Mishkin Fitzgerald

BLEAT. A Klezmer Song.

Added 2021-08-31 18:11:49 +0000 UTC

Dearest Waxing Crescent Moons,

May I proudly present one of the most bonkers song off my upcoming album (yet to be titled, any suggestions?)... it's called "Bleat".

So, what's the story?

Well... as many of you know I have a Jewish grandmother. She is 97 and still going strong. During lockdown she managed to break all of her ribs, have two strokes and get skin cancer. She's beaten all of these and made a full recovery. I don't think she will ever die.

Anyway, she was one of the lucky Jewish people to survive the Nazi invasion of Greece back in WW2. She escaped her hometown of Thessaloniki, and travelled down to the south of Italy on a train. Her family were carrying fake papers that stated they were Italian and linked to a rich family over the border, where the Nazi's hadn't yet occupied. On the final stretch of the journey they were stopped by soldiers who asked to see their papers. When they were questioned it became clear that none of them spoke fluent Italian, and they were asked to go with the Nazi officer. My grandmother (being a ballsy kinda girl) levelled with the man, and said "if you take us with you now, then our blood will forever be on your hands". There was a pause, and in that moment, all their lives were held in the balance. Eventually, the Nazi soldier let them go, and they were able to complete their journey to safety.

If it hadn't been for my grandmother's brave words, I probably wouldn't be here today. She told me that when they finally returned to Greece that only a quarter of the Jewish people they knew returned too. Their flat was full of chickens and there was a goat living under the piano, hence the title of the song "Bleat". I have this same piano in my music room now and I will always remember my grandmother's extraordinary life and what she had to go through.

This album is going to be a tribute to her - it's not strictly Jewish music, it's very eclectic, but she is the only other musician in my family, and she also played the accordion, as well as the piano. She gave her accordion away to a poorer family after the war and never saw it again. Beautifully, my accordion just happens to be Italian. I like to think her Jewish music has influenced me, even though she never played accordion to me, it seems to be something I was always drawn to.

She never used to talk about the war until recently, the last five years or so. I've learned more about my grandma's history during that time than I have ever before. I think it should be shared.