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Rating: Very few artists have had, or still have, the ability to entertain any type of audience, from large open-air crowds to a more intimate audience, regardless of age. I can't help but mention Mick Jagger among them, just to give an example, but today we are talking about Harry Belafonte.
It's 1997, we're at the State University Of New York (located in Purchase, New York) and Belafonte, at the venerable age of 70, has the strength of a 25-year-old, leading everyone to sing along, both young and old, without the need to perform acrobatics on stage but with the simplicity of his smile and humor that creates "little moments of theater"; accompanied by musicians of extraordinary caliber (Lenny Underwood, Morris Goldberg, Richard Bona, and Ricky Sebastian among them) and four backing vocalists (special mention to LaTanya Hall, whom I personally adore), who are given space and freedom of expression.
It's truly unfortunate that the concert lasts only for just over an hour, but it still manages to incorporate significant pieces of his career: you have the opportunity to move from the Caribbean flavors with African reminiscences of "Turn The World Around" and "We Are The Wave", to the nostalgic notes of "Jamaica Farewell", the great classics "Matilda" (extended to a 10-minute performance, with improvisations on piano, sax, percussion, and by the vocalists; one of the major highlights of the entire concert) and "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)", which absolutely needs no introduction, another highlight. Moreover, splendid interpretations of "Eyala" and "Eyando", songs from the repertoire of Cameroonian Richard Bona, and sung by him.
The audience is seated but never still; it will be impossible not to move your head, feet, and hands. Highly recommended to accompany with video.
Tracklist and Lyrics
04 Jamaica Farewell (06:44)
Down the way
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
(chorus)
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
Sounds of laughter everywhere
And the dancing girls swing to and fro
I must declare my heart is there
Though I've been from Maine to Mexico
(chorus)
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
Down at the market you can hear
Ladies cry out while on their heads they bear
Ackie rice, salt fish are nice
And the rum is fine any time a year
(chorus)
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
Down the way
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
(chorus)
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.
07 Island In The Sun (04:36)
This is my island in the sun
where my people have toiled since time begun
I may sail on many a sea
her shores will always be home to me
Oh island in the sun
built to me by my father's hand
all my days I will sing in praise
of your forest waters
your shining sand
As morning breaks
the heaven on high
I lift my heavy load to the sky
sun comes down with a burning glow
mingles my sweat with the earthly low
Oh island in the sun
built to me by my father's hand
all my days I will sing in praise
of your forest waters
your shining sand
Solo
I see woman on bended knees
cutting cane for her family
I see man at the water-side
casting nets at the surfing tide
Oh island in the sun
built to me by my father's hand
all my days I will sing in praise
of your forest waters
your shining sand
I hope the day will never come
that I can't awake to the sound of drum
never let me miss carnaval
with calypso songs
philosophical
Oh island in the sun
built to me by my father's hand
all my days I will sing in praise
of your forest waters
your shining sand
11 Matilda (09:50)
Hey! Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Once again now!
Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Five hundred dollars, friends, I lost:
Woman even sell me cat and horse!
Heya! Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Everybody!
(Matilda,) Sing out the chorus,
(Matilda,) Sing a little louder,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Once again now!
(Matilda,) Going 'round the corner,
(Matilda,) Sing out the chorus,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Well, the money was to buy me house an' lan'
Then she got a serious plan,
A-hey, ah!
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Everybody!
(Matilda,
Matilda,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.)
Once again now!
(Matilda,) Going 'round the corner,
(Matilda,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.)
Well, the money was just inside me bed,
Stuck up in a pillow beneath me head.
Don't you know,
Matilda, she found me money and...
Everybody...
(Matilda,
Matilda,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.)
Once again now!
(Matilda,) Hooma locka chimba,
(Matilda,) Bring me little water,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Women over forty?
(Matilda,
Matilda,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.)
Everybody!
(Matilda,) Goin' round the corner,
(Matilda,) Bring me little water,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Well, me friends, never to love again,
All me money gone in vain!
Uh, heya...
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Everybody!
(Matilda,
Matilda,) Oom, ba-locka-chimba!
(Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.)
Sing a little softer!
(Matilda,
Matilda,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.)
EVERYBODY!
(Matilda,
Matilda,) Sing out the chorus!
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela!
13 Try To Remember (04:29)
Try to remember the kind of September
When life was slow and oh
so mellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain was yellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a tender and callow fellow.
Try to remember and if you remember
then follow
follow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
When noone wept except the willow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
When dreams were kept beside your pillow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
When love was an ember about to billow.
Try to remember and if you remember
then follow
follow.
Deep in December it's nice to remember
Although you know the snow will follow.
Deep in December it's nice to remember
Without a hurt the heart will hollow.
Deep in December
it's nice to remember
The fire of September that made you mellow.
Deep in December our hearts should remember and follow
follow.
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