# So ... what the heck is the song "Hava Na Gila"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 19, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990 "2003-12-19T16:24:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/1 "2003-12-19T16:24:15Z")
The only things I know about the song are: – it’s a tradtional Yiddish tune, and – supposedly, Anthrax’s “I’m the Man” uses the same melody I’ve looked “Hava Na Gila” up on [allmusic.com](http://allmusic.com), and noticed that it’s spelled many different ways, and covered on many obscure albums. This song is spoken of as if it were common knowledge; as if any random anyone could hum a few bars. But I have no clue what the tune is. Is it a song I’ve heard many times, but never knew the name of? Is it used in any popular movies or TV shows, from where I might recognize it? FWIW, I grew up with almost no exposure to Jewish culture. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/2 "2003-12-19T16:38:23Z")
I learned it as “Hava Nagila” back when I was in grade school and I’m not even Jewish. I doubt any of my classmates were either. Best I can tell you is that the composer and original lyrics have been lost. The modern lyrics were evidently written by Abraham Zevi Idelsohn in 1918. An IMDb soundtrack search returned only four movies, one of which was made-for-TV. Two are _Daddy Day Care_ and _Striptease_. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/3 "2003-12-19T16:57:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\*I learned it as “Hava Nagila” back when I was in grade school and I’m not even Jewish. \*\* What are some of the words? That might help. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/4 "2003-12-19T17:04:08Z")
Never mind … I Googled the lyrics. They are in Yiddish or Hebrew – no help there. … unless there’s a popular English translation? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/5 "2003-12-19T17:05:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bordelond \* > \*\*What are some of the words? That might help. \*\* Havah nagilah, Havah, nagilah, Havah, nagilah venism’chah. Havah, naranana, Havah, naranana, Havah, naranana, venism’chah. Uru, uru achim, Uru na achim b’lev shameach, Uru na achim b’lev shameach, Uru na achim b’lev shameach! ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/6 "2003-12-19T17:08:58Z")
[http://www.greatjewishmusic.com/Midifiles/Hava%20Nagila.htm](http://www.greatjewishmusic.com/Midifiles/Hava%20Nagila.htm) ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/7 "2003-12-19T17:09:02Z")
It always floors me when I am not acquainted with some ostensibly common facet of pop culture. I can’t believe I’ve never heard this song! ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/8 "2003-12-19T17:11:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rackensack \* > \*\*[http://www.greatjewishmusic.com/Midifiles/Hava%20Nagila.htm](http://www.greatjewishmusic.com/Midifiles/Hava%20Nagila.htm) \*\* Oh, OK … _that_ song. I’ve never heard the lyrics – only instrumental versions. And Anthrax’s, of course. 😛 Thanks, **rackensack** ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/9 "2003-12-19T17:25:02Z")
You mean its NOT Have A Tequila? Wow, learn something new every day. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/10 "2003-12-19T17:26:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Khadaji \* > \*\*You mean its NOT Have A Tequila? Wow, learn something new every day. \*\* According to Ceephus and Reesy, it was “have a tortilla.” ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/11 "2003-12-19T17:28:21Z")
I have an mp3 of this by Harry Belafonte that is kind of like an anchovy sundae. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/12 "2003-12-19T18:11:46Z")
It’s a foreign song I learned over in Utah! ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/13 "2003-12-19T18:16:01Z")
Explanation of the above: Bob Dylan’s Bootleg Series contains a track called _Talkin’ Hava Negeilah Blues_, which he introduces with the above line ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/14 "2003-12-19T18:29:10Z")
I always thought the phrase meant that we had no more poisonous lizards. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/15 "2003-12-19T19:10:11Z")
Hava nagilah, Have two nagilah, Have three nagilah, — They’re very small. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/16 "2003-12-19T19:16:28Z")
Fans of [Alan Sherman](http://users.bestweb.net/~foosie/sherman.htm) should know this one. > [@](#): > > Harvey and Sheila, Harvey and Sheila, Harvey and Sheila, > Oh, the day they met. > Harvey and Sheila, Harvey and Sheila, Harvey and Sheila, > No one will forget. > Harvey’s a CPA. > He works for IBM. > He went to MIT and got his PhD. > Sheila’s a girl I know, > At B.B.D.& O. > She works the PBX, > And makes out the checks. > > Then came one great day when > Harvey took the elevator, > Sheila got in two floors later, > Soon they both felt they were falling, > Everyone heard Sheila calling, > “Ring the bell,” > But they fell. > Harv and Sheila fell in love. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/17 "2003-12-19T19:34:18Z")
On this week’s episode of “It’s All Relative”, Bobby’s Irish-Catholic sister had set her cellphone to ring with “Hava Nagila” because she was trolling for Jewish guys. Apparently it’s one of the ringtones available from Nokia. Hava Nagila is a song of celebration, and is commonly associated with the festivities after a Jewish wedding or Bar/Bat Mitvah. It is not a Chanukah song, although because it’s a (reasonably) well-known Jewish song, it’s sometimes included as the token Jewish song in Christmas concerts. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/18 "2003-12-19T20:20:31Z")
What’s an English translation, though? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/19 "2003-12-19T21:06:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bordelond \* > \*\*It always floors me when I am not acquainted with some ostensibly common facet of pop culture. > > I can’t believe I’ve never heard this song! \*\* Shouldn’t this be: Floors me, it always does. Believe it, I cannot. I’ve never heard this song! Oh vey! ;j ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990/20 "2003-12-19T21:13:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Olentzero \* > \*\*What’s an English translation, though? \*\* [Here’s one](http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/pages/tiHAVANAGI.html) but I can’t vouch for its accuracy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-the-heck-is-the-song-hava-na-gila/219990.md?page=2)