The following are some of of my favourite songs sung by Harry Belafonte, an American musician, actor and social activist. One of the most successful Jamaican musicians in history, he was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style in the 1950s. Belafonte is perhaps best known for singing the "Banana Boat Song", with its signature lyric "Day-O". Throughout his career, he has been an advocate for civil rights and humanitarian causes. In recent years he has been a vocal critic of the policies of the Bush Administration.The first one I've put below is a Hebrew folk song. Several of my students still (it's a little over 12 years since I taught in schools!) remember me for this song, which I had the privilege to introduce them... I must admit here, that it is this song that made me buy several of the singers album.
Am sure that many of you would want to put your hands on a couple of his CDs after listening some of the best numbers available on the net and which I've pasted here for your easy access! (Harry Belafonte At Carnegie Hall is one, i would recommend you to pick)!
Hava nagila (Let's rejoice)
Hava nagila (Let's rejoice)
Hava nagila venis'mecha (Let's rejoice and be happy) [repeat stanza once]
Hava neranenah (Let's sing)
Hava neranenah (Let's sing)
Hava neranenah venis'mecha (Let's sing and be happy) [repeat stanza once]
Uru, uru achim! (Awake, awake, brothers!)
Uru achim b'lev sameach (Awake brothers with a happy heart) [repeat line three times]
Uru achim, uru achim! (Awake, brothers, awake, brothers!)
B'lev sameach (With a happy heart)
Jamaican Farewell
The soothing beat and the yearning voice has kept this at No 1 among many of his! Please do enjoy the song. To help you appreciate it better, I've posted the lyrics of the song as well!
Down the bay where the nights are gay
And the sun shines daily on the mountain top
I took a trip on a sailing ship
And when I reached Jamaica I made a stop
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
Down the market you can hear
Ladies cry out while on their heads they bear
`Akey' rice, salt fish are nice
And the rum is fine any time of year
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
Sounds of laughter everywhere
And the dancing girls sway to and fro
I must declare my heart is there
Though I've been from Maine to Mexico
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
Down the bay where the nights are gay
And the sun shines daily on the mountain top
I took a trip on a sailing ship
And when I reached Jamaica I made a stop
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
And the sun shines daily on the mountain top
I took a trip on a sailing ship
And when I reached Jamaica I made a stop
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
Down the market you can hear
Ladies cry out while on their heads they bear
`Akey' rice, salt fish are nice
And the rum is fine any time of year
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
Sounds of laughter everywhere
And the dancing girls sway to and fro
I must declare my heart is there
Though I've been from Maine to Mexico
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
Down the bay where the nights are gay
And the sun shines daily on the mountain top
I took a trip on a sailing ship
And when I reached Jamaica I made a stop
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
Cocoant Woman is Calling Out...
Now, try listening to the following song, with your eyes closed and you can experience the Caribbean Magic! If you're adamant and want to keep your eyes open, try singing along with the lyric posted below!
Coconut
Coconut
Coconut
Coconut
Coconut
Coconut woman is calling out
And everyday you can hear her shout
Coconut woman is calling out
And everyday you can hear her shout
Get your coconut water
Man it's good for your daughter
Coco got a lotta iron,
Make you strong like a lion
A lady tell me the other day
No one can take her sweet man away
I ask her what was the mystery
She say coconut water and rice curry
You can cook it in a pot
You can serve it very hot
Coco got a lotta iron
Make you strong like a lion
Coconut woman says you'll agree
coconut make very nice candy
The thing that's best if you're feelin' glum
Is coconut water with a little rum
It could make you very tipsy
Make you feel like a gypsy
Coco got a lotta iron
Make you strong like a lion
Coconut woman is calling out
And everyday you can hear her shout
Coconut woman is calling out
And everyday you can hear her shout
Get your coconut water
Man it's good for your daughter
Coco got a lotta iron,
Get your coconut candy
Makes you feel very dandy
Coconut
Coconut
Coconut
Coconut
Coconut
Coconut
Coconut
Coconut
Coconut
Coconut woman is calling out
And everyday you can hear her shout
Coconut woman is calling out
And everyday you can hear her shout
Get your coconut water
Man it's good for your daughter
Coco got a lotta iron,
Make you strong like a lion
A lady tell me the other day
No one can take her sweet man away
I ask her what was the mystery
She say coconut water and rice curry
You can cook it in a pot
You can serve it very hot
Coco got a lotta iron
Make you strong like a lion
Coconut woman says you'll agree
coconut make very nice candy
The thing that's best if you're feelin' glum
Is coconut water with a little rum
It could make you very tipsy
Make you feel like a gypsy
Coco got a lotta iron
Make you strong like a lion
Coconut woman is calling out
And everyday you can hear her shout
Coconut woman is calling out
And everyday you can hear her shout
Get your coconut water
Man it's good for your daughter
Coco got a lotta iron,
Get your coconut candy
Makes you feel very dandy
Coconut
Coconut
Coconut
Coconut
Coconut
Mama look A Boo Boo There!
Probably because it fits me well, thanks to the contradicting appearance i have to my wife, I love this song a lot. This is also one of my son's favourite songs, when we drive around outside the city...
I wonder why nobody don't like me...
Or is it the fact that am ugly
I wonder why nobody don't like me...
Or is it the fact that am ugly
I leave my whole house and go
My children don't want me no more
Bad talk inside the house they bring
And when I start to talk they sing
Mama look a boo boo
They shout!
Their mother tell them
Shut up your mouth...
That's your daddy..
Oh no.... my daddy can't be ugly so...
Shut your mouth go away...
Mama look a boo boo there...
Shut your mouth go away...
Mama look a boo boo there...
I couldn't even digets the supper
Due to the children's behaviour...
John, yes pop
Come here a moment
Bring the belt
Too much too impudent
John says it's james who started first
James tells the story in reverse...
I grab my belt from off the waist...
You should hear them
Screaming around the place
Mama look a boo boo
They shout
Their mother tell them
Shut up your mouth...
That's your daddy..
Oh no.... my daddy can't be ugly so...
Shut your mouth go away...
Mama look a boo boo there...
Shut your mouth go away...
Mama look a boo boo there...
Shut your mouth go away...
Mama look a boo boo there...
Or is it the fact that am ugly
I wonder why nobody don't like me...
Or is it the fact that am ugly
I leave my whole house and go
My children don't want me no more
Bad talk inside the house they bring
And when I start to talk they sing
Mama look a boo boo
They shout!
Their mother tell them
Shut up your mouth...
That's your daddy..
Oh no.... my daddy can't be ugly so...
Shut your mouth go away...
Mama look a boo boo there...
Shut your mouth go away...
Mama look a boo boo there...
I couldn't even digets the supper
Due to the children's behaviour...
John, yes pop
Come here a moment
Bring the belt
Too much too impudent
John says it's james who started first
James tells the story in reverse...
I grab my belt from off the waist...
You should hear them
Screaming around the place
Mama look a boo boo
They shout
Their mother tell them
Shut up your mouth...
That's your daddy..
Oh no.... my daddy can't be ugly so...
Shut your mouth go away...
Mama look a boo boo there...
Shut your mouth go away...
Mama look a boo boo there...
Shut your mouth go away...
Mama look a boo boo there...
Mary's Boy Child
One of the most melodious songs of Harry Belafonte...
A Long time ago in Bethlehem
So the Holy Bible say
Mary's boy child, Jesus Christ
Was born on Christmas day
Hark, now hear the angels sing
A new King born today
And man will live for ever more
Because of Christmas day
While shepherds watched their flock by night
And see a bright new shining star
And hear a choir sing
The music seem to come from afar
Now Joseph and his wife Mary
Come to Bethlehem that night
And find no place to borne sweet child
Not a single room was in sight
Hark, now hear the angels sing
A new King born today
And man will live forever more
Because of Christmas day
By and by they find a little roof
In a stable all forlorn
And in a manger cold and dark
Mary's little boy was born
Hark, now hear the angels sing
A new King born today
And man will live forever more
Because of Christmas day
So the Holy Bible say
Mary's boy child, Jesus Christ
Was born on Christmas day
Hark, now hear the angels sing
A new King born today
And man will live for ever more
Because of Christmas day
While shepherds watched their flock by night
And see a bright new shining star
And hear a choir sing
The music seem to come from afar
Now Joseph and his wife Mary
Come to Bethlehem that night
And find no place to borne sweet child
Not a single room was in sight
Hark, now hear the angels sing
A new King born today
And man will live forever more
Because of Christmas day
By and by they find a little roof
In a stable all forlorn
And in a manger cold and dark
Mary's little boy was born
Hark, now hear the angels sing
A new King born today
And man will live forever more
Because of Christmas day
There's A Hole In The Bucket
This is yet another song of Harry Belafonte that catches up with everyone probably because of the kind of excuses we give for not having accomplished some of our tasks...
Henry....
Oh Henry
Yes Liza...
Did you fetch the water?
Go fetch the water...
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole.
So fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Well fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, fix it.
With what should I fix it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
With what should I fix it, dear Liza, with what?
With straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, with straw.
But the straw is too long, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The straw is too long, dear Liza, too long.
Cut it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Well cut it dear Henry, dear Henry, cut it!
With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, with what?
With an axe dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With an axe , dear Henry, the hatchet.
But the axes too dull, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The axe's too dull, dear Liza, too dull.
Well, sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Sharpen it dear Henry, dear Henry, Horne it!
On what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
On what shall I horne it, dear Liza, with what?
Use the stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Use the stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, the stone.
But the stone is too dry, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The stone is too dry, dear Liza, too dry.
Well wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Well wet it dear Henry, dear Henry, wet it.
With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, with what?
Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, Use water!
With what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
With what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, with what?
In a bucket dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
In a bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, Try bucket!
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole.
Oh Henry
Yes Liza...
Did you fetch the water?
Go fetch the water...
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole.
So fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Well fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, fix it.
With what should I fix it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
With what should I fix it, dear Liza, with what?
With straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, with straw.
But the straw is too long, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The straw is too long, dear Liza, too long.
Cut it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Well cut it dear Henry, dear Henry, cut it!
With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, with what?
With an axe dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With an axe , dear Henry, the hatchet.
But the axes too dull, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The axe's too dull, dear Liza, too dull.
Well, sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Sharpen it dear Henry, dear Henry, Horne it!
On what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
On what shall I horne it, dear Liza, with what?
Use the stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Use the stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, the stone.
But the stone is too dry, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The stone is too dry, dear Liza, too dry.
Well wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Well wet it dear Henry, dear Henry, wet it.
With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, with what?
Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, Use water!
With what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
With what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, with what?
In a bucket dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
In a bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, Try bucket!
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole.
Banana Boat Song
This is yet another beautiful song that brings to our eyes the lifestyle of workers in the Caribbean port! It's a good one to put you to sleep!
Day-o, day-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Me say day, me say day-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Work all night on a drink of rum
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Stack banana till de mornin' come
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day...
Daylight come and me wan' go home
A beautiful bunch o' ripe banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Hide the deadly black tarantula
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day...
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day-o, day-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Me say day, me say day-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Me say day, me say day-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Work all night on a drink of rum
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Stack banana till de mornin' come
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day...
Daylight come and me wan' go home
A beautiful bunch o' ripe banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Hide the deadly black tarantula
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day...
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day-o, day-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Me say day, me say day-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Now to know a bit more about the artist and what he has done for humankind. A 3-minute video documentary:
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