HARRY BELAFONTE - The Artist

THE FOX by Paul Campbell

The fox went out to the chase one night
Prayed to the moon to give him light
He had many a mile to go that night
Before he reached the town-o town-o town-o
Many a mile to go that night before he reached the town

He ran til he came to a great big pen
Where the ducks and the geese were kept therein
Said a couple of you gonna grease my chin
Before I leave this town-o

He grabbed the gray goose by the neck
Throwed a duck across his back
He didn't amind with the quack quack quack
And the legs all dangling down-o

Old mother flipper flapper jumped out of bed
Out of the window she cocked her head
Crying John John the gray goose is gone
And the fox is on the town-o

Well the fox came to his own den
There were the little ones eight nine ten
Saying Daddy you better go back again
Cause it must be a mighty fine town-o

Well the fox and his wife without any strife
Cut up the goose with a carving knife
They never had such a supper in their life
And the little ones chewed on the bones-o bones-o bones-o
Never had such a supper in their life
And the little ones chewed on the bones-o

I NEVER WILL MARRY by Fred Brooks

Some say that love's a gentle thing
But its only brought me pain
For the only one I ever did love
Is gone on the midnight train
I never will marrynever take me a wife
I expect to live single all the rest of my life

The train pulled out the whistle blew
With a low and a lonesome moan
She's gone she's gone like the midnight dew
And left me here alone

There's many a change in the winter wind
And a change in the clouds design
There's many a change in a young girl's heart
But never a change in mine

I never will marry never take me a wife
I expect to live single all the rest of my life

ANNABELLE LEE by Jack Segal - based on a poem by E A Poe

Annabelle Lee
Annabelle Lee

Oh the moon never beams
Without bringing me dreams
Of my beautiful Annabelle Lee
And the stars never rise
But I feel the bright eyes
Of my beautiful Annabelle Lee

We're never apart
For I gave her my heart
She gave her heart to only me
And I love with a love
That is more than just love
My adorable Annabelle Lee

Yes he gave his warm heart
To Annabelle Lee
For he loved her so dearly you see
To think of her charms
Have been here in my arms
To think she loves only me
Heaven offers no more
Oh I've been there before
In the arms of my Annabelle Lee

Annabelle Lee
Annabelle Lee

BELLA ROSA byIrving Burgie

Each Sunday morning at breaking of day
A most lovely creature passes my way
I stand at my window to catch her eye
But her head never turns as she passes me by

Bella Rosa Bella Rosa
What is this feeling that haunts me so
Bella Rosa Bella Rosa
Soon you must love me or let me go

As I wander around through the countryside
There's many a girl that would be my bride
But always before the vows I can say
Her image returns and it draws me away

It's Saturday night it's cold it's bare
I sit in my room and just longingly stare
For I know comes the morning my heart will glow
At the sight of my love as she passes below

Bella Rosa Bella Rosa

BOY by G Tipton - Joe Tinker Lewis

Who's gonna soothe you when I'm gone
Who's gonna soothe you when I'm gone
Who will kindle the fire wrap your sackcloth tight
Oh boy oh boy sho is a lusty one
Oh boy oh boy sho is your dady's son
Well you've got a pair of lungs for such a tiny one
Sound of your voice wakes the morning sun
And I tell you boy I ain't gonna run
Ain't no big man boss gonna take my son

Oh boy oh boy sho is a lusty one
Oh boy oh boy sho is your daddy's son
Now I hear about that underground rail
They travel in the night and they ain't fail
I'll take you to a land
Where you can lift your head
If they make my child a slave
It's because his daddy is dead
Oh boy oh boy oh boy

BROWN SKIN GIRL by Norman Span

Everything to keep me from sleeping
A lot of sailor boys they were leaving
And everybody there was jumping
To hear the sailor boys in Alcora singing

Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
I'm going away in a sailing boat
And if I don't come back
Stay home and mind baby

Now the Americans made an invasion
We thought it was a help to the island
Until they left from here on vacation
They left the native boy here to mind their children

Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby ....

Now I tell you the story bout Millie
She made a nice blue eyed baby
And they say she fancy the mother
But the blue eyed baby ain't know she father

Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby ....

