ROMANY LIFE

from 1898 operetta "The Fortune Teller"
(Victor Herbert (m) Harry Bache Smith (l) )

as recorded by Jeanette MacDonald & Chorus
with Russ Case & his Orchestra
1946


We have a home 'neath the forest shades,
Never any other have we. (never any other have we)
Our camp fires glow in the nooks and glades
Where our tents are white to see. (where our tents are white to see)

Wand'ring ever here and there, (wand'ring)
Our roof is the sky above.
Aha!  But the Romany eyes are rare,
And the Romany life is love!

Through the forest, wild and free,
Sounds our Magyar melody;
Ever dancing, none can be
Half so merry as are we!

Through the forest, wild and free,
Sounds our Magyar melody;
Ever dancing, as they say,
None so merry and none so gay!

Faster twirling, Juche!  With leap and bound,
Ho dance, aye dance, Zigeuner to music sound!
Singing ever, Juche!  Our song is gay,
Ho sing, aye sing, Zigeuner while yet you may!

Through the forest, wild and free,
Sounds our Magyar melody;
Ever dancing, as they say,
None so merry and none so gay!

Singing Romany, ah!
Singing Romany, troubadour!

Through the forest, wild and free,
Sounds our Magyar melody;
Even dancing, none can be
Half so merry as lads of Romany!
None so gay as we lads of Romany!
None so gay as we lads of Romany!
Eljen!
Eljen!
Ha!



(Transcribed by Peter Akers - May 2015)