In Zaltsikn Yam


"In the Salty Sea", known simply as "To the Bund", is a Yiddish poem written by S. Ansky in 1901 and published in Der Arbeyter a year later. It became a popular Yiddish song when music was added to it. While it is unclear who composed the music to the song, the first published version was printed in 1919 by Jacob Glatstein in Warsaw, in the book Freiheits Lieder. The poem and song is dedicated to the socialist General Jewish Labour Bund.
The text has often been considered controversial, with its direct critiques of wealthy Jews, Zionists, and the belief in Messiah. Following The Holocaust, in 1945 the First, Second, Fifth, and Final stanzas were published in Mikhl Gelbart's yiddish song book Zingt mit mir and as such it has become convention to perform only these verses so as to omit criticism of other elements of the Jewish community. Daniel Kahn however has recorded and performs the full version; such as for the Yoyvls of the Australian Bund.

Recordings

Due to the song's aforementioned controversial nature, recordings are difficult to track down. However here are some of the few that exist: