The Schmuel Song-Vadim Sakharov

[00:00.40]First, a story. A little Christmas Story. [00:04.41]I call it "The Story of Schmuel, Tailor of Klimovich" [00:20.95]Schmuel would work till half-past ten at his tailor shop in Klimovich [00:25.96]Get up at dawn and start again with the hems and pins and twist [00:33.33]Forty-one years had come and gone at his tailor shop in Klimovich [00:38.59]Watching the winters soldier on, there was one thing Schmuel missed [00:45.72]"If I only had time," old Schmuel said [00:48.45]"I would build the dress that's in my head [00:51.07]A dress to fire [00:52.28]The mad desire [00:53.74]Of girls from here to Minsk [00:56.68]But I have no more hours left to sew" [01:01.97]Then the clock upon the wall began to glow... [01:09.84]And the clock said: [01:10.76]"Na na na na, na na na [01:12.45]Oh Schmuel, you'll get to be happy! [01:15.90]Na na na na, na na na [01:17.93]I give you unlimited time! [01:21.52]Na na na na, na na na [01:23.45]So Schmuel, go sew and be happy!" [01:26.49]But Schmuel said [01:27.31]"No, no, it's not my lot [01:29.39]I've gotta make do with he time I've got" [01:42.81]Schmuel was done at half-past ten and he said "Good night, old Klimovich" [01:47.88]Put on his coat to go, but then the clock cried, "Wait! Not yet! [01:55.13]Even though you're not wise or rich [01:57.51]You're the finest man in Klimovich [02:00.42]Listen up, Schmuel [02:01.58]Make one stitch and you'll see what you can get" [02:06.81]But Schmuel said [02:08.07]"Clock, it's much too late [02:09.79]I'm at peace with life [02:11.08]I accept my fate..." [02:12.49]But the clock said [02:13.67]"Schmuel! One stitch and you will [02:15.39]Unlock the dreams you've lost!" [02:17.82]So Schmuel, with reluctance, took his thread [02:23.79]He pulled a bolt of velvet and he said [02:29.61]"I should take out my teeth and go to bed [02:35.24]I'm sitting here with talking clocks instead!" [02:43.15]And the clock said: [02:44.01]"Na na na na, na na na [02:45.70]Oh Schmuel, you'll get to be happy! [02:49.09]Na na na na, na na na, [02:51.01]I give you unlimited time [02:54.53]Na na na na, na na na [02:56.56]Just do it and you can be happy!" [02:59.71]So Schmuel put the thread through the needle's eye [03:03.09]And the moon stared down from a starless sky [03:07.38]And he pushed the thread through the velvet black [03:10.03]And he looked, and the clock was turning...back [03:15.61]So he grabbed his shears and he cut some lace [03:18.23]As the hands moved left on the old clock's face [03:23.46]And his fingers flew and the fabric swirled [03:26.00]It was nine-fifteen all around the world [03:31.04]Every cut and stitch was a perfect fit [03:34.26]As if God Himself were controlling it! [03:37.85]And Schmuel cried through a rush of tears [03:41.60]"Take me back! Take me back all forty-one years!" [03:56.22]And on it went down that silent street [04:02.14]Till Schmuel's dress was at last complete [04:07.92]And he stretched his arms [04:10.91]And he closed his eyes [04:14.33]And the morning sun finally started to rise [04:26.82]And the dress he made on that endless night [04:29.81]Was a dress that would make any soul take flight [04:32.78]Not a swatch, not a skein had gone to waste [04:35.76]Every ribbon and button ideally placed [04:38.96]And sewn into the seams were forty-one seasons of dreams [04:48.05]Dreams that you could feel [04:51.50]Coming real [04:59.00]And that very dress, so the papers swore [05:01.78]Was the dress a girl in Odessa wore [05:04.72]On the day she promised forevermore [05:07.95]To love a young man named Schmuel [05:14.96]Who only one day before [05:18.30]Had knocked at her kitchen door [05:32.24]Plenty have hoped and dreamed and prayed [05:34.88]But they can't get out of Klimovich [05:38.16]If Schmuel had been a cute goyishe maid [05:41.43]He'd've looked a lot like you [05:45.64]Maybe it's just that you're afraid to go out on to a limb-ovich [05:53.47]Maybe your heart's completely swayed [05:56.50]But your head can't follow through [06:01.14]But shouldn't I want the world to see [06:03.93]The brilliant girl who inspires me? [06:06.47]Don't you think that now's a good time to be [06:09.35]The ambitious freak you are? [06:12.20]Say goodbye to wiping ashtrays at the bar [06:17.72]Say hello to Cathy Hiatt, big-time star! [06:26.57]'Cause I say: [06:28.19]Na na na na na na na na [06:30.86]Cathy, you get to be happy! [06:33.36]Na na na na na na na [06:36.41]I give you unlimited time! [06:38.70]Na na na na na na na [06:40.68]Stop temping and go and be happy! [06:43.94]Here's a headshot guy and a new BackStage [06:46.88]Where you're right for something on every page [06:49.96]Take a breath [06:50.86]Take a step [06:52.07]Take a chance [06:56.98]Take your time [07:10.70]Have I mentioned today [07:13.34]How lucky I am [07:16.94]To be in love with you?! [07:24.24]