Gottlieb, fresh from obtaining his Ph.D in musicology, was in the audience when Alex Hassilev and Glenn Yarbrough appeared on stage to sing a duet together. Gottlieb, who was then working as an arranger for The Kingston Trio, originally thought that "these two guys" could help him make some demos for the Trio.
Soon, they packed up and headed to Aspen, Colorado, to work at a club called "The Limelite," which Yarbrough and Hassilev had purchased after singing there during the previous ski season. After a short period of perfecting their act, they set off for the "hungry i" in San Francisco, which at the time was the California nerve center for the mushrooming contemporary folk movement. The owner had just had a group with three long names strung together and wasn't about to put "Yarbrough, Hassilev, and Gottlieb" up on the marquee. But the group had not yet decided on a name. They chose "The Limeliters".
Their success was immediate. Only two days after their professional debut, the group received offers from three recording companies. In early 1959 they released their first album on Elektra. Soon after they signed with RCA Victor and a string of best selling albums followed.
Never having a true chart-topping hit record, they are well known for their repertoire of rousing songs including such as "There's a Meetin' Here Tonight," "City of New Orleans," "A Dollar Down," "Have Some Madeira M'Dear," "Lonesome Traveler," "Wabash Cannonball," "Whiskey in the Jar," and many others which are performed on their more than 25 record albums and in their concerts.
The Limeliters' album, Tonight in Person reached number 5 in the U.S. charts in 1961. Their second album made the top 40, and their third release, The Slightly Fabulous Limeliters, made the top ten in the same year. But their one album with the longest staying power is undoubtedly their album of folk songs for children of all ages, Through Children's Eyes. For three years, The Limeliters were the musical representatives for Coca-Cola. Their rendition of the jingle, "Things Go Better with Coke" became a national hit.
Yarbrough left the group in 1963. Gottlieb and Hassilev continued the Limeliters but only as a recording act, recruiting former Gateway Singers tenor Ernie Sheldon (r.n. Ernest Lieberman) as Yarbrough's replacement. Sheldon wrote the lyrics for what became Yarbrough's biggest solo hit, "Baby the Rain Must Fall."
When the trio's RCA Victor contract expired in 1965, Gottlieb and Hassilev formally retired the act. By then Yarbrough was a successful soloist on records and in concert. Hassilev became a producer with his own recording studio and pressing plant, while Gottlieb headed the Morningstar commune on a ranch he purchased near San Francisco.
During the 1970s, the Limeliters embarked on a series of yearly reunion tours with Yarbrough. These were so successful that in 1981, Hassilev and Gottlieb decided to reform the group and to get back into the mainstream of entertainment. With the addition of tenor Red Grammer they once again began entertaining audiences with the unique sound that made them famous.
After eight very productive years, Grammer left the group to pursue a solo career as a children's artist. In 1990, he was replaced by another tenor, Rick Dougherty, whose wide-ranging musical background and bright stage presence brought another fresh dimension to the group.
Gottlieb's death in 1996 was a great loss for the group, but his high baritone part was taken up by a former Kingston Trio member, Bill Zorn.
In 2003, Zorn and Dougherty left the group and in early 2004, tenor Mack Bailey and comedian baritone Andy Corwin joined the group. In 2006, Hassilev retired and left the band. Soon afterword, Gaylan Taylor joined in 2006.
Rumania Rumania
The Limeliters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye.
Geven a mol a land a zise, a sheyne.
Ekh, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye,
Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye.
Geven a mol a land a zise, a fayne.
Vos dos harts glust dir, dos kenstu krign.
A mameligele, a pastramele,
A karnatsele, un a glazele vayn, aha!
In Rumenye iz dokh gut,
fun keyn dayges veyst men nit;
Vayn trinkt men iberal,
me farbayst mit kashtaval.
Hay digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam;
Hay digi digi digi digi digi dam.
Hay digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam;
Hay digi digi digi digi digi dam.
In Rumenye iz dokh gut,
fun keyn zorgn veyst men nit;
Vayn trinkt men s'meg zayn shpet;,
me farbayst a kastravet.
Hay digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam;
Hay digi digi digi digi digi dam.
Hay digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam;
Hay digi digi digi digi digi dam.
Oy vey g'vald, ikh ver meshige,
kh'lib nor brinze, mamelige,
Kh'tants un frey zikh biz der stelye,
ven ikh es a patlozhele.
Dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidlt ti dam.
Ay, s'iz a mekhaye, beser ken nit zayn,
Ay, a fargenign iz nor Rumenish vayn.
