The Schmuel Song Songtext
von Norbert Leo Butz

First, a story. Little Christmas story
I call it "The Story of Schmuel, Tailor of Klimovich"

Schmuel would work ′til half-past ten at his tailor shop in Klimovich
Get up at dawn and start again with the hems and pins and twist
Forty-one years had come and gone at his tailor shop in Klimovich
Watching the winters soldier on, there was one thing Schmuel missed

"If I only had time," old Schmuel said
"I would build the dress that's in my head
A dress to fire
The mad desire
Of girls from here to Minsk
But I have no more hours left to sew"
Then the clock upon the wall began to glow

And the clock said, "na na na na, na na na
Oh Schmuel, you′ll get to be happy!
Na na na na, na na na, I give you unlimited time!
Na na na na, na na na, so Schmuel, go sew and be happy!"
But Schmuel said, "No, no, it's not my lot
I've gotta make do with the time I′ve got"


Schmuel was done at half-past ten and
He said, "Good night, old Klimovich"
Put on his coat to go, but then the clock cried, "Wait! Not yet!
Even though you′re not wise or rich, you're the finest man in Klimovich!
Listen up, Schmuel – Make one stitch and you′ll see what you can get!"

But Schmuel said, "Clock, it's much too late
I′m at peace with life, I accept my fate"
But the clock said, "Schmuel!
One stitch and you will
Unlock the dreams you've lost!"

So Schmuel, with reluctance, took his thread
He pulled a bolt of velvet and he said
"I should take out my teeth and go to bed
I′m sitting here with talking clocks instead!"

And the clock said, "na na na na, na na na
Oh Schmuel, you'll get to be happy!
Na na na na, na na na, I give you unlimited time!
Na na na na, na na na, just do it and you can be happy!"

So Schmuel put the thread through the needle's eye
And the moon stared down from a starless sky
And he pushed the thread through the velvet black
And he looked, and the clock was turning back!


So he grabbed his shears and he cut some lace
As the hands moved left on the old clock′s face!
And his fingers flew and the fabric swirled
It was nine-fifteen all around the world!

Ev′ry cut and stitch was a perfect fit
As if God Himself were controlling it!
And Schmuel cried, through a rush of tears
"Take me back! Take me back all forty-one years!"

And on it went, down that silent street
'Til Schmuel′s dress was at last complete
And he stretched his arms, and he closed his eyes
And the morning sun finally started to rise

And the dress he made on that endless night
Was a dress that would make any soul take flight!
Not a swatch, not a skein had gone to waste
Ev'ry ribbon and button ideally placed
And sewn into the seams
Were forty-one seasons of dreams
Dreams that you could feel
Coming real

And that very dress, so the papers swore
Was the dress a girl in Odessa wore
On the day she promised forevermore
To love a young man named Schmuel
Who only one day before
Had knocked at her kitchen door

Plenty have hoped and dreamed and prayed, but they can′t get out of Klimovich
If Schmuel had been a cute Goyishe maid, he'd′ve looked a lot like you
Maybe it's just that you're afraid to go out on to a limb-ovich
Maybe your heart′s completely swayed, but your head can′t follow through

But shouldn't I want the world to see
The brilliant girl who inspires me?
Don′t you think that now's a good time to be
The ambitious freak you are?
Say goodbye to wiping ashtrays at the bar!
Say hello to Cathy Hiatt, big-time star!
′Cause I say

Na na na na na na na na
Cathy, you get to be happy!
Na na na na na na na
I give you unlimited time!
Na na na na na na na
Stop temping and go and be happy!

Here's a headshot guy and a new backstage
Where you′re right for something on ev'ry page
Take a breath
Take a step
Take a chance
Take your time

Have I mentioned today
How lucky I am
To be in love with you?