English Translation Of Gam Zu L'Tovah- Track 1 Of "L'Tovah"

Nachum ish Gam Zu came from Gimzo, a town not far from Lod. He was called "Nachum ish Gam Zu" [which literally means: Nachum, man of Gam Zu] because he always said "Gam Zu L'Tovah". The lyrics in the song come from a Gemara in Sanhedrin [Daf Kuf Ches Amud Beis- 108b]. That Gemara relates the following story: One day, the Jews needed to win the Caesar's favor through a gift they would give him. They sent Nachum ish Gam Zu to present the gift. On the way, Nachum stopped at an inn. The inhabitants of the town asked him what he had in his big chest. He said that it was a gift for the Caesar. In the middle of the night these inhabitants emptied the chest of the jewels contained within and refilled it with dirt. When Nachum presented the chest to the Caesar it was opened and found to contain this dirt. Nachum was taken away to be killed for this insult to the Caesar. As they led Nachum away he said "Gam Zu L'Tovah".

Eliyahu Hanavi came down to earth disguised as a Roman official. He suggested that maybe this dirt was miraculous. Perhaps it was the same dirt that the Jews' ancestor, Avraham, had used against his enemies. That dirt was said to have turned into swords when thrown at the enemy. The Romans decided to give this theory a try. There had been a certain district that was giving the Romans problems. Try as they may, the Romans could not defeat this district. They threw this dirt at them and sure enough it turned into swords and the Romans were victorious. When the Caesar heard this he let Nachum ish Gam Zu go and sent him back home with his chest filled with jewels. On Nachum's journey back, he stopped at the same inn. The inhabitants asked him what he had given the Caesar to deserve the jewels now in his chest. He said that he gave the Caesar whatever was in the chest. After hearing this the inhabitants went with chests filled with dirt to give to the Caesar. This dirt was found to contain no miraculous qualities and these inhabitants were therefore killed for this insult to the Caesar.

Look how everything turned out ok. Look at the power of "Gam Zu L'Tovah".

And with that I present to you the translation of the song:

(Parentises indicate implied words) [Brackets indicate explanations or the yiddish word being translated]

[The phone rings]

[Lipa]: Hello [There's a pause] [frantically] Huh..... What? Yoi [Gam Zee L'Tovah] This, too, is for the best.
Hello? Do you hear me? Hold on, Don't hang up, Listen, [Gam Zee L'Tovah] This, too, is for the best......

Nachum ish Gam Zee had had the habit that, WHATEVER would happen to him, he would say say say,
Nachum ish Gam Zee had had the habit that, WHATEVER would happen to him, he would say say say,

[Gam Zee L'Tovah] This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, for the best, for the best,
This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, for the best, for the best,
This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, for the best, for the best,
This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, for the best, for the best.

[Beautiful Nigun]

Nachum ish Gam Zee had had the habit that, whatever would happen to him, he would say say say, hey,
Nachum ish Gam Zee had had the habit that, whatever would happen to him, he would say say say,

This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, everything is [Bashert] meant to be,
This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, everything is [Bashert] meant to be,
This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, for the best, for the best,
This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, for the best, for the best.

[Beautiful Nigun] The best, is for the best,
[Beautiful Nigun] The best,
[Beautiful Nigun] Is for the best,
[Beautiful Nigun] The best.

Nachum, Nachum, Nachum, ish Gam Zee, ish Gam Zee, had the habit, had the habit, had the habit, (whatever would) happen to him, this, too, this, too, is for the best.

This, too, is for the best, This, too, This, too, is for the best, The best, This, too, is for the best, everything is still good,
This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, everything is still good,
This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, everything is meant to be,
This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, everything is meant to be,
This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, for the best, for the best,
This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, for the best, sing everybody....

[A whole crowd of people]:

This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, for the best, for the best,

[The following is said by the crowd as Lipa is talking in the backround]:

This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, This, too, is for the best, for the best, for the best.

[Lipa in the backround]: Hello, did you hear, heh, remember, this, too, is for the best. Ok bye.