Di Rumener trinken vayn
un esn mamelige
Ver es kusht zayn eygn vayb,
o yener iz meshige.
Dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidlt ti dam.
Ay, s'iz a mekhaye, beser ken nit zayn,
Ay, a fargenign iz nor Rumenish vayn.
A ...
Yokum purkon min shemaye,
shteyt un kusht di kekhne, Khaye,
Ongeton in alte shkrabes,
makht a kugl l'koved Shabes.
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam!
A ...
Yokum purkon min shemaye,
shteyt un kusht di kekhne, Khaye,
Ongeton in alte shkrabes,
makht a kugl l'koved Shabes.
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam!
Ay, s'iz a mekhaye beser ken nit zayn,
Ay, a fargenign iz nor Rumenish vayn.
Ay, ay, ay!
A gut yor.
The Limeliters' song "Rumania Rumania" expresses an appreciation for Romania through its culture and traditions. The repeated use of the phrase "Ekh, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye" and "Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye" highlights the singer's excitement and passion for the country. The lyrics describe the beauty of the land and culture of Romania, including the pleasures of eating and drinking mamaliga, pastrami, wine, and pickles. The happiness and carefree attitude of the people are also celebrated in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Ekh, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye.
Addressing Romania multiple times.
Geven a mol a land a zise, a sheyne.
Once upon a time, there was a country beautiful and lovely.
Ekh, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye.
Addressing Romania multiple times again.
Geven a mol a land a zise, a fayne.
Once upon a time, there was a country sweet and nice.
Dort tsu voynen iz a fargenigen.
There, in Romania, is a paradise of sorts.
Vos dos harts glust dir, dos kenstu krign.
Whatever your heart desires, you can have it in Romania.
A mameligele, a pastramele, A karnatsele, un a glazele vayn, aha!
A delicious meal consisting of chicken, beef, sausage, and wine.
In Rumenye iz dokh gut, fun keyn dayges veyst men nit;
Romania is a good place; there are no worries to be had there.
Vayn trinkt men iberal, me farbayst mit kashtaval.
People drink wine generously and eat cheese with it.
Hay digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam; Hay digi digi digi digi digi dam. Hay digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam; Hay digi digi digi digi digi dam.
Nonsensical sounds and words, possibly representing the joyous mood and lively atmosphere of Romania.
fun keyn zorgn veyst men nit;
There isn't a care in the world in Romania.
Vayn trinkt men s'meg zayn shpet;, me farbayst a kastravet.
People drink wine until late and eat pickles with it.
Oy vey g'vald, ikh ver meshige, kh'lib nor brinze, mamelige, Kh'tants un frey zikh biz der stelye, ven ikh es a patlozhele.
Expressing extreme joy and excitement, perhaps because of the enjoyable atmosphere in Romania.
Dzingma, tay tidl ti dam; dzingma, tay tidl ti dam; dzingma, tay tidl ti dam; dzingma, tay tidlt ti dam.
More nonsensical sounds and words, potentially representing jovial spirits and the lively nature of Romania.
Ay, s'iz a mekhaye, beser ken nit zayn, Ay, a fargenign iz nor Rumenish vayn.
Exclaiming that it's a pleasure to be there, and nothing is better than Romanian wine.
Di Rumener trinken vayn un esn mamelige Ver es kusht zayn eygn vayb, o yener iz meshige.
Romanians drink wine and eat delicious food. Whoever tastes it becomes deliriously happy.
A ... Yokum purkon min shemaye, shteyt un kusht di kekhne, Khaye, Ongeton in alte shkrabes, makht a kugl l'koved Shabes.
Possibly talking about making a Shabbat stew by putting a pot on the stove with various ingredients.
Zets! tay tidl di dam; Zets! tay tidl di dam; Zets! tay tidl di dam; Zets! tay tidl di dam; Zets! tay tidl di dam!
More nonsensical sounds and words, possibly adding to the lively atmosphere.
Ay, s'iz a mekhaye beser ken nit zayn, Ay, a fargenign iz nor Rumenish vayn.
Again, emphasizing that it's a pleasure to be there and nothing is better than Romanian wine.
A gut yor.
Wishing someone a good year, possibly ending the song and expressing a positive sentiment.
Writer(s): Aaron Lebedeff
Contributed by Vivian H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cliff Davidson
on Gunslinger
I recall there being another verse, perhaps a third that went... "You've killed 130 men, Ol' Buddy. And now you wanna settle down."
That's why "Ol' Buddy" seemed particularly funny at that point in the song. Lou really played it up there.