Guest
Still I would call it Old Polish Tango although it is -- in text and music -- so Jewish. There were many songs composed in Poland in pre-war time meant for audience speaking Polish language, regardless their roots or ancestry. Some of them were picturing people, their habits and customs, according to Jewish tradition; no wonder, there were more than 3 millions Jews in the country on Vistula river. Tango 'Rebeka' is not the only example of the kind, although seems to be the most popular: story of a poor girl, shop attendant in a small town, where one day a handsome and rich gentleman from 'great world', passing by, asks her for 'Ergo' product. She will not forget this visit and the image of 'the prince' -- as a love at first sight -- will haunt her all her life. Before the war, a full text version was recorded only by Zofia Terné (1932). After the war the tango-song became a Polish standard recollecting times “when Jews were among us“. Sung by such interpreters as Wanda Warska, Elżbieta Kępińska, Ewa Demarczyk, Sława Przybylska and many, many others.
