rain.
I can remember well that there's many a younwan or yunfella wouldn't have had a communion suit to wear had it not been for the Jewish money lenders.
So here's to the past gentle kind and generous Jewish residents of Little Jerusalem and the greater Dublin without who the community and city would have been a much poorer place.
Remembering this little ditty I wrote with the early days of Little Jerusalem and the Jewish money lenders in mind. This one was put to music by the highly acclaimed East Wall singer songwriter Paul O'Brien, as past poster in here who put it to music and included it on one of his CD's.
Paul has the very talented knack of writing songs about Dublin life and East Wall, the place he grew up.... Check him out here http://www.paulobrien.eu/
My true recollection of Ikey our money lender and the fear he instilled if me oulfella hadn't got the money, mind you the Ma nearly always came to the rescue....Canny lot those oul Dub Ma's eh
[CENTER]
I'll never forget the lucrative job I had as a chiseler, believe it or not in common with Elvis Presley and other well knowns.
WIKI = In the 20th century, Colin Powell, Mario Cuomo, Gill Alexandre, Martin Scorsese, Floyd B. Olson, Harry S. Truman, and the adolescent Elvis Presley assisted their Jewish neighbors in this way
No paper rounds for me in the wind and rain.
I can remember well that there's many a younwan or yunfella wouldn't have had a communion suit to wear had it not been for the Jewish money lenders.
So here's to the past gentle kind and generous Jewish residents of Little Jerusalem and the greater Dublin without who the community and city would have been a much poorer place.
Remembering this little ditty I wrote with the early days of Little Jerusalem and the Jewish money lenders in mind. This one was put to music by the highly acclaimed East Wall singer songwriter Paul O'Brien, as past poster in here who put it to music and included it on one of his CD's.
Paul has the very talented knack of writing songs about Dublin life and East Wall, the place he grew up.... Check him out here http://www.paulobrien.eu/
My true recollection of Ikey our money lender and the fear he instilled if me oulfella hadn't got the money, mind you the Ma nearly always came to the rescue....Canny lot those oul Dub Ma's eh
[CENTER]
The Friday Knock
Long ago in Dublin Town in Little Jerusalem
A family lived at 82,the divil a pity for them
Times were tough and times were hard
And cash as scarse could be
But they all lived there in that tenement house
court'sy of ould Ikey.
Ikey was a jewish man
With beard all long and grey
Tatty coat and a trilby hat
But a very rich man I'd say
He loaned his money to the poor
To help them pay their way
But a familiar knock on a friday night
Would scare a giant away
Oh ! jayziz christ' I'm short this week
I'd hear me father say
That's oul Ikey at the door,but
I've nuttin here te pay
The work was scarce,I got laid off
Three days in all last week
Dors not enough te go around
More work I'll have te seek
Go out and telim I'm nor rin,
I'll pay him twice next week
Fer Jayziz sake will ye hurry up
Before he wakes the street
Me Da's nor rin, I'd meekly say
As i stood inside the door
An Ikey there with funny voice
Sayin; "tellim,twill cost him more"
Well,he said he'd pay ye twice next week
If that's all right with you
With me oul man hidin behind the door
An me thinking,ye have yor glue !
Some weeks were so much berror
When me Ma had been te hock
A god few bob,three half a crowns
In a secret place she'd lock
That's me stash for a rainy day
Me diddley and new clock
An it's there for when oul Ikey comes
And we get The Friday Knock./CENTER]
Long ago in Dublin Town in Little Jerusalem
A family lived at 82,the divil a pity for them
Times were tough and times were hard
And cash as scarse could be
But they all lived there in that tenement house
court'sy of ould Ikey.
Ikey was a jewish man
With beard all long and grey
Tatty coat and a trilby hat
But a very rich man I'd say
He loaned his money to the poor
To help them pay their way
But a familiar knock on a friday night
Would scare a giant away
Oh ! jayziz christ' I'm short this week
I'd hear me father say
That's oul Ikey at the door,but
I've nuttin here te pay
The work was scarce,I got laid off
Three days in all last week
Dors not enough te go around
More work I'll have te seek
Go out and telim I'm nor rin,
I'll pay him twice next week
Fer Jayziz sake will ye hurry up
Before he wakes the street
Me Da's nor rin, I'd meekly say
As i stood inside the door
An Ikey there with funny voice
Sayin; "tellim,twill cost him more"
Well,he said he'd pay ye twice next week
If that's all right with you
With me oul man hidin behind the door
An me thinking,ye have yor glue !
Some weeks were so much berror
When me Ma had been te hock
A god few bob,three half a crowns
In a secret place she'd lock
That's me stash for a rainy day
Me diddley and new clock
An it's there for when oul Ikey comes
And we get The Friday Knock./CENTER]
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