Same composer, Edgar. Just two sets of lyrics.
Irving Burgie has long been acknowledged as one of the greatest composers of Caribbean music. Since 1956, his songs have sold over 100 million records by artists throughout the world.
He is the composer of such world standards as "Jamaica Farewell", "Day-O" and "Island in the Sun".
He has written some 35 songs recorded by Harry Belafonte, and was the author of 8 of the 11 songs in his album "Calypso", which became the first album in history to sell 1 million copies (1956). This album was #1 on the "Billboard" charts for 32 weeks.
"Day-O" appeared in the "We are the World" video, and was featured in the #1 hit film "Beetlejuice".
He also wrote songs that were recorded by the Kingston Trio and other artists of that era.
Burgie was born in Brooklyn, New York, his mother hailing from Barbados, W.I., and his father from Virginia After serving in Asia for over two years during World War 11, Burgie studied for five years at the Juilliard School of Music, the University of Arizona, and the University of Southern California.
After Belafonte's success, attributed in great part to Burgie's popular songs, Burgie was able to travel the world as a performer, songwriter, folklorist and teacher. In 1966 Burgie wrote the words to the National Anthem of Barbados-his mother's homeland and the place of his introduction to Caribbean folklore.
The musical review "Day-O is a compilation of many of the hit songs and show pieces written by Irving Burgie over the years, and includes all the hits that have kept the world humming."
Waiting to hear the origin of the "ladder", McTag.
but I'm still thinking that it had to do with the spiritual, Jacob's Ladder. A wild guess, listeners. If one is not climbing the ladder, the walking under it may mean that all hope of heaven is gone.