Now the Americans all have their pleasure
While the music play to their leisure
Everybody there they were jumping
To hear the sailor boys in Alcora singing

Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
I'm going away in a sailing boat
And if I don't get back
Stay home and mind baby

BACK OF THE BUS by Carver Neblett-Trad

If you miss me at the back of the bus
You can't find me nowhere
Come on over to the front of the bus
Because I'll be riding up there
I'll be riding up there
I'll be riding up there
Come on over to the front of the bus
Because I'll be riding up there

If you miss me on the picket line
You can't find me nowhere
Come on over to the city jail
Because I'll be rooming over there

If you miss me at the Mississippi River
You can't find me nowhere
Come on over to the swimming pool
Because I'll be swimming over there

If you miss me in the cotton fields
You can't find me nowhere
Come on over to the votin booth
Because I'll be voting right there

BALLY MENA by Irving Burgie - Robert DeCormier

Bally Mena Bally Mena Bally Mena in the harbor
Bally Mena Bally Mena Bally Mena in the harbor
Bring the Bally Mena to the dock
And paint the Bally Mena black
Bring the Bally Mena to the dock
And paint the Bally Mena black

Brothers we were and brothers we'll be
I till the soil and you sail the sea
To the ship Bally Mena you gave your best
But a raging sea laid your soul to rest

No more to hear to hear the tale
Of how you once tamed a mighty whale
And the girl who waited so patiently
Will walk no more by the sea

Bally Mena Bally Mena Bally Mena in the harbor

Thankee, thankeee. I intend to keep filling this thread. Having trouble with my arthritis just now, though.

Betty and Dupree

Gather 'round people let me tell you 'bout Dupree
Gather 'round people let me tell you 'bout Dupree
And his woman back in 1903
Betty was her name said she wanted a diamond ring
Betty was her name said she wanted a diamond ring
Dupree told Betty you can have most anything
Just lay down pretty Betty see what tomorrow brings
Said lay down pretty Betty see what tomorrow brings
May bring sunshine it may bring your diamond ring

Dupree went down-town a '44 in his hand
Dupree went down-town a '44 in his hand
Went for the jewelry but he shot that jewelry man
Dupree said Betty here's your diamond ring
Dupree said Betty here's your diamond ring
Just to please you pretty Betty I've done done a wicked thing

Dupree told Betty I'm bound for Tennessee
Dupree told Betty I'm bound for Tennessee
I'm sorry pretty Betty but that sheriff is a haunting me
They caught poor Dupree and put him into the jail
Caught poor Dupree put him in the jail
Atlanta prison is where Betty took Dupree his mail
Dupree said judge I ain't been here before
Dupree said judge I ain't been here before
Judge told Dupree I'm gonna see that you don't come back no more

They took him to the scaffold a black cap upon his face
Took him to the scaffold a black cap upon his face
Now the cold cold ground is for Dupree's resting place
Betty went to the graveyard singing near oh my god to thee
Betty went to the graveyard singing near oh my God to thee
Oh mister hangman look what you done done to Dupree
She told the hack-driver to drive his wagon slow
Told the hack-driver drive your dead wagon slow
When you bury my Dupree I ain't gonna see him no more

Sail on Dupree sail on, sail on Dupree sail on
Don't mind you sailing but you be gone so long
So long Dupree poor boy so long, Dupree poor boy
Don't mind you sailing you'll be gone so long, sail on
Dupree poor boy

Oh the cruel war is raging
Your daddy must fight
And I know I will miss you
From morning till night
You cannot go with me
It grieves my heart so
You cannot go with me
Oh no my son no

For your waist is to slender
Your fingers too small
And your cheeks are too tender
To take the cannon-ball
They will give me shiny medals
They'll call the killing brave
But I'd rather hold my darling son
Then fill a thousand graves

I will fight through the winter
Through Summer, Spring and Fall
And there's many a man that I will kill
That I never knowed at all
O listen, oh listen to me Johnny
And hear my story well
There's no glory in the killing
Just the agony of hell

Oh the cruel war is raging
Your daddy must fight
And I know I will miss you
From morning till night

Dicen que por las noches
nomas se le iba en puro llorar,
dicen que no comia,
nomas se le iba en puro tomar,
juran que el mismo cielo
se estremecia al oir su llanto;
como sufrio por ella,
que hasta en su muerte la fue llamando.

Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay,... cantaba,
Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay,... gemia,
Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay,... cantaba,
de pasion mortal... moria.

Que una paloma triste
muy de manana le va a cantar,
a la casita sola,
con sus puertitas de par en par,
juran que esa paloma
no es otra cosa mas que su alma,
que todavia la espera
a que regrese la desdichada.

Cucurrucucu... paloma,
cucurrucucu... no llores,
las piedras jamas, paloma.
ique van a saber de amores!
Cucurrucucu... cucurrucucu...
cucurrucucu... paloma, ya no llores.

Come Away Melinda

Daddy daddy come and look
And see what I have found
A little way away from here
While digging in the ground

Come away Melinda
Come in and close the door
It's nothing but a picture book
They had before the war

Daddy daddy come and see
Oh daddy come and look
There's four or five Melinda girl
Inside this picture book

Come away Melinda
Come in and close the door
There were lots of little girls like you
Before they had the war

Daddy daddy come and see
Oh daddy hurry do
There's someone in villages
Who's all grown up like you

Come away Melinda
Come in and close the door
That someone is a mother
Like you had before the war

Daddy daddy come and see
Such things I've never seen
Happy faces all along
And all the ground is green

Come away Melinda
Come in and close the door
It's just the way it used to be
Before they had the war

Daddy daddy come and see
And tell me if you can
Why can't it be the way it was
Before the war began

Come away Melinda
Come in and close the door
The answer lies in yesterday
Before they had the war

The Drummer and the Cook

Oh, there was a little drummer and he loved a one-eyed cook
He loved her oh he loved her though she had a cock-eyed look
With her one eye on the pot and ta other up the chimney with a bow wow wow
Fa la la la la dee dee bow wow wow

When this couple went a courtin' for to walk along the shore
Said the drummer to the cookie "You're the girl that I adore"
With her one eye on the pot and ta other up the chimney with a bow wow wow
Fa la la la la dee dee bow wow wow

Said the drummer to the cookie "Will you name the wedding day?"
Said the cookie "We'll be married in the merry month of May"
With her one eye on the pot and ta other up the chimney with a bow wow wow
Fa la la la la dee dee bow wow wow

Said the drummer to the cookie "Will you buy the wedding ring?"
Said the cookie "Now you're talkin' that would be the very thing"
With her one eye on the pot and ta other up the chimney with a bow wow wow
Fa la la la la dee dee bow wow wow

When they went to church to say I will the drummer got a knock
For her one eye killed the parson and the other stopped the clock
With her one eye on the pot and ta other up the chimney with a bow wow wow
Fa la la la la dee dee bow wow wow

Abraham Martin and John

Has anybody here,
Seen my old friend Abraham,
Can you tell me where he's gone,
He freed a lot of people,
But it seems the they good die young,
I just looked around,
And he's gone,

Has anybody here,
Seen my old friend John,
Can you tell me where he's gone,
He freed a lot of people,
But it seems the good they die young,
I just looked around,
And he's gone,

Has anybody here,
Seen my old friend Martin,
Can you tell me where he's gone,
He freed a lot of people,
But it seems the good they die young,
I just looked around,
And he's gone,

Didn't you love the things that they stood for,
Didn't they try to find some good for you and me,
And we'll be free,
Someday soon it's gonna be one day,

Has anybody here,
Seen my old friend Bobby,
Can you tell me where he's gone,
I thought I saw him walkin' up over the hill,
With Abraham, Martin and John.

Saw him at the Greek Theater when I was either 13 or 14 - we had just moved back to California; I think my "rich uncle" took my cousins and I. I loved it all of course. I had the album (whatever album from 1955 or so) for quite a while, but culled it in one of my moves.

Thanks for posting all this. Makes me want to go out and get a cd, though sadly not the $180.00 one.

I bought all of his major albums when they were released, many for a price of $3.98, the going rate in those times. Couldn't resist the $180 album, though. It has stuff you won't hear elsewhere.

Day-o, da-a-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day-o, da-a-ay-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 morning come
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day-o, da-a-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day-o, da-a-ay-o
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, da-a-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day-o, da-a-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home

A beautiful bunch of 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 da-a-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home



The version sung by Brothers Four:

Hill and gully rider, hill and gully
Hill and gully rider, hill and gully
Hill and gully rider, hill and gully
Day-o, day-o, day de light and I wanna go home
Day-o, day-o, day de light and I wanna go home

Well I'm loading the banana boats all night long
Day de light and I wanna go home
And all the workmen sing this song
Day de light and I wanna go home
Day-o day-o, day de light and I wanna go home
Day-o day-o day de light and I wanna go home

Well I work by sun and I sleep by moon
Day de light and I wanna go home
When I get some money gonna quit so soon
Day de light and I wanna go home
Day-o day-o, day de light and I wanna go home
Day-o day-o, day de light and I wanna go home

Well I pack up all my things and I´ll go to sea
Day de light and I wanna go home
Den de bananas see the last of me
Day de light and I wanna go home

Day-o, day-o, day de light and I wanna go home
Day-o, day-o, day de light and I wanna go home
Hill and gully rider, hill and gully
Hill and gully rider, hill and gully
Hill and gully rider, hill and gully

Buked and Scorned

I've been buked and I've been scorned,
I've been buked and I've been scorned,
Children, I've been buked and I've been scorned,
Tryin' to make this journey all alone

You may talk about me sure as you please
Talk about me sure as you please
Children, talk about me sure as you please
Your talk will never drive me down to my knees

Jesus Jesus died to set me free
Jesus died to set me free
Children, Jesus died to set me free
Nailed to that cross on Calvary

I've been buked and I've been scorned
I've been buked and I've been scorned
Children, I've been buked and I've been scorned
Tryin' to make this journey all alone