Thank you, Lamont.

But actually,  my parents are Jewish Poles who were able to come out of hiding only after the Soviet Army pushed back the Nazis.  

In the immediate post war period, there were soldiers billeted in their home who protected them from some post war murders of jews committed by the local townspeople.   As well, the soldiers were able to secure some items that had been stolen from their home by neighbours while my parents were in hiding. After loosing both of their families, including their daughter, my parents were very grateful for these acts of kindness.

The story related to me by my mother was that the billeted soldiers used to drink and sing well into the night, which is how these folk songs became a part of my childhood.

In return, as my mother lay dying, I sang Kalinka to her.

And that's why today I feel as though a large part of my childhood died